Touring Miyagi Wineries with Azusa Segawa: Vol. 2 Fattoria AL FIORE

The next destination on our tour of Miyagi wineries with Ms. Azusa Segawa is... an elementary school?!
No, rather it is a winery that repurposes its former school building, 'Fattoria AL FIORE'.

The winery is located on the site of a former gymnasium. Traces of its past remain everywhere, giving you a nostalgic and pure feeling. What kind of wine is born in this place? We explore its appeal.

"Fattoria" means "farm" in Italian. Furthermore, "AL FIORE" is the name of the Italian restaurant that winemaker Mr. Meguro opened in Sendai City.

From running an Italian restaurant to grape growing and winemaking—we delve into Mr. Meguro's passionate drive.

We tasted Fattoria AL FIORE's wines while listening to Mr. Meguro's explanations, and asked Ms. Segawa for her comments.

The location was a counter overlooking a kitchen reminiscent of his former Italian restaurant. In a wonderful space, it was a lovely tasting session where we experienced Mr. Meguro's winemaking philosophy.

What did you think?
Fattoria AL FIORE is a winery overflowing with Mr. Meguro's love for his hometown and surrounding regions.
Embodied by that love, the wines themselves leave a truly soft and gentle impression.

It is a wonderful winery that contemplates the future of agriculture and food through winemaking.
Be sure to visit it sometime.

My connection with Mr. Meguro dates back to when he ran an Italian restaurant in Sendai City. He has always been kind and soft-spoken, but hearing him speak about the wines he crafts allowed me to feel his strong conviction.

Coexisting with nature, Mr. Meguro produces natural wines without excessive human intervention. This visit was also an experience that surprised me with the high aging potential of their wines.

The brewing facilities housed in the repurposed gymnasium of a closed school evoke a sense of nostalgia, almost bringing back memories of childhood.

◆ Azusa Segawa Profile ◆
After graduating from university, she served as a secretary at a construction company, participating in leasing and construction work for many restaurants and food service establishments. Later, driven by her passion, she earned qualifications related to food, wine, and Japanese rice wine, working as a reporter, writer, and restaurant consultant. In 2014, she became the Representative Director of Foodreco Co., Ltd., which provides services specialized in food and beverage. She also serves as an instructor at the wine school 'L'ecole du Vin' and promotes a rich lifestyle through food and wine.

Foodreco Co., Ltd.
With a network of approximately 1,200 influencers specializing in food and beverage, the company proposes various promotions leveraging that network. In addition to restaurants, it focuses on supporting attractive Japanese ingredients and producers, and actively holds events introducing Japanese wine to wine lovers.