Domaine Yui
Burgundian finesse from the epicenter of Pinot Noir in Japan.
Founded 2018
Yoichi, Hokkaido
Varieties planted
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Delaware, Campbell Early, Portland
The People
Domaine Yui was started by ex-physics teacher Aya Sugiyama and ex-architect Tetsuya Sugiyama. The parents of three moved to Yoichi in 2019, after longing for a life closer to nature. Both Aya-san and Tetsuya-san are meticulous in their work, and their wines show a remarkable amount of maturity despite their newly minted status.
Aya-san and Tetsuya-san work tirelessly in the vineyards and winery to achieve the exacting quantity they're known for.
The Land
Altogether, Domaine Yui’s vineyards cover an area of approximately 4 hectares, which the couple manage with minimal outside help. The ‘A’ vineyard is planted mostly with Pinot Noir, as well as a small percentage of Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.
The ‘T’ vineyard is planted only to Vitis labrusca, including Delaware, Niagara, and Campbell Early.
The soil in their vineyards is a mixture of volcanic clay, gravel, and sand. Rainfall is lower in Yoichi compared to most places in Hokkaido, allowing fragile grapes like Pinot Noir to survive a little better.
The Wine
As with most family-run wineries in Japan, a key concern when starting out is cash flow. Having bought over mature vitis labrusca vineyards from previous owners, Domaine Yui's petillant T-series was their first to hit the market.
These wines are known for their bright acidity, varietal expression, and ease-of-enjoyment for those new to wine.
2023 marks the first vintage for their remarkable single-varietal Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, and we're extremely fortunate to have secured a precious few.
