Region: Hokkaido, Japan (Yoichi / Hokuto)
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Body: Light
Notes: Bright wild strawberry, tart red cherry, cranberry, hints of wet stone, light forest floor, and delicate herbal spice, with a soft, supple acidity and a clean, incredibly pure finish
Pairing: Duck breast with plum sauce, grilled salmon, wild mushroom risotto, traditional yakitori, or continuous charcuterie boards
The Producer
Torocco Winery is a deeply inspiring, micro-scale natural wine project located in Hokuto City, southern Hokkaido, with stunning views overlooking Mt. Hakodate. Founded in 2021 by Akihiro Nagao—the acclaimed chef-owner of the Sapporo-based restaurant Aki-Nagao and an ardent champion of low-intervention wines—the project was born from a desire to connect exceptional local gastronomy directly with the land. The name "Torocco" (meaning a small minecart or railcar) represents their dedication to a slow, steady, and purposeful way of working.
Before completing their own beautifully hand-crafted winery in August 2024, Torocco’s initial vintages were vinified under contract by respected Hokkaido pillars Nora Kura and 10R Winery. Managed with absolute devotion by Sachiko Ishida and her team, the estate organically tends to a diverse selection of grapes alongside old orchard fruit trees inherited from the land's previous owners. Everything is fermented using native wild yeasts and bottled with a highly non-interventionist, zero-compromise approach.
The Wine
The 2024 Pinot Noir is a milestone bottling, representing the very first Pinot Noir vinified inside Torocco’s newly completed, dedicated winery in Hokuto. Highlighting the brand's clever negociant style while their young estate vines finish maturing, the fruit for this vintage was hand-picked from the highly coveted, organically farmed vineyards of Yoichi, a northern Hokkaido sub-region world-renowned for its cool-climate viticulture.
In the cellar, the winemaking team completely de-stemmed the grapes and applied a gentle three-week cold maceration to passively draw out bright primary aromatics and a delicate, pale ruby-red hue without extracting heavy, drying tannins. Fermented spontaneously with native yeasts, the wine was bottled strictly zero-zero—unfined, unfiltered, and with absolutely no added sulfur. The 2024 vintage showcases the signature cool-climate magic of Hokkaido; it masterfully pairs an ethereal, highly aromatic nose of fresh red summer fruits and subtle alpine earthiness with a soft, supple structure and a crisp, mineral-clean finish that is stunningly elegant when served with a light chill.
Region: Hokkaido, Japan (Yoichi / Hokuto)
Grapes: 100% Pinot Noir
Body: Light
Notes: Bright wild strawberry, tart red cherry, cranberry, hints of wet stone, light forest floor, and delicate herbal spice, with a soft, supple acidity and a clean, incredibly pure finish
Pairing: Duck breast with plum sauce, grilled salmon, wild mushroom risotto, traditional yakitori, or continuous charcuterie boards
The Producer
Torocco Winery is a deeply inspiring, micro-scale natural wine project located in Hokuto City, southern Hokkaido, with stunning views overlooking Mt. Hakodate. Founded in 2021 by Akihiro Nagao—the acclaimed chef-owner of the Sapporo-based restaurant Aki-Nagao and an ardent champion of low-intervention wines—the project was born from a desire to connect exceptional local gastronomy directly with the land. The name "Torocco" (meaning a small minecart or railcar) represents their dedication to a slow, steady, and purposeful way of working.
Before completing their own beautifully hand-crafted winery in August 2024, Torocco’s initial vintages were vinified under contract by respected Hokkaido pillars Nora Kura and 10R Winery. Managed with absolute devotion by Sachiko Ishida and her team, the estate organically tends to a diverse selection of grapes alongside old orchard fruit trees inherited from the land's previous owners. Everything is fermented using native wild yeasts and bottled with a highly non-interventionist, zero-compromise approach.
The Wine
The 2024 Pinot Noir is a milestone bottling, representing the very first Pinot Noir vinified inside Torocco’s newly completed, dedicated winery in Hokuto. Highlighting the brand's clever negociant style while their young estate vines finish maturing, the fruit for this vintage was hand-picked from the highly coveted, organically farmed vineyards of Yoichi, a northern Hokkaido sub-region world-renowned for its cool-climate viticulture.
In the cellar, the winemaking team completely de-stemmed the grapes and applied a gentle three-week cold maceration to passively draw out bright primary aromatics and a delicate, pale ruby-red hue without extracting heavy, drying tannins. Fermented spontaneously with native yeasts, the wine was bottled strictly zero-zero—unfined, unfiltered, and with absolutely no added sulfur. The 2024 vintage showcases the signature cool-climate magic of Hokkaido; it masterfully pairs an ethereal, highly aromatic nose of fresh red summer fruits and subtle alpine earthiness with a soft, supple structure and a crisp, mineral-clean finish that is stunningly elegant when served with a light chill.
What is natural wine?
Natural wine is wine made with minimal intervention from the winemaker, using organically or biodynamically grown grapes and without the addition of chemicals or additives such as sulfites. The result is a wine that is unique, expressive, and often has a more complex and nuanced flavor profile than conventional wines. Natural wine is also often associated with sustainable and ethical farming practices, making it a popular choice for those interested in environmentally friendly and socially responsible products.