Delicious autumn has arrived! Harvesting at Kitadai Vineyard in Sanwa Ward (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture)

The grape harvest has begun at the Kitadai vineyard in Sanwa-ku, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture. The grapes are mainly grapes such as Kyoho grapes, and the quality of the grapes is excellent.

Seven farmers grow grapes in the Kitadai vineyard in Sanwa Ward. Among them, “Arayashiki Farm” has a 60-area vineyard where 25 varieties of grapes are grown. Harvesting began on the 12th of last month, and at present, grapes are mainly Kyoho and Beni Zuiho.

Kitashiro Grape Cooperative, Fujinawa, Union President
This year’s crop has good firmness and large grains. The grapes look good and taste good. Now it’s time to harvest, and it keeps raining, so it’s hard to take the bags off one by one and check them.

This is the ever-popular Shine Muscat.

Some of the varieties, such as Violet King and Shinano Smile, are only available at the direct-sale shop.

President Fujinawa
Last year’s snow damage broke a lot of the vines, but this year the branches have grown and the grapes have borne fruit. It’s not going to be the same as usual because of the Corona disaster, but we have good grapes waiting to be picked.”

The farm is taking measures such as rocket fireworks to prevent damage by crows and civets.

The price per kilo of grapes is 700 yen for Campbell, 1,100 yen for Kyoho grapes, etc. Sales at the direct sales office will continue until mid-September, with different varieties.

Grapes from Arayashiki Farm are sold at the direct sales counter, as well as at the Arurun Field produce shop, supermarkets in Oogata Ward, Nalus, Seven-Eleven, and other stores. Please note that tasting is not available at the direct sales counter this year due to the new corona infection control measures.