A true ambassador for natural wines, the French wine industry is gaining attention worldwide, particularly in Japan. In 2018, Nichifutsu Shoji, a family business based in Kobe, took over the reins of Les Jardins de La Martinière, a wine estate nestled in the small village of Coutures in the Loire Valley.
After completing extensive training in the art of importing high-end products and learning the wine trade at local vineyards, Kaya Tsutsui greatly benefited from the friendship and advice of Hirotake Ooka, himself a Rhône Valley winemaker, in crafting his own natural wines. Supported by Ludovic Joly, Kaya Tsutsui is responsible for all stages of production, from work in the vines to the careful vinification and marketing of the bottles. Today, the estate now covers five hectares of vines, all located on south-east facing slopes. The winemaker opted to plant Cabernet Franc and Chenin, allocating one hectare to more experimental grape varieties.
Today, a dozen winemakers of Japanese origin have settled in France since the 1990s, and Kaya Tsutsui is undoubtedly one of the next great winemakers in his category.