Enjoy exceptional wine in its place of origin. The joy of a wine trip

Even in countries where wine is not considered a popular choice, people will try ordering a glass of wine.

JAL: If a wine lover were to go on a wine trip, what wine-producing regions would you recommend?

Okamoto: First of all, I think it's best to go to the region where your favorite wine is produced. Of all the wine-producing regions I've been to, the most interesting one was Burgundy in France. Even within the same region of Burgundy, different wines are produced depending on the field. It's educational because you learn all sorts of things, like "That wine can only be produced because of this slope and this soil" or "The taste of the grapes changes because the soil is different." But maybe my way of enjoying it is a bit too nerdy (laughs)?

JAL: It's certainly a bit of an enthusiast's way of enjoying wine, but it does seem interesting (laughs). On the other hand, what wine producing regions would you recommend for "wine beginners" who want to learn more about wine?

Okamoto: If you're a beginner, it might be a good idea to start by visiting a famous wine-producing region. There are now more wineries in Japan and overseas that welcome tourists. Even overseas, there are wine tours that will accompany you on the spot. If you're worried about going overseas all of a sudden, I think it's fine to start with a winery in Japan. I'm sure you'll enjoy just seeing the actual vineyards.

JAL: By the way, could you tell us how you can enjoy wine when you go on a regular trip, rather than on a "wine trip"?
Okamoto: I would recommend to everyone to try ordering wine at a restaurant when traveling. In my case, even when I go to a country where I don't have much of an image of wine, I first look for a store that has wine.

JAL: Which country left the biggest impression on you?
Okamoto: India. The shop I visited was on a corner of a rather suspicious street, so I remember opening the door with a pounding heart (laughs). When I asked why they had wine, I was told that it was actually a French immigrant who had started making wine. It was quite an unexpected story to hear in India, where wine is not that well-known, so it made quite an impression on me.
You can also find wine in other Asian countries that don't have a strong wine image, such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, if you look hard enough. However, sometimes the wine tastes really good and sometimes it doesn't (laughs).

JAL: As expected, each country has its own personality and quirks (laughs).

Okamoto: But I think it would be good if it could be a topic of conversation (laughs). If you bring some local wine you bought on your trip to a wine party or dinner party in Japan, that alone will lead to a conversation. So I think wine can be a useful topic of conversation.

Wine doesn't need theory. Tips for casually enjoying wine at a store

JAL: Are there any tips or things that everyone should know when ordering wine at a restaurant, not just overseas?

Okamoto: I have the impression that there are a lot of theories about wine, but I don't think you need to worry too much about them. I sometimes interview wine professionals such as wine sommeliers and wine bar owners, and quite a few of them say that you don't need to worry about theories like "white wine goes with fish dishes, red wine goes with meat dishes, etc."

JAL: I was surprised because I had the impression that wine professionals would be the ones who were fussy about wine theory.

Okamoto: One producer said, "The most important thing is to enjoy food and wine with your favorite combination." For example, if you go to a restaurant that is particular about its food and wine, and the staff tells you that "that combination doesn't suit you," then you should stop. But unless that's the case, I don't think you need to be too tied down by theory.

JAL: It's more important to find your own way of enjoying wine than to understand wine theory or knowledge.

Okamoto: Yes. To begin with, wine theory is deep and too much for the average person to understand, so unless you are a real wine lover and a keen scholar, I think you can't follow the theory. In that case, I think it's better to enjoy wine in the way you like. First of all, it might be important to try different wines and find out what type of wine you like.

Enjoy wine more casually. More and more freedom in how you drink wine

JAL: Among the many types of alcohol, wine has always been seen as something that is difficult to approach, but it seems it can be enjoyed more casually.

Okamoto: Of course. Recently, the free way of drinking wine has been spreading all over the country. The "Koppu no Kai" organized by wine producers is attracting attention in Japan now. It was started with the idea that "we drink wine from a glass when we drink at home, so we want our customers to drink casually too," and events are being held all over the country. I hope that more people can enjoy wine casually like the "Koppu no Kai".

JAL: So you can drink it however you like, not just with food.

Okamoto: I think it's fine for each person to drink in their own way. Some of my wine friends say that they enjoy drinking a slightly sweet rosé wine in the summer, gulping it down with lots of ice, like a "crackling" drink (laughs). I think discovering new ways to drink wine in this way is also one way to enjoy wine.

JAL: Finally, please tell us which country you would like to visit right now.

Okamoto: I want to go to South Africa. Recently, natural wines, also known as "natural wine" or "vin naturel", have become popular all over the world. Until now, South African wines have had a strong image of being rich and full-bodied, but recently, several famous natural wine producers have been emerging. It seems that the direction is changing a bit, so I would like to go and see the wineries there in person. And I would also like to try the wine there.

Jun Okamoto
Born in Setagaya, Tokyo. After working for a publishing company, she became a freelance writer. She writes about food, cooking, travel, lifestyle, health, and other topics. She has been writing about alcohol in particular for over 15 years. In addition to writing about wine for work, she is a wine lover who says that "life is impossible without wine" and goes on "wine trips" to visit wine-producing regions in her private life.

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