We also recommend the "Cave D'Occhi Winery" in Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, to those new to wineries. Not only can you taste wines, including the "Animal Series" with their adorable labels, but it is also a "winery where you can stay," complete with shops, restaurants, spas, and accommodations.
There are various ways to spend your time here, but the "Winery Tour and Lunch Course" is the best way to fully enjoy the charms of Cabe d'Occhi even on a day trip. Here is a report on my visit there on a winter weekend.
*Prices include tax.
There are many ways to enjoy it. Stay at the winery "CAVE D'OCCI Winery"
Located in the vineyards at the foot of Mount Kakuda along the Sea of Japan, CAVE D'OCCI was founded about 30 years ago in 1992. At the time, wine was uncharted territory in Niigata, and the founder began by developing the land, making CAVE D'OCCI a pioneer in Niigata wine.
The exterior of the Cabe d'Occhi Winery. The five unique wineries gathered here, including Cabe d'Occhi, are known as the "Niigata Wine Coast," and are now attracting attention as a new wine-producing region in Japan (photo provided).
The biggest attraction of CAVE D'OCCI is that you can stay there. In addition to the winery and shops, the vast vineyards also house a restaurant, a cafe, two accommodation buildings, a spa, and more, so visitors can enjoy a variety of activities, whether they want to stay for a long time or take a day trip to explore the area efficiently.
They continue to develop the land little by little every year, and the field now covers an area of 9 hectares, an area the size of two Tokyo Domes.
If you visit CAVE D'OCCI, the first thing you should do is take part in the "Winery Tour." You can learn a lot about CAVE D'OCCI's history and the passion that goes into winemaking while touring the vineyards, winery, barrel aging warehouse, wine cellar, and other key areas of winemaking. You can rest assured that even those with no knowledge of wine can enjoy the tour, as the guide will be easy to understand.
A wine shop that sells not only wine but also a variety of snacks, tableware, and miscellaneous goods.
Original wine glass from Curved D'Occhi
Take a winery tour. The adorable label "Animal Series" wines, like jazz
At 11:00 a.m., we checked in at the wine shop counter and began the tour. Our guide was Mr. Takahashi, who is in charge of Caved'Occhi production.
First, we went to the "Albariño" field. Albariño is a white grape variety native to Spain that grows well with sandy soil, making it the perfect variety for this land. Since the company's founding, they have cultivated 40 to 50 varieties, and currently there are about 20 varieties of grapes, but this is the one they are focusing on the most.
"Although there are still few places in Japan that are seriously cultivating this variety, it is attracting attention as a variety with great potential. Its appeal lies in its firm acidity and gorgeous fragrance."
Mr. Takahashi of CAVE D'OCCI guided us on the tour. The soil around the foot of Mt. Kakuda is sandy, reminiscent of the sand on the coast. This soil is low in nutrients and has good drainage, making it ideal for growing grapes.
The most important step is pruning. If you don't prune, the branches will grow too long and the nutrients will disperse, making it difficult for the tree to bear fruit.
The grapes at Cabe d'Occhi are grown using a method called the hedge cultivation method, which allows the grapes to grow at around waist height. The grapes are harvested from summer to autumn, and the juice is squeezed out with a press and then transported to a tank room where it is mixed with yeast and fermented.
Wine is made when yeast eats the sugar in grapes and produces carbon dioxide and alcohol. To allow the yeast to work effectively, it is necessary to control the temperature and oxygen daily.
The tank holds 2,000 liters when full, and can produce about 2,500 to 2,600 bottles of wine.
"Wine that is fermented directly in the tank and then bottled will have a fruity flavor, but some wines are fermented in barrels without being bottled."
Next we were shown the barrel cellar, where large barrels filled with wine. The aroma of French oak is added to the wine, giving it a richer, more complex flavor.
A chilly barrel storehouse
The cellar is lined with rows of bottled wines. Some of the wines that have been aged here and are ready to drink are then sold in the shop's vintage cellar.
Vintage cellar in the shop
Here, we were introduced to three representative types of wine produced at Cave d'Occhi.
"The 'Cépage Series,' which means variety, would be like classical music. The way it's made and the taste are orthodox. On the other hand, the 'Animal Series,' which winemaker Fumito Kakegawa makes as a hobby, is like playful jazz. He is exploring new ways to make wine delicious through various experiments. 'Funpy' is a portmanteau of 'fun' and 'happy,' and as the name suggests, it has a pop taste that is full of happiness. It's like J-POP."
From the left: "Fanpy", "Animal Series", and "Cepage Series"
There are 12 types of animal series in total
It's amazing that such a wide variety of wines can be produced in the same winery. If you are interested in the taste of each different wine, you can sample them at the tasting corner in the shop (300 yen per glass).
A lunch course with a view of the vineyards
After learning about wine making for an hour, enjoy a lunch course at Restaurant Cave d'Occhi. The taste of the wine is exceptional as you gaze upon the expansive vineyard scenery! You can enjoy the marriage of seasonal vegetables, homemade bread, and hearty meat dishes with authentic French cuisine.
Restaurant Curved Otch
Here is the menu for the lunch course we had that day:
One of the drinks in the set is the sparkling wine "2022 Blanc Blanc". It has a dry, light and easy-to-drink taste.
For those who can't drink alcohol, there is also 100% grape juice made from grapes grown for wine cultivation. It's surprisingly rich.
Seasonal vegetables, Jerusalem artichoke potage and homemade bread. Slightly sweet, fragrant and comfortingly delicious
Taro and Yellowtail Pressé, Shungiku and Mushroom Salad
Chicken rouladecio marinated in red wine and pomegranate. Juicy chicken is topped with the crunchy sweet and sour pomegranate.
Dessert: Silk Sweet Brulee with Sake Lees Ice Cream
Outside the window, light snow began to fall, enveloping the vineyards in a thin layer of white. Forgetting the hustle and bustle of everyday life, enjoying a leisurely lunch was a truly extraordinary luxury.
Relax in the spa, which also has an open-air bath. Escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
After filling your stomach, head to the on-site "CAVE D'OCCI VINESPA." No reservation is necessary, just buy a ticket from the ticket machine. Rental towel sets (350 yen) and amenities are also available, so you can come empty-handed without worry.
In addition to the indoor baths for both men and women, there are two open-air baths, one large and one small, with different temperatures. The open-air baths, surrounded by a garden, have a sense of openness. The two private hot springs are drawn from underground at the foot of Mt. Kakuta, and the spring quality is highly alkaline, with pH values of 9.0 and 9.1. Apparently it is also known as the "beauty bath," and the viscous, soft water is like a beauty serum. Your skin will feel moisturized and smooth after bathing.
In addition, the hotel also has a salon run by the American spa brand "AVEDA," as well as facilities for aromatherapy bedrock bathing, bodywork, and traditional Thai massage. If you have time, you'll want to spend the whole day here relaxing and soothing your body.
Spacious courtyard
There is also a book cafe with about 4,000 books.
CAVE D'OCCI VINESPA is a two-story building surrounding a courtyard with a fountain, and bookshelves are installed throughout the building. There are an astonishing 4,000 books stored here. The books were selected by BACH's Haba Masataka to fit 10 themes, such as "Eat and Drink," "Getting in Shape," "My Own Preferences," and "The Changes of Nature." Every shelf is filled with fascinating books, hard to choose.
There are comfortable sofa seats, counter seats equipped with power outlets for charging, bench seats built into the bookshelves, and you can relax wherever you like. We also saw some people using it for coworking.
Sofa in the bookshelf
After your bath, we recommend ordering a glass of non-alcoholic sparkling wine at the attached cafe, opening your book and relaxing in style. It's so comfortable you'll feel like you could stay there for hours.
A place you'll want to return to again and again to slow down your body and mind
Surrounded by mountains and the sea, in the great outdoors, delicious wine and food, plenty of books, and hot springs... There are many ways to spend your time at Caved'Occhi Winery. For those new to wineries, it's great to not only learn about wine, but also experience the extraordinary resort atmosphere. With time flowing slowly, it felt like I was able to forget about the busyness of everyday life and gently slow down both my mind and body.
This time, I was able to see the quiet vineyards in the snow, but I'm sure that in summer you can see lush green leaves, and in autumn you can see ripe grapes. I'll look forward to the changes of the seasons, and when I'm tired of my busy schedule, I'll come back here again. With these thoughts in mind, I left the endless vineyards.
Cave D'Occhi Winery
| address | ： | 1661 Kakutahama, Nishikan Ward, Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| access | ： | Take the airport limousine bus from Niigata Airport to Niigata Station (approx. 25 minutes) → Take the JR Echigo Line from Niigata Station to Uchino Station (approx. 25 minutes) → Take a taxi to Card Butch Winery (approx. 15 minutes) *Free shuttle bus available |
| phone | ： | 0256-77-2288（カーブドッチ） 0256-77-2226（ヴィネスパ） 0256-77-5460（宿泊予約） |
| Closed Day | ： | none |
| ： | @cavedocci | |
| web | ： | https://www.docci.com/ |
Winery tour lunch (with toast drink)
| Fee | ： | 5,500 yen (including winery tour without tasting) |
|---|---|---|
| venue | ： | Restaurant Curved Otch |
| cooking | ： | Appetizer, soup, meat dish, dessert, coffee |
| reservation | ： | 0256-77-2288 ※事前予約制（毎日午前11時にワインショップのカウンターからスタート） |
Domestic Discount Fares Skymate
Limited to ages 12 and over and under 25!
Extremely affordable discount fares available for booking from the day of departure (4 hours before departure)
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
