Japan Winery Award®︎2026 Winners Announced! One New 5-Star Winery Added! Special Judge Yuko Jurin Award and JAL Award Also Announced

Japan Winery Award®︎2026 Awarded Wineries' Japanese Wine

The Japan Winery Award Council (General Incorporated Association), which promotes Japanese wine in Japan, held the '9th Japan Winery Award®︎2026' on Monday, June 8, 2026, to honor outstanding producers of Japanese wine nationwide.

From 396 eligible wineries across Japan, 318 were awarded as '5-Star,' '4-Star,' '3-Star,' or 'Connoisseurs.' Yamanashi Prefecture's '98WINEs' newly received a 5-star award.

Additionally, the 'Special Judge Award Yuko Jurin Award,' selected by the 2026 special judge, manga 'Drops of God' original author Yuko Jurin (pen name Tadashi Agi), and the 'JAL Award' with the cooperation of Japan Airlines Co., Ltd., were announced.

Continuing from last year, 20 general enthusiasts who love Japanese wine and producers also participated in the award ceremony (Part 1).

Japan Winery Award®︎2026 Awarded Wineries

5-Star: Wineries that produce wines of outstanding quality across many brands and vintages

[Hokkaido] ・Domaine Takahiko ・Yamazaki Winery

[Yamagata] ・Sakai Winery ・Takahata Winery ・Takeda Winery

[Yamanashi] ・Katsunuma Brewery ・Kizan Yoko Kogyo ・KISVIN Winery ・98WINEs (NEW) ・Suntory Tomi no Oka Winery ・Château Mercian ・Diamond Brewing ・Chuo Wine ・Marufuji Wine Industry ・Mans Wine

[Nagano] ・Obuse Winery ・Kido Winery

[Oita] ・Ajimu Wine Factory

4-Star: Wineries that produce generally good quality and stable wines, with some outstanding brands and vintages 76 wineries

3-Star: Wineries that produce stable, mostly good quality wines that can be purchased with confidence 170 wineries

Connoisseurs: Wineries that produce distinctive wines worthy of evaluation 54 wineries

2026 Special Judge Yuko Jurin Award

[Nagano] ・Geo Hills Winery

*2026 Special Judge: Manga 'Drops of God' original author Yuko Jurin (pen name Tadashi Agi)

JAL Award

[Miyagi Prefecture] ・Minamisanriku Winery

[Yamagata Prefecture] ・Bellwood Vineyard Winery

*The JAL Award is given to next-generation wineries to encourage the future development of Japanese wine, with support from Japan Airlines.

For details on the 4-Star, 3-Star, and Connoisseurs award-winning wineries, please check the official website.

Official website here

Japan Winery Award®︎2026 Event Highlights

Japan Winery Award®︎2026 Japan Winery Award®︎2026 Japan Winery Award®︎2026 Japan Winery Award®︎2026

Japan Winery Award®︎2026

[Reference] What is the Japan Winery Award®︎?

Every year, national and local judges evaluate wineries in Japan that produce Japanese wine and meet certain standards set by the Japan Winery Award Council.

[Judging Method] Local and national judges carefully select worthy wineries from eligible ones, and the decision is made through discussion among all national judges.

[Judging Eligibility] Due to the increase in producers using contract brewing, the eligibility condition is that the winery must have held a fruit wine manufacturing license for at least 3 years.

[Judging Criteria] ・Stability of wine across vintages ・Stability of wine across items ・Cost performance of wine ・Overall evaluation of wine

<Reference Conditions> ・Historical significance of the winery ・Social contribution ・Visitor reception system ・Management stability ・Vineyard condition ・Brewing facilities

[Judges] Rather than evaluating the quality of individual brands through tasting, the evaluation is for the winery as a whole. Therefore, judges must have excellent tasting ability, be well-versed in wines from around the world, and generally meet one of the following conditions for at least 10 years:

[1] Representative or purchasing manager of a liquor store that widely handles Japanese wine [2] Representative or purchasing manager of a restaurant that widely handles Japanese wine [3] Person with publications or articles on Japanese wine

[Reference] <About the Japan Winery Award Council (General Incorporated Association)>

Established on February 25, 2020, the Japan Winery Award Council (General Incorporated Association) is engaged in activities such as operating and holding the Japan Winery Award, and supporting Japanese wine producers and wineries. The official website below provides an overview and history of the council.

Official website here

Japan Winery Award Council (General Incorporated Association) Secretariat

Contact us here [email protected]