Domaine Takahiko Soga

Domaine Takahiko is a boutique winery in Yoichi, Hokkaido, founded by Takahiko Soga.

The estate consists of a single roughly 4.6 hectare vineyard planted with Pinot Noir vines, situated on a hill about 60 m above sea level.  In selecting Hokkaido’s more northern climate, Soga-san sought to find a place better suited to cool-climate viticulture and to express a Japanese sense of terroir.  He works organically, with minimal intervention in the cellar (ambient yeasts, limited or no filtration, modest sulfur) to allow the site to speak.

Takahiko first studied microbiology before working for about ten years at Coco Farm Winery.  During that period, he traveled and tasted wines worldwide, and was especially influenced by the Jura winemaker Pierre Overnoy.  Motivated by a desire to make wines that resonate with Japanese cuisine and a philosophy of quiet craftsmanship, he founded Domaine Takahiko around 2010 in Yoichi.  Over time, he has refined his offerings—today the Nanatsumori (七ツ森) line has several cuvées (Pinot Noir, Blanc de Noir, Rosé de Noir, Passetoutgrains, etc.) from selected plots of the estate.

Despite the limited scale (production rarely exceeds 9,000 bottles) , and the difficulty of acquiring bottles—wines from Domaine Takahiko have gained a devoted following internationally. Critics often note their refined elegance, clarity of fruit, savory (aka umami-like) complexity, and ability to pair beautifully with delicate Asian cuisine.  Soga-san has expressed that he doesn’t primarily seek awards, but rather to create wines that reflect the land and a Japanese sensibility.