Camel Farm Winery

Ai Ito's journey began after joining Camel Coffee Co., where she served as store manager and area manager at Kaldi Coffee Farm before volunteering for the ambitious winery project established in 2014, eventually becoming head winemaker. She had the privilege of inheriting invaluable cultivation techniques and wisdom from Fujimoto Takeshi, who has been cultivating wine grape varieties in Yoichi for over four decades.

The company was established in 2014, with their state-of-the-art winery completed adjacent to the vineyard in 2017, enabling true estate production from vine to bottle. They practice winemaking that masterfully combines traditional Italian methods with cutting-edge technology. Their approach capitalizes on the bright acidity of grapes nurtured by Yoichi's distinctive cool climate, producing exceptional sparkling wines through both traditional bottle fermentation and modern Charmat methods.

Their dedication to quality was validated when their Pinot Noir earned an international gold medal. That same year, they opened a welcoming shop and cafe designed with the philosophy that visitors should feel comfortable stopping by even in work boots during their farm duties. They continue to pursue environmentally conscious and people-friendly winemaking practices, committed to sustainable agriculture with a remarkable 100-year vision for the earth and their local community.