Domaine Nakajima

ドメーヌナカジマ

Nagano, Tomi, Japan

Domaine Nakajima is a small family-run natural winery in Tomi, Nagano, nestled in the Chikumagawa Wine Valley at 850 meters elevation. Founded in 2014 by Yutaka Nakajima, a former systems engineer turned winemaker, the estate farms 1.5 hectares of steep south-facing slopes by hand, producing just a few thousand bottles per year. Inspired by the Loire Valley and Jura, Nakajima works primarily with Cabernet Franc alongside Merlot, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc, with newer plantings of Savagnin and Pinot Noir on a second, higher-altitude vineyard established in 2019. The wines are fermented with wild yeast and bottled with minimal sulfite additions, reflecting a philosophy that great grapes, shaped by the stresses of their environment, naturally produce compelling wine.

Winemaking Philosophy

Nakajima believes that grapes are resilient plants that produce their best wine when allowed to endure natural stresses from insects, disease, and drought rather than being sheltered from them. His approach centers on growing the best possible fruit with minimal intervention, then stepping back in the cellar: wild yeast fermentation, no additives, and only small sulfite additions at bottling.

At a Glance

2014

Founded

1.5 ha

Hectares

Region

Nagano, Tomi, Japan

Grapes

Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Savagnin +1 more

Farming

Hand-farmed viticulture on steep slopes with no insecticides and only organic-approved fungicides when necessary.

Harvest

Entirely hand-harvested with careful selection and removal of defective fruit at optimal acidity levels..

On the map

Domaine Nakajima — Tomi, Nagano

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Coming Soon (7)

Petit Petit

2025 · Sparkling · White · 10%Pre-Arrival

Blend (Kyoho / Delaware)

A playful pét-nat from Domaine Nakajima's Nagano estate, built largely on aromatic Shine Muscat. Gently sparkling and creamy, with the grape's signature muscat perfume, soft lactic notes and an almost sparkling-sake character.

Table Wine Blanc

2025 · Still · White · 10%Pre-Arrival

Blend (Chenin Blanc / Sauvignon Blanc)

The estate's easygoing everyday white, a wild-fermented Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc blend from Nakajima's Nagano clay slopes. Unforced and fresh — a straightforward, honest pour.

Chardonnay

2024 · Still · White · 12.5%Pre-Arrival

Chardonnay

From Domaine Nakajima's newer, high-altitude Mido-district plantings in Tomi, Nagano, this wild-fermented Chardonnay is made with the estate's characteristic light touch. Elegant and mineral-driven rather than showy, with fine acid lift and real poise.

Chenin Blanc & Sauvignon Blanc

2024 · Still · White · 10%Pre-Arrival

Blend (Chenin Blanc / Sauvignon Blanc)

A wild-fermented estate blend of Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc that reflects Yutaka Nakajima's Loire influence, grown on hand-worked clay slopes in Tomi, Nagano. Supple and tangy, with straw and herb nuances framing lemony fruit.

Table Wine Rouge

2025 · Still · Red · 10%Pre-Arrival

Blend (Merlot / Cabernet Franc)

'Cuvée Ammonoidea' is Domaine Nakajima's everyday red, roughly 90% Cabernet Franc with Merlot, wild-fermented and oak-aged in the estate's natural style. Cloudy and unfiltered, with grape-forward aroma, a gentle woody-herbal Cabernet Franc lift and a soft, drink-now palate.

Cabernet Franc

2024 · Still · Red · 10%Pre-Arrival

Cabernet Franc

Yutaka Nakajima farms steep clay slopes at ~850m in Tomi, Nagano, working by hand with wild yeasts and minimal sulphur after training in the Loire, Baden and at Coco Farm. Cabernet Franc is the estate's red heart: light, focused and supple, with red-cherry fruit, fine herbal lift and the bright acidity the cool site preserves.

Pinot Noir

2024 · Still · Red · 11.5%Pre-Arrival

Pinot Noir

Domaine Nakajima's first-ever Pinot Noir, from the estate's higher Mido-district vineyard in Tomi, Nagano, hand-worked and wild-fermented. An early, promising release in the translucent, low-intervention house style, with fresh plummy fruit and real potential to develop.