Wineries in Aomori, northeastern Japan, form group to seek recognition

Wineries in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Aomori have formed an association to gain recognition for their wines, in a move to add to the prefecture's reputation as a producer of rice, sake, apples and seafood.Sun Mamoru Winery, a local pioneer and one of the nine members of the winery association, started a vineyard in 1998 in Mutsu in the prefecture's Shimokita Peninsula located in the northernmost part of the main island of Honshu.Yoshihisa Kitamura, president of Sun Mamoru who chairs the association, said, "I want to establish Aomori's brand as a major wine producer."Wine grapes, …READ FULL ARTICLE