By TORU FURUSHO/ Staff Writer
December 21, 2022 at 07:00 JST
Watermelon wine produced with watermelons, a local specialty of Ajigasawa, Aomori Prefecture (Toru Furusho)
AJIGASAWA, Aomori Prefecture--Although primarily known as a hub of apple production, this small town in northern Japan is branching out to produce rose wine made with watermelons grown here.
Town officials said the initiative is aimed at promoting a local specialty to draw more tourists to the area.
Characterized by its refreshing sweetness, the watermelon wine is suitable as an aperitif or as a dessert beverage.
The town’s tourist association has commissioned Sun Mamoru Winery Inc. to produce the wine at its second plant in Owani, also in the prefecture, since the last business year that started in April 2021.
While Ajigasawa is better known for its tasty apples, it is also famed for watermelons in summer.
In the business year starting in April 2020, 1,728 tons of watermelons were harvested in the town, accounting for about 20 percent of all watermelons harvested in the prefecture.
A watermelon variety called Benimakura is used for wine-making.
According to the winery, it initially aimed to produce a wine only with watermelons.
But it retained the grassy smell unique to the cucurbitaceous plant when it was fermented.
The winery then mixed a white wine made with Steuben grapes from the Tsugaru region to achieve a rose wine with a sweet watermelon aroma.
“It retains a solid aroma and the flavor of watermelon. It is not too sweet and is easy to drink,” said Mayor Mamoru Hirata after a wine tasting during a news conference held Nov. 1. “We really want visitors to try it.”
A 720-milliliter bottle sells for 2,000 yen ($14.60), including tax, at the Wando seaside rest area in the town.
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