Hotel La Vigne Hakuba to Host Two Japanese Wine Events This Winter

TL;DR: Hotel La Vigne Hakuba will host two winemaker dinners in November and December 2026, featuring rare Japanese wines and producers.

Hotel La Vigne Hakuba, a destination hotel run by the hospitality group Onko Chishin, announced today it will hold two wine-centric events this coming winter. The first, on November 28, 2026, brings French-born natural winemaker Jean Marc Brignot—who relocated to Japan in 2012—for a bistro-style dinner. The second, on December 12, features rare Hokkaido wines from 10R Winery and Domaine de Montille & Hokkaido, paired with a multi-course French menu using local ingredients.

Both events are designed to let guests eat and drink alongside the winemakers themselves. The hotel currently stocks over 1,000 bottles of Japanese wine, mostly from Nagano, and has positioned wine as a draw in its own right—not just an add-on to a ski trip. According to the press release, the aim is to create a space where producers and guests can exchange perspectives over the same table.

Key Facts

• November 28, 2026: Jean Marc Brignot, a natural winemaker originally from France's Jura region, will host "Bistro Jean Marc," a casual, communal-style event. Brignot has been making additive-free, unfiltered wines in Japan since 2012. Several of his viticulturist colleagues will also attend.
• December 12, 2026: Bruce Gutlove (10R Winery, Iwamizawa) and Akira Yano (Domaine de Montille & Hokkaido) will present rare Hokkaido wines paired with a one-night-only French course using Hokkaido and Shinshu ingredients with Burgundy culinary influences.
• Pricing: ¥49,500 per person (one night, two meals, double occupancy).
• Venue: Hotel La Vigne Hakuba, located in Hakuba Village, Kitaazumi District, Nagano.
• Hotel manager: Asahi Hayashi; the property is operated by Onko Chishin, which specializes in "destination hotels."
• Bruce Gutlove previously worked as head winemaker at Coco Farm & Winery in Tochigi from 1991 before founding 10R Winery. He also introduced Japan's first contract winemaking facility for small growers without their own equipment.

What This Means for International Buyers / Visitors

I've noticed Hakuba's dining scene evolving beyond the typical izakaya-and-curry rotation. Hotel La Vigne is one of a handful of properties actively building a food-and-wine identity that can stand on its own outside ski season. If you're considering commercial property in Hakuba, this is worth watching—hospitality businesses that offer year-round programming (wine dinners, summer trail access, culinary events) tend to smooth occupancy curves and attract repeat guests who aren't purely seasonal skiers.

For visitors, these events are a rare chance to sit with winemakers whose bottles are hard to find even in Tokyo. The ¥49,500 price includes lodging, so it's positioned as a weekend package rather than a standalone dinner. That bundling strategy is becoming more common as operators try to fill mid-week and shoulder-season inventory. If you're planning a late-autumn or early-winter trip and want something beyond the slopes, this is one of the sharper cultural pivots I've seen in the valley.

Background

Hotel La Vigne Hakuba opened with an explicit focus on Japanese wine—unusual for a ski resort hotel. The property maintains a cellar of over 1,000 bottles, mostly from Nagano producers, and pairs them with French-technique cuisine using Shinshu ingredients. The hotel has hosted winemaker events before, but this winter's lineup is notable for the caliber of guests: Brignot's natural wines are notoriously difficult to source, and 10R Winery's output is limited by design.

Jean Marc Brignot's move from Jura to Japan in 2012 was part of a broader trend of European winemakers experimenting with Japanese terroir. Bruce Gutlove's career trajectory—from New York to Tochigi to founding his own winery in Hokkaido—mirrors the professionalization of Japan's wine industry over the past three decades. Akira Yano, formerly with Rack Corporation (a Burgundy-focused importer), now manages the Hakodate-based project of Domaine de Montille, one of Burgundy's most respected estates.

Editorial note: This article synthesizes Japanese-language press releases. Shun is a researcher and writer, not a licensed real-estate agent or financial advisor. All event details, dates, and pricing should be confirmed directly with Hotel La Vigne Hakuba before booking.