‘Langhe-Yoichi’ wine pact looks to boost viticulture, tourism and trade

The Langhe, Piedmont, and Hokkaido’s Yoichi district have come together to sign a ‘wine pact’, with the aim of facilitating a cultural exchange of expertise between the iconic Italian and Japanese wine regions.

Yoichi Town in Hokkaido and the Langhe Regional Producers’ Association in Neviglie, located in the Cuneo province, met in Italy to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 26 March.

To formally seal the deal, Yoichi mayor Keisuke Saito, and a Langhe representative dipped thumbs into each others’ glass of red wine, before marring white documents with blood-red fingerprints. 

The stamp signified a collaboration founded in shared identity and vision.

A two-way street

Dubbed the ‘Langhe – Yoichi Alliance’, the hope is that the pact will help the regions learn from one another’s expertise. For Langhe, this lies in its centuries-old viticultural history, while the Japanese region shines in its ability to innovate in the face of tough climate conditions.

The ritual took place at the family-run Bera winery in Neviglie – a 40-hectare estate manned by Valter Bera with his wife Alida Chiarle and their sons Umberto and Riccardo.

Four more Piedmontese producers attended the ceremony: Adriano Marco e Vittorio, Cantina del Pino, Diego Morra and Luigi Giordano. 

‘Pursuit of excellence’

According to Italian outlet Wine Mag, Mayor Saito said: “Yoichi, already known as the ‘new frontier’ of Japanese wine, seeks in the Langhe not only technique, but also the philosophy needed to elevate its crus to global standards.

“Yoichi aspires to become a global benchmark for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Being able to count on the wisdom and support of the Langhe masters is an immense honour for us.

“This seal in wine is our promise to never betray the pursuit of excellence.”

Shared values

Key pillars of the new agreement are sustainability and adaptation to climate change. Renowned for its UNESCO-listed vineyards and premium wines like Barolo and Barbaresco, the Langhe region suffered severe heath, extreme weather and drought in recent times  – with average temperatures ticking up by around 1.5°C over the past 50 years. This makes climate change an urgent concern. 

Meanwhile, Yoichi’s evolving soil and climate conditions also make it a pressing concern, with the small town seeking to shift from using cool-climate German grapes to fruit that thrives in warmer weather, as temperatures heat up.

Another goal of the pact is to fuel the growth of oenological tourism in both areas – with the hope that more Japanese wine lovers will take a trip to the Langhe’s rolling hills, while Italian tourists will visit the charming Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Additionally, the alliance will help cement the presence of great Piedmont wines in one of Asia’s most demanding markets.

Mutual respect

Italy is the second largest wine supplier to Japan by value, surpassed only by France. In 2025, Italy exported ¥31.6bn ($211m) worth of wine to Japan.

Umberto Bera, winemaker at the host company, shares her vision for the initiative: “I had the opportunity to taste the Pinot Noir wines from Hokkaido , discovering distinctive wines in which the sea and volcanic soils play a fundamental role in the organoleptic profile.

“I hope that this alliance can generate fruitful exchanges on a cultural, technical, and wine tourism level.”

Related news

Vegg White foams at the bit as it launches in new territories

Why China could be fine wine's next success story

IWSR: 2035 will be 'vastly different' for the global drinks sector