Alps

What Alps does

Alps (株式会社アルプス) is a Japanese winery headquartered in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, founded in 1927 and operating as one of the country's largest domestic wine producers, ranking second in production volume among Japanese wine makers. The company controls a vertically integrated supply chain through its wholly-owned agricultural subsidiary Alps Farm (established 2008, approximately 40 hectares cultivating 14+ grape varieties) and a 17-branch contract grower network covering approximately 400 farming households in Nagano Prefecture. Its product portfolio spans the premium Musee du Vin series (20+ varietals including Black Queen, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Gewurztraminer), the affordable Azusa Wine casual line, sulfite-free Shinshu wines, organic wines, sparkling wines (Oasis series), fruit wines, brandy (The Alps 12-year and 24-year), fresh and organic juices, fruit jellies, and the VinFree non-alcoholic wine-taste beverage line. Technical differentiators include a night-harvest technique (3 AM to sunrise) to capture peak aroma compounds and the Vin du Tourisme partnership with an Australian winery for cost-performance organic Syrah.

The company monetizes primarily through consumer product sales, with pricing spanning roughly ¥691 for basic grape juice to ¥3,773+ for premium wines such as Musee du Vin Ettoile Shiojiri Sauvignon Blanc 2024. Distribution combines DTC e-commerce at alpswine.com, the directly operated Nodaya retail store in Shiojiri, national supermarket and liquor store wholesale, and wine specialty shops carrying premium and limited-edition SKUs. Customer segments include Japanese wine consumers seeking everyday wines that pair with washoku cuisine, as well as gift and special-occasion purchasers of premium and limited-release labels. The company actively invests in content marketing (regular columns since 2018), participates in industry competitions (Japan Wine Competition gold awards, Sakura Awards 2026 gold), and is a member of the JWINE industry consortium. Leadership is led by President Manabu Yagasaki (矢ヶ崎学), with Alps Farm operations headed by Department Manager Masao Momose (百瀬正雄).

Name

Alps

Legal name

株式会社アルプス (Alps Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://alpswine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Production

NAICS

Wineries (312130), Grape Vineyards (111332), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine Production & Winemaking (AFAFAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB), Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Organic Vineyard & Wine Grape Farming (AFAGAKAI), Wine Tastings & Vineyard/Winery Tours (THAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Japanese wine production
• Fruit juice manufacturing
• Winery and vineyard
• Sparkling wine production
• Organic beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Shiojiri

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alps is a Japanese winery based in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, manufacturing and selling Japanese wines under the premium Musee du Vin brand, the casual Azusa Wine series, sulfite-free, organic, sparkling, and fruit wines. The company also produces non-alcoholic wine-taste beverages (VinFree), fresh and organic fruit juices, grape juices, brandy, and fruit jellies, sourcing grapes from its own Alps Farm (~40 hectares) and approximately 400 contracted farmers across 17 branches in Nagano Prefecture.

Product overview

Alps (株式会社アルプス) is a Japanese winery based in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, operating as a comprehensive wine and beverage company. The product portfolio centers on Japanese wines under the Musee du Vin (MdV) premium brand, with over 20 varieties including single-varietal wines from Black Queen, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Supporting brands include the casual Azusa Wine series, sulfite-free Shinshu wines, organic wines, fruit wines, and sparkling wines under the Oasis series. Non-alcoholic offerings include the VinFree wine-taste beverage line and various fresh/organic juices (apple, peach, orange, grape). Additional products include fruit jellies, brandy (The Alps series), and a cool delivery service. The company sources grapes from approximately 400 contracted farmers across 17 branches in Nagano Prefecture plus its own Alps Farm estate (approximately 40 hectares) cultivating 14 grape varieties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ミュゼ・ドゥ・ヴァン (Musee du Vin): 日本葡萄酒の代表ブランド。約20種類以上の銘柄を展開。
• あずさワイン (Azusa Wine)
• ALPS FARM
• ヴァンフリー (Vin Free)
• necoワイン (neco Wine)
• 野田屋 (Nodaya)
• Vin du Tourisme (ヴァン・ドゥ・ツーリズム)

Products and services

• Musee du Vin (ミュゼ・ドゥ・ヴァン) Premium Japanese wine series featuring more than 20 varieties including single-varietal and blended wines from Shinshu/Nagano grown grapes such as Black Queen, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah. Targeted at wine enthusiasts and gift purchasers.
• Azusa Wine (あずさワイン) Entry-level casual wine series offering easy-drinking sulfite-free wines at affordable prices, including CLASSIC RED, CLASSIC WHITE, Black Sweet, and Premium variants. Targeted at everyday consumers and casual dining.
• Shinshu Sulfite-Free Wines (信州産 酸化防止剤無添加ワイン) Sulfite-free wines made from Shinshu-grown grapes including Concord, Niagara, and barrel-aged varieties, addressing health-conscious consumers concerned with added sulfites.
• Fruit Wines (フルーツワイン) Fruit wines made from Shinshu-grown fruits including peach, apple, and Kyoho grape.
• Sparkling Wines (スパークリングワイン) Sparkling wines including the Oasis series (Black Queen, BQP), Concord Niagara sparkling, and Shinshu cider.
• Organic Wine (有機ワイン) Organic wines made from contract farmers' organically grown grapes, available in red and white varieties.
• VinFree (ヴァンフリー) Alcohol-free (0.00%) wine-taste beverages made from wine grape varieties, containing polyphenols and organic acids comparable to regular wine, available in sparkling red/white and still formats.
• Shinshu Fresh Straight Juices (信州産ストレートジュース 旬摘) Fresh fruit juices made from Shinshu-grown fruits including apple, peach, and tomato, available in various sizes.
• Organic Straight Juices (有機ストレートじゅうす) Organic juices certified JAS made from internationally sourced organic fruits including orange, apple, and Concord grape.
• Winery Kodawari Grape Juice (ワイナリーこだわりグレープジュース) Premium grape juices blending wine and table grape varieties, including Premium White made with Niagara, Muscat, and wine grape varieties.
• Brandy (ブランデー) Brandy products including The Alps (12-year and 24-year) and White Brandy Kaju no Sei.
• Shinshu Fruit Jelly (信州産果実ゼリー) Fruit jellies made from Shinshu-grown fruits including Concord, Niagara, apple, and peach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shinshu Concord sulfite-free wine has maintained 4 consecutive years as Japan's No.1 selling Japanese wine in its category
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Takahata Winery: Saitama-based Japanese winery with own vineyards producing premium varietal wines. Comparable direct-to-consumer winery model and domestic Japanese wine positioning to Alps.
• Mercian Corporation: Japan's largest domestic wine producer (a Kirin Holdings subsidiary) producing Château Mercian, Manns Wine, and other Japanese wine brands. Directly competes with Alps across price tiers and channels in the Japanese wine market.
• Tsutsumi Brewing (Tsutsumi Shuzo): Japanese winery and sake/shochu producer with vineyards in Hokkaido and other regions, offering premium Japanese wines and direct-to-consumer experiences. Comparable premium positioning and craft-scale to Alps's Musee du Vin.
• Coco Farm & Winery: Boutique Japanese winery in Tochigi known for niche varietals and sulfite-free/orange wines. Comparable in craft approach, low-intervention style, and DTC emphasis to Alps's sulfite-free and organic lines.
• Grace Wine: Premium Japanese winery based in Katsunuma, Yamanashi, known for organic and terroir-driven wines. Comparable to Alps's Musee du Vin premium series in positioning, DTC focus, and domestic-origin storytelling.
• Manns Wine: Mass-market Japanese wine brand owned by Mercian/Kirin, producing affordable everyday wines and competing directly with Alps's Azusa Wine casual series in supermarkets and liquor stores nationwide.
• Lotte Chateau (Lotte Wine): Lotte Group's Japanese wine venture (formerly Château Lion) producing affordable to mid-tier Japanese wines. Competes with Alps in supermarket and convenience-store channels across Japan.

Broad incumbents

• E & J Gallo Winery: World's largest wine producer with broad portfolio including premium and mass-market brands. Comparable as a large-scale wine producer, though operating globally and primarily in non-domestic markets relative to Alps's Japan-only focus.
• Treasury Wine Estates: Global wine major owning brands like Penfolds, Beringer, and 19 Crimes. Comparable in scale and premium-wine ambition to Alps's Musee du Vin but operates across multiple geographies rather than a single domestic market.
• Suntory: Japan's largest beverage conglomerate with a broad wine portfolio (including Tomi no Oka, JAPAN PREMIUM) plus beer, spirits, and RTDs. Overlaps with Alps in premium Japanese wine but operates as a multi-category incumbent with much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Alps