Natan Winery– GUBI GUBI

Miyoshi, Tokushima

Natan Winery is a small, independently run winery in Miyoshi, Tokushima, located in the heart of Shikoku Island in south-west Japan. Founded in 2021 by Ms. Namika Inoshita, it is the first winery in Tokushima led by a woman. Built on a philosophy that connects wine, land, and life itself, Natan Winery produces wines that embrace imperfection, individuality, and human presence. Rooted in a region traditionally dominated by sake culture, the winery represents both a personal journey and a new chapter for Tokushima viticulture.

The Origin of Natan Winery

Natan Winery takes its name from two personal sources. “Na-tan” was the affectionate nickname Namika’s children used for her, and “Nathan” refers to a prophet in the Old Testament. The name reflects both family intimacy and spiritual depth, two pillars of the winery’s identity.

Located in Miyoshi City, Tokushima Prefecture, Natan Winery stands as the first winery in Tokushima established and operated by Ms. Namika Inoshita.

From Sommelier to Winemaker

Before founding Natan Winery, Namika worked as a sommelier at a wine bar in Nara. A pivotal turning point came when she encountered Mr. Sumito Iwaya, who was then a winemaker at Hitomi Winery in Shiga.

After listening to his story and tasting his wines, she experienced a powerful realization:

“When I listened to Mr Iwaya's story and tasted the wines, I thought, ‘No matter how much I love this wine, I will never be able to compete with him in terms of passion for the wine’. I was driven by the thought that ‘A sommelier cannot step into the bond between the maker and the wine’. A passion similar to jealousy rose up in me, so much so that even when I remember it now I can vividly recall the memory of that moment. I thought intensely, ‘I want to end my life devoting everything to wine’.” (Namika)

This moment of emotional clarity led her to approach Mr. Iwaya directly.

“I want to make wine.”

She became so emotional that she cried while expressing her determination. Even today, Mr. Iwaya jokes when they meet: “Are you going to cry again?”

A Single Day That Changed Everything

Namika later had the opportunity to work with Mr. Iwaya for just one day, using grapes she had brought herself. That brief experience left a lasting impression on her. She occasionally recalls his approach to grapes and winemaking, finding inspiration in it.

At one point, she worried that the grapes she had brought were not clean enough. Mr. Iwaya responded:
“Grapes are more beautiful than people think.”

She recalls being deeply moved.
“It's not from a human point of view, but from the point of view of the grapes and the wine.”

This shift in perspective became foundational to her philosophy.

Five Years of Apprenticeship

Seeking deeper knowledge, Namika trained for five years at Asuka Winery in Habikino, Osaka, where she studied both viticulture and winemaking.

Later, she began producing wine by renting facilities at Shimanouchi Fujimaru Winery in Osaka. The staff supported her extensively, helping with manual de-stemming and other tasks, sometimes until 11 p.m. However, there was essentially no formal guidance in winemaking decisions.

She recalls:
“I'm really happy to have been able to work at Fujimaru Winery. If I had spent three years being taught everything about winemaking by someone else, I might have ended up imitating the person.” (Namika)

Instead of being instructed step-by-step, she had to think independently, imagine the future, and decide what to do in the present. This autonomy shaped her identity as a winemaker.

Establishing Natan Winery

After relocating to Tokushima, Namika officially opened Natan Winery in 2021, beginning both grape cultivation and winemaking in her own region.

Natan Winery is supported by Ms. Naoko Uchida, who works closely with Namika.

Originally, they were “mama friends” whose children attended the same nursery school. Over time, Naoko became increasingly interested in Namika’s discussions about viticulture and winemaking. She began helping in the vineyards and assisting with labeling.

When the winery was established, Namika invited her to join the project officially.

Today, Naoko is primarily responsible for wine sales and operating the wine shop next to the winery. During the busy season, she assists with vineyard management, grape harvesting, and sorting. During vinification, she works on everything from grape reception to fermentation processes, bottle washing, and bottling.

Expanding Wine into Everyday Life: “Siesta”

Since 2022, Naoko has been developing a product called “siesta”, which utilizes grape pomace generated during the winemaking process. Her goal is to create products that make wine more closely connected to everyday life, extending the winery’s philosophy beyond the bottle.

Motherhood and Winemaking

Namika is also a mother of five children. Her youngest child was born in 2021, the same year the winery opened. There are days when she brings a pram to the winery and cares for her baby while working.

She reflects on the connection between parenting and winemaking:

“Grapes, wine and parenting all have 'watching over and raising' in common. Not being overprotective, believing in the person, being imaginative, all have 'loving' as their foundation. However, wine is probably closer to 'lover' for me.” (Namika)

Geographic Location

Miyoshi City, where Natan Winery is located, lies almost in the center of Shikoku Island, which consists of four prefectures.

Shikoku is known for its distinctive climate, the cultural tradition of Buddhist pilgrimage, and unique regional specialties. Historically, however, the region has been dominated by sake culture, and wine culture has not deeply penetrated the area.

According to Namika, this does not mean the region is unsuitable for wine.

Climate and Natural Conditions

Miyoshi has a dry Seto Inland Sea climate. While Japan’s national average annual rainfall is approximately 1,700 mm, Miyoshi receives about 1,200 mm, making it comparatively dry.

Protected by the Shikoku mountain range, the area is not affected by typhoons. It also enjoys longer hours of sunshine.

The Yoshino River, a large river flowing from west to east, runs through the region, with mountains rising on the opposite side. The winery’s vineyards are located in Ikeda and Mino Towns, both on gentle slopes with pleasant breezes. Situated near the riverside, the vineyards benefit from excellent drainage.

Vineyard Expansion and Varieties

The winery is gradually expanding by negotiating and renting vineyards owned by neighboring farmers. Currently, 13 grape varieties are cultivated:

Yama Sauvignon
Pinot Noir
Riesling Lion
Gewürztraminer
Sauvignon Blanc
Kai Blanc
Delaware
Muscat Bailey A
Campbell Early
Kyoho
Monde Briler
Koshu
Syrah

Minimal Intervention in the Vineyard

In terms of pesticides, Namika applies the minimum amount only when necessary.

She explains:
“I let the grapes themselves feel that this region has this kind of climate, that this kind of disease is prevalent, that this kind of organisms exist. I watch over the grapes, believing that in time they will learn about these things and come to resonate with the region on their own. Even if the yield is not expected.” (Namika)

Her approach emphasizes patience and trust. She strives to ensure that neither humans nor grapes overwork each other. For her, the “interesting character” of the grapes is more important than simple “good taste.”

Imperfection and Human Touch

Namika describes the wine she wants to express as:
“Imperfect but appeals to individuality in an unapologetic way.”

She calls them “wines with human touch.”

“Wine is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and even the same wine can be received differently depending on the emotion and atmosphere of the drinker. If more humanity can be added to the relationship between humans and wine, I think something more than the five senses will be created there.” (Namika)

Wild Yeasts and Non-Intervention

Such individuality is more easily expressed through the use of wild yeasts. As in the vineyard, over-intervention during vinification is avoided.

“It's the same with parenting, but if you think too much about the other person, you can end up being self-centred. I place importance on ‘trusting’.” (Namika)

Trust, rather than control, defines her philosophy.

Finally, Namika reflects on Japanese wine more broadly:
“I find Japanese wines gentle. I believe that the Japanese have a unique, delicate, craftsman-like attitude, which is reflected in Japanese wines, from viticulture to winemaking. Although I am a bit worried about whether our wines will be enjoyed by people outside Japan, I hope they will be able to imagine Japanese food and culture as they encounter them.” (Namika)

Through Natan Winery, she expresses not only her personal journey but also a vision of Japanese wine that is gentle, delicate, and deeply human.