Wineries in Aomori, northeastern Japan, form group to seek recognition

AOMORI, Japan - Wineries in the northeastern Japan prefecture of Aomori have formed an association to gain recognition for their wines, in a move to add to the prefecture's reputation as a producer of rice, sake, apples and seafood.

Sun Mamoru Winery, a local pioneer and one of the nine members of the winery association, started a vineyard in 1998 in Mutsu in the prefecture's Shimokita Peninsula located in the northernmost part of the main island of Honshu.