Coco Farm & Winery is a Japanese winery operated by people with disabilities. Founded by special education teacher Noboru Kawada, its mission is to empower individuals with disabilities by involving them in vineyard work and winemaking—allowing them to become self-reliant and to find pride in their work. Don’t let the social mission mislead you: the quality of their wines is top-notch. In fact, their wines were featured at the G8 Summit dinner in 2008 and have been praised in global media like The Wall Street Journal.

Rosé wines often have a reputation for being “lesser” than red or white, and many wineries use subpar grapes for their rosés. However, Coco Farm’s Pinot Rosé makes no compromises. It’s crafted from 100% Pinot Noir grown in Yoichi, Hokkaido—the same standard as fine red wine. What’s the result? Let’s taste and see!

In the glass, it has a gentle pink-orange hue—visually inviting. The nose hints at blood orange, prune, and black pepper. On the palate, you’ll find juicy red berry flavors like strawberry and raspberry, accented by a touch of white floral aroma and a fleeting hint of cardamom. It’s well-structured, dry, and wonderfully refreshing—perfect with snacks or Japanese/Western cuisine.

Rosé is often underestimated, but with the passion and dedication Coco Farm puts in, the result is outstanding—embodying exactly what the winery hopes to share with the world.

Since Coco Farm & Winery’s main goal is to empower disabled students, the vineyard uses no pesticides or shortcuts for mass production. This focus on natural, careful winemaking and genuine human fulfillment is a rare, heartwarming philosophy in today’s world.

If you want to try a high-quality, meaningful wine from a unique social enterprise—or just want an easy-drinking, refreshing rosé—look no further!