Day Trip 2023/09/17 Kofu

I went to wine country on Day 2 of my 3-day day trips. I've always wanted to go there and visit a winery. 

I looked up places I could enjoy some good lunch and came across a shop that served chicken and egg rice bowls. There was a line waiting to get in, but the food was well worth the wait. The chicken is lightly coated with corn starch and deep-fried, then mixed in with scrambled eggs and a broth seasoned with soy sauce, sugar, and sake. The mixture is poured on top of a bowl of hot rice. It was so good. I also enjoyed a glass of iced coffee at a nearby cafe. 

I booked a tour at a winery that's just down the street from the train station. This winery is one of the oldest in Japan, its origins dating back to 1917. We took a tour of the cellar, with the doors made out of a 3000 liter barrel. The old tools used to make wine were displayed in the tiled rooms that where they used to ferment the squeezed grape juice. There were rooms of differing sizes, used depending on the harvest that year. 

There were barrels of wine waiting their turn to get bottled. Their signature wine is a called Chateau Brilliant, the medium-bodied red made from Cabernet Sauvignon and dry white made from Sémillon grapes. 

The tour ended with a glass of complimentary wine. We were offered a crisp white called Veil. I also tried the ginger wine and a sparkling wine. I have to say, I was feeling pretty good after enjoying a few glasses of wine. 

On the way back to the station, there was a park holding the ruins of the Kofu Castle. There were volunteers giving talks about the castle's history. One made me an origami crane. I was tickled. The park is peaceful and offers a panoramic view of the city. 

It was another good day.