1916年、桔梗ヶ原にヴィンヤードを開き、洗馬に創業 Established in 1916 and is located in the Seba District. Its Kikyogahara vineyard started in 1916. https://sinanowine.co.jp/
Seba is written as 洗馬 in Kanji characters. Se (洗) means “to wash with water,” and Ba (馬) means “horse.” The name originates from a historical story in which Kiso Yoshinaka (1154–1184), a samurai commander of the Heian period, washed the legs of his companion horse in this area.
洗馬は、地理的に異なる特徴をもった地域から構成されており、順番に見ていくこととする。
Seba spans multiple terroirs and geographical areas. Let’s take a step-by-step look.
The three-layered Kikyogahara Plateau as seen from Ota, where Shinano Wine is located 信濃ワインの立地する太田から桔梗ヶ原への三層の河岸段丘
The vineyard of SHINANO WINE has been cultivated since 1916 in Kikyogahara, the uppermost terrace (first level) of the Narai River’s fluvial plateau. The company’s winery is located in Ota, a settlement on the lowest terrace (third level), which lies along the riverbed of the Narai River. Ota has been abundant in spring water since ancient times, and as its name suggests, the area has long been used for rice cultivation. Administratively, Ota falls within the Senba District of Shiojiri City.
The elevation difference between Kikyogahara and Ota is approximately 30 meters, with Nakahara, the middle terrace (second level), extending between them. Running through Nakahara is the Hokkokuwaki-Ōkan (Zenkoji Road), an old highway that branches off from the Nakasendō at Seba-juku, passes through Matsumoto, and eventually reaches Zenkoji Temple.
Vineyards on the left bank of the Narai River 奈良井川左岸のヴィンヤード
The left bank of the Narai River, like Ota, was historically irrigated and cultivated for rice farming. However, in recent years, vineyards for winemaking have also been established in the area.
Moto-Seba is situated on a terrace along the left bank of the Narai River, benefiting from water resources that flow down from the mountain foothills. It is believed to have developed as a small castle town during the medieval period. Despite its rural setting, it boasts an orderly townscape with well-structured estates and roads. During the Edo period, it became an exclave of the Takato Domain in Ina, contributing to the emergence of a distinct Seba culture (see Shiojiri City Records, 1995).
At the foot of the mountains stands Mizuzu Shuzou, a sake brewery, established in 1893 (Meiji 26).
Seba-juku, located in the present-day Souga-Seba District 宗賀洗馬地区にあった洗馬宿
During the Edo period, the 31st post town on the Nakasendō highway was established at the point where the Narai River valley opens into the Matsumoto Basin. This post town was named Seba-juku. Today, administratively, it is part of the Sōga District (Sōga-Seba) in Shiojiri City.
Seba-juku, along with Nakahara and Hirooka-Goubara, is situated on the middle terrace (the second level) of the Narai River fluvial plateau. To the east of Seba-juku, the Hokkokuwaki-Ōkan (Zenkoji Kaidō) diverges from the Nakasendō.
