(Photo: Iwasu)
English Garden Rose Berry Tawada, located in Tawada, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture, is a complex tourist facility with the theme of "natural healing with all five senses." The English-style garden, which consists of seven areas, is beautifully maintained, with roses and other seasonal flowers planted along tree-lined paths.
The vast grounds are dotted with a variety of facilities, including restaurants, a British-style cafe, an area that recreates the world of the anime "Shaun the Sheep," and a mini steam locomotive train. There are also plenty of services available, such as craft and bread-making experiences, so everyone from children to adults can spend the whole day here without getting bored.
Rose Berry Tawada, which is full of attractions, is home to a New Zealand winery store .
This time, we would like to introduce you to this wine shop, which is rare in Japan!
The wine shop in question is Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop .
This is a direct store of Osawa Wines, a winery run in New Zealand by Taizo Osawa, the husband of Eriko Osawa, the owner of Rose Berry Tawada.
Osawa Wines is highly regarded in New Zealand and overseas, and is a popular winery with many fans in Japan. The wines are not mass-produced because they are particular about farming and brewing methods that are considerate of the natural environment, and some of the wines are difficult to obtain. This shop is modeled after a New Zealand cellar door (a tasting and direct sales shop attached to a winery), so you can experience the atmosphere of a New Zealand winery while in Japan.
In addition to wine, the store also sells New Zealand's specialty honey, Manuka honey, organic tea, body care products, etc. Many New Zealand foods, cosmetics, and clothing are produced using sustainable manufacturing methods, and have been gaining attention in recent years as items that are kind to both people and the environment.
This wine shop is just like a New Zealand cellar door, which is rare in Japan. It is a must-see for New Zealand wine fans and those interested in New Zealand!
-
Natchan
I'm 29 years old and work for a web company. I'm studying wine in the hopes of being able to enjoy it more.
- Mika is 35 years old and works at an apparel company. She is getting into wine and is really interested in wine glasses.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
What kind of store is Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop?
Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop (official name: Osawa Wines Cellar Door) is located near the entrance to Rose Berry Tawada. The shop is in the free area of the garden, so you can visit even if you don't have an admission ticket.
Image source: Rosa & Berry Tawada official website
There is a New Zealand flag hanging outside the shop and wine barrels lined up, so even first-time visitors will be able to find it easily.
Image source: Rose Berry Tawada (Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop)
Both the exterior and interior have the feel of a cellar door attached to a New Zealand winery. As they actually own a winery in New Zealand, you can feel their desire to convey the local atmosphere.
The store is packed with carefully selected New Zealand products, including wine from Osawa Wines, Manuka honey, and organic tea.
Image source: Rose Berry Tawada (Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop)
Image source: Rose Berry Tawada (Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop)
Previously, you could actually taste wines like you would at a cellar door in New Zealand before purchasing the ones you liked. However, due to the current COVID-19 situation, the tasting service has been suspended. However, there are staff members with sommelier qualifications on-site at all times, so if you have any questions about wine, feel free to ask them.
It's wonderful to have such a stylish wine shop inside the park!
It would be nice to buy a memorable wine as a souvenir to commemorate your visit to Rose Berry Tawada. The popular New Zealand organic products are also recommended as gifts for people who are conscious about their health and beauty!
Shop details
Address: 605-10 Tawada, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture
Our business hours are as follows:
| Regular business hours | 10:00-17:00 | |
|---|---|---|
| Summer business (July to September) | 10:00-18:00 | |
| Winter business (November to February) | 10:00-16:00 | |
| Closed Day | Tuesdays (may be closed during New Year's holidays or other special holidays) | |
Generally, the opening days and hours follow those of the English Garden Rose Berry Tawada.
Detailed summer and winter operating schedules vary from year to year. Please check the official website.
Depending on the flowering season, they may be open on Tuesdays, which is their regular closing day. If you want to go on a Tuesday, please call and inquire.
About Osawa Wines and the wines we sell
Next, let's take a closer look at the products sold in the store. First, let's start with the store's signature product, wine.About Osawa Wines
Osawa Wines is a boutique winery founded in New Zealand in 2005 by Taizo Osawa.
Source: Osawa Wines official website
Falling in love with the natural beauty of New Zealand, Osawa cleared land that had previously been used for sheep grazing in Hawke's Bay on the North Island and planted grape vines.
Furthermore, ever since the establishment of the winery, Mr. Osawa has believed that "making safe and delicious wine starts with growing the best grapes." While Osawa Wines incorporates the latest technology in grape cultivation (such as frost prevention), the branches, leaves, and fruit of the vast single vineyard, which covers an area of 43 hectares (about the size of nine Tokyo Domes), are mainly cared for by hand.
Starting with the 2013 vintage, they began their organic cultivation as they had been aiming for, and underwent a three-year inspection by BioGro NZ, a New Zealand organic certification body with some of the strictest standards in the world. As a result, their 2016 vintage wine was certified organic by the same body. All subsequent vintages made using grapes grown in Osawa Wines' own single vineyard have been given the same certification.
The head brewer is Rod MacDonald, who was once named New Zealand's best brewer. By incorporating natural yeast alcohol fermentation and traditional brewing processes, the winery maximizes the unique characteristics of its own vineyards, producing safe, reliable, and top-quality wines.
▶ Osawa Wines official website
Now, we will introduce the wines available in the store, by series.
Flying Sheep Series
Image source: Osawa Wines official website
As the name "Flying Sheep" suggests, this wine, with its impressive label featuring a cute illustration of a jumping sheep, is part of Osawa Wines' representative series. The illustration shows sheep moving from the cultivated sheep pasture. This is truly a series that conveys the origins of Osawa Wines.
The varieties (brands) available are as follows:
- Pinot Noir
- Sangiovese
- Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Gewurztraminer
- Pinot Gris
- Rosé
Prestige Collection
Image source: Osawa Wines official website
The "Prestige Collection" is Osawa Wines' reserve wine (high-end wine). It is made from carefully selected grapes from different plots of the company's vineyards. It is a wine series that is carefully crafted using traditional winemaking techniques, including hand-picking, fermenting in small batches, and aging in French oak barrels.
The varieties (brands) available are as follows:
- Pinot Noir
- Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- Methode Traditional NV Brut
- Late Harvest Gewurztraminer
- Noble Gewurztraminer
Winemaker's Collection
Image source: Osawa Wines official website
The Winemaker's Collection is Osawa Wines' reserve wine (highest quality wine). This series is produced only in years when the highest quality grapes are harvested, and is sold in limited quantities of 100 cases. The grapes are carefully selected from the vineyards, and are grown in the smallest, most unique plots of the winery's own vineyards. The entire winemaking process is done by hand.
The varieties (brands) available are as follows:
- Pinot Noir
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
▶︎More details here
There are so many attractive wines! I like alcohol, but I don't know much about wine, so I'm not sure which one to choose (lol).
Yes, in that case, feel free to ask the staff at the store what kind of wine would be good. I'm sure they will be able to recommend the perfect wine.
One-of-a-kind original labels
At Osawa Wines, you can create your own original wine label, perfect for weddings, longevity celebrations, etc. In addition, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Rose Berry Tawada this year, you can also make a label using a photo you took in the garden!
Image source: Rosa & Berry Tawada official website
For more information on costs and production times, please see the special page below.
Besides wine, what other products do you have?
At Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop, we stock a wide range of products that are kind to nature and people, unique to New Zealand, in addition to wine. First of all, we will introduce New Zealand honey , which has been gaining popularity around the world in recent years.ARATAKI HONEY
Image source: Rose Berry Tawada (Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop)
Arataki Honey, located in Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's North Island, is a honey brand that boasts one of the top market shares in New Zealand. New Zealand's high-quality honey, which is exported to countries around the world, has many fans in Japan, and Manuka honey in particular is a popular item locally due to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
This wine shop sells nine types of Arataki honey. Let's take a look at some of the most popular Arataki honey items.
Clover Blend
Image source: Rosa Berry Tawada Online Shop
Arataki Clover Blend is a honey blend of New Zealand red clover and white clover. It has no particular taste, so it is easy to use in cooking and goes well with herbal tea.
Multi-Flora
Image source: Rosa Berry Tawada Online Shop
Multiflora is a honey blend made from the nectar of flowers in New Zealand's forests and pastures. It has a caramel and brown sugar-like aroma and a mild, rich flavor.
Rewarewa
Image source: Rosa Berry Tawada Online Shop
Aratakirewarewa honey is honey collected from the flowers of the Rewarewa plant, also known as New Zealand honeysuckle, and is said to have high antioxidant properties similar to those of Manuka.
With an exquisite balance of sweetness and sourness, this item is very popular among women.
Multi-Flora with Manuka
Image source: Rosa Berry Tawada Online Shop
Arataki Multiflora with Manuka is a blend of a variety of NZ floral honeys with 10% high quality Arataki Manuka honey.
It has a golden color, a floral scent and is rich in minerals.
Manuka
Image source: Rosa Berry Tawada Online Shop
Manuka honey is honey extracted from the flowers of the Manuka tree, a member of the Myrtaceae family that grows only in New Zealand. The most distinctive feature of Manuka honey is its unique bactericidal and disinfectant ingredient, methylglyoxal (MGO) .
MGO is not broken down in the body and has bactericidal and disinfecting properties, so it is said to have great health and beauty benefits and is attracting attention.
UMF Range Active Manuka Honey
Image source: Rosa Berry Tawada Online Shop
Manuka honey has a unique manuka factor (UMF) , which is a numerical value that represents the antibacterial activity of manuka honey. The higher the number, the stronger the antibacterial activity. Rare manuka honey with a high UMF number is also sold in stores.
Arataki Honey is also sold at the Rosa Berry Tawada online shop , so if it's difficult for you to visit the farm, be sure to check it out.
I've noticed that I don't catch colds as often since I started taking a spoonful of Manuka honey every day. Please give it a try!
Honey Mead
Next, we will introduce "Honey Mead" made from New Zealand manuka honey. Honey mead is a brewed alcoholic drink made from honey, which is made by adding water and fermenting it into alcohol. Its history is older than wine, and it is said to be the oldest alcoholic drink in human history. Honey has a nutritious and invigorating effect, and honeybees are prolific, so it has long been used at celebratory occasions to pray for good harvests and prosperity of descendants.
This shop carries First Night Manuka Honey Wine from Mead Amore in Gisborne, New Zealand's North Island. Its rich aroma and gentle sweetness make it the perfect drink to enjoy after a meal.
Image source: Rosa Berry Tawada (Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop)
You can enjoy it like a dessert wine! You can have a little luxury at home.
Organic tea "Zealong Tea"
Next, we will introduce organic tea. Zealong Tea, located in Hamilton, Waikato region, North Island, New Zealand, produces black tea with an emphasis on organic ingredients.
The climate of New Zealand, where the temperature difference is so large that it is said that there are four seasons in one day, brings out the natural aroma, flavor, and taste of the tea leaves. Zealong Tea has also obtained the strict organic certification "Bio Gro" in New Zealand.
In addition to cultivation and tea production, we also vacuum package the tea in-house.
Organic Black Tea
Image source: Osawa Wines Online Shop
This black tea has a woody aroma, the sweetness of honey and a smooth aftertaste.
Organic Oolong Tea
Image source: Osawa Wines Online Shop
This oolong tea has a sweet, fragrant aroma and a delicate yet powerful flavor, with a long-lasting sweet aftertaste.
Grey Tea
Image source: Osawa Wines Online Shop
This is an Earl Grey type black tea with a gorgeous floral, slightly spicy aroma and flavor, and a hint of bergamot.
Fire & Ice
Image source: Osawa Wines Online Shop
The combination of black tea base, ginger, manuka leaves and mint gives it a spicy aroma and flavor.
I'm a black tea fan and I love the natural flavor of Zealong tea.
Picks Peanut Butter
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Pick's Peanut Butter, a peanut butter that is extremely popular in New Zealand, is sugar-free and additive-free, and is packed with the delicious flavor of natural peanuts.
The peanuts used are particularly nutritious "high oleic peanuts," and are available in both crunchy and smooth types.
Body care products "Matakana Botanicals"
In addition to food, we also carry natural, high-quality body care products.
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Matakana Botanicals is a company that manufactures natural body care products, mainly using natural ingredients extracted from New Zealand plants, such as manuka honey, manuka oil, extracted virgin olive oil, and lime.
These body care products, which contain no animal- or petroleum-based ingredients and allow you to luxuriously experience the bounty of New Zealand's nature, are gaining attention in Japan as well.
Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop stocks several brands from Matakana Botanicals.
Earth Botanics Gardeners
The brand was created with the concept of "body care products for gardeners by gardeners," with the image of thoroughly soothing hands that have become rough after hard work such as doing water work or working in the soil.
Earth Botanics Cucumber & Mint
This popular brand is also used in the amenities of major hotels. Its refreshing and clean scent is popular with both men and women.Great Barrier Island Beach
This popular brand offers body creams and shower gels that contain a luxurious blend of manuka honey and sweet almond oil.It is made from natural ingredients so it is safe for the whole family to use.
The packaging is also stylish, so it makes a perfect gift!
What you can buy in the store and more
- Wine accessories such as wine glasses and wine openers
- Used wine barrels (French oak, 228 liters) used during brewing at Osawa Wines winery
They're selling barrels that were actually used for brewing! But I can't think of any use for them (lol)
If I had a big garden at home, I might want to put one there...
It would be great for a store display!
Access to the shop
Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop is located inside Roseberry Tawada, a complex tourist facility in Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture.
[Location] 605-10 Tawada, Maibara City, Shiga Prefecture
English Garden Roseberry Tawada
By car
If you take the expressway, it is about a 15-minute drive from the nearest Hokuriku Expressway Maibara IC.
Image source: Rosaberry Tawada
There is free private parking for 340 cars , but the parking lot can fill up during busy periods, so it is recommended that you use the bus or the Maibara City shared taxi " Mai-chan-go " (reservation required).
The Maibara Tawada Line bus route will begin operation on Saturday, October 1, 2022. The roseberry Tawada flower design is the landmark.
Image source: Rosaberry Tawada
▶︎More information about buses here
By train
The nearest station is JR Maibara Station, where the Shinkansen also stops, making it easily accessible from major cities on the main island of Honshu. The travel times from each area to Maibara Station are as follows:- 134 minutes by Shinkansen from Tokyo Station
- 34 minutes by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka Station
- 28 minutes by Shinkansen from Nagoya Station
About Rose Berry Tawada
Finally, we will tell you about the charms of Rose and Berry Tawada, where Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop is located.
Rose Berry Tawada began development in 2003 and opened in 2011 after eight years of development. The impetus for this was the owner Eriko Osawa's dream of "creating her own garden someday."
Osawa says that as he continued the painstaking work of gradually greening the former mining site, which was overgrown with weeds, he learned a lot from nature.
Rose & Berry Tawada was opened as a place to disseminate information about connections with nature, the value of agriculture, and the importance of safe food.
▶ Official Twitter
▶ Official Facebook
▶ Official Instagram
Admission fee
Admission fees vary during peak seasons such as Golden Week and when the roses are in bloom. For more information, please see the business hours page.
Also, if you plan to see the illuminations held in the winter, please purchase an admission ticket for the illuminations.
Daytime: Regular price
| adult | Children (ages 4 to elementary school age) |
|---|---|
| 1500 yen | 900 yen |
- Disability discounts are 20% off the admission fees listed above.
- Groups of 15 or more will receive a 10% discount off the admission fees listed above.
The annual passes are as follows:
Annual Passport Fee
| adult | Children (ages 4 to elementary school age) |
|---|---|
| 4,500 yen | 2,700 yen |
You can apply for admission tickets and make advance online reservations for experiences within the park via the link below.
▶ Roseberry Tawada WEB reservation page
Please be aware of the following precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please check the official website before heading out.
▶ Roseberry Tawada (Information)
Now, let us introduce you to the highlights and popular spots in Roseberry.
English Garden
Image source: Rosa & Berry Tawada official website
You can take a leisurely stroll through the garden areas, which are divided into seven areas with different concepts. The garden changes its appearance with the seasons, so you're sure to find something new no matter how many times you visit.
Information on flowering will be posted on the official website .
Shaun the Sheep Farm Garden
Image source: Rosa & Berry Tawada official website
This is a new area that opened in 2019. You can experience the world of the anime, recreated to the same size as if Sean and the other characters were in real life.
barbecue
Image source: Rosa & Berry Tawada official website
Depending on the season, you can enjoy the freshness of vegetables harvested from the gardens at the barbecue.
The atmosphere is like a semi-private room in a gazebo (a Western-style gazebo), so you can relax while you eat, making this a great place for those new to BBQ.
Bread, pizza and cookie making experience
Image source: Rosa & Berry Tawada official website
At Rose and Berry Tawada, you can experience making bread, pizza, and icing cookies, which can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
The "Shaun the Sheep" character bread and cookie making experience is popular. Online reservations are also available.
Lauzon Railway Milky Way
Image source: Rosa & Berry Tawada official website
The train will take you from the station at the lawn plaza to the new area "Fairy Garden" and just before the sheep petting farm. You can enjoy a comfortable train ride of about 1 km while feeling the breeze.
Illuminations (winter only)
An illumination story will unfold, with a variety of performances and content to enjoy, across a site area of approximately 6,000 square kilometers, one of the largest in the Kansai region.
The video shows the "Rosan Illumination 2021 Hill of Light."
"Rosan Illumination 2022-2023" will be held from Saturday, October 8, 2022 to Sunday, February 12, 2023.
▶ Rosan Illumi official website
summary
At "Osawa Wines New Zealand Wine Shop," you can actually see and purchase New Zealand wines and local products, and experience the special feeling of visiting a New Zealand cellar door. Be sure to visit the shop along with the English garden "Roseberry Tawada," which is full of things to see.
Be sure to try the New Zealand wine made by the Japanese owner. And with manuka honey and natural body care products, you can stay healthy inside and out!
Even though I live in Japan, my life is dominated by New Zealand! (lol) That might be cool.
