Without the integration of grape growers and wine producers, the production pattern which has been subservient to Japan's old grape growing structure and has produced ordinary wine has not been successful.

However the structure of grape cultivation in Katsunuma, which has been established based on cultivation of table grapes, is now showing signs of change.

One of the factors which encourage this change is the aging population of grape growers and a lack of heirs of the grape cultivation.
Until now, grape growers have mainly focused on cultivating expensive and high-class table grapes at a high unit cost. However, continuing this very labor-intensive work has become extremely problematic for ageing growers, and with a lack of young people willing to take over such businesses, many growers are having to give up growing expensive table grapes and return to the relatively easy to cultivate "Koshu variety".
Furthermore, the increasing reputation of "Koshu wine" is changing the awareness among growers towards cultivating grapes for wine production and wine made in Katsunuma, and this is driving the trend towards more growers looking for ways to improve the quality of grapes meant for wine production.

These two factors, the collapse of the old grape growing structure and the hierarchy that placed grape growers over wine producers, are now realizing the integration of the grape cultivators and wine makers.

(Very old grape storage which symblizes the grape growing structure of past Katsunuma.)

Through their integration, the Katsunuma landscape, which up until now has been formed by vineyards growing grapes only for table consumption, is changing into one made up vineyards growing grapes for wine production and wineries; in other words, the landscape Katsunuma should have had all along as a wine producing region.

Here, a new kind of local industry base for Katsunuma is being established.

Now, it is the wine production industry itself which is driving this local industry, and through the integration of growers and producers the first signs are appearing that Katsunuma will become the wine producing region it should have been all along.

This new local industry is now at the point where it is establishing the Katsunuma brand of an excellent wine producing region recognized the world over.

(The landscape of Katsunuma will be formed by vineyards growing grapes for wine production and wineries )