Isetan's wine buyer, one of the company's top campers, and a food coordinator—specialists from each field—gather at a campsite, bringing their respective "recommendations." With the Beaujolais Nouveau release date (November 17th) fast approaching, they'll discuss all the ways to enjoy "camping x wine"!

In 2022, the release date is November 17th (Thursday)! Make camping even more fun with Beaujolais!

Sakamoto: Thank you all for coming today! To coincide with the release of Beaujolais Nouveau, we will be holding an event themed "Wine x Camping" from Wednesday, November 16th to Tuesday, November 22nd at the Grand Cave Promotion on the first basement floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building. Using this event as an opportunity, I would like to ask all of you, who are professionals in wine, camping, and cooking, about how you all enjoy these activities.


Okada: That sounds like a fun event. My impression is that a lot of people drink alcohol like beer and highballs at campsites. Why did you decide to combine wine and camping this time?

Sakamoto: For many people, the best part of camping is the food. So, I wanted to suggest wine, a food-friendly beverage that brings out the deliciousness of the food. I would be happy if the celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau release encourages people to bring wine camping.


Okada: I also go camping often, and many people bring wine with them. Of course, they enjoy it as is, but they also make mulled wine by adding fruit and spices, and use any leftovers in cooking. By the way, Beaujolais Nouveau is a hot topic every year when it's released, but what kind of wine is it?

Takahashi: Beaujolais Nouveau is a new wine from the Beaujolais region of France. It is made using 100% Gamay grapes harvested that year. The release date is the third Thursday of November every year, and due to the International Date Line, you can drink it about 8 hours earlier than in France. Of course, I don't think you need to drink it at midnight when the date changes (laughs).


Sakamoto: Beaujolais Nouveau is characterized by its strong fruitiness and very fresh taste. I can't wait for the release date.

Buyer's Picks! 3 Wines Recommended for Camping

Takahashi: Today, I've brought a wine that's perfect for camping, one of the wines that will also be sold at the event. Let's raise a glass right away!

First up is rosé. Rosé is actually experiencing a global boom right now. Its versatility—being enjoyable in a wide range of situations, from toasting to drinking during and after meals—makes it a perfect fit for any camping situation. For this occasion, I chose rosé from the Provence region of France, which boasts the highest production volume.


Takahashi: Next, I chose a white wine made from Koshu grapes from Yamanashi. I wanted people to experience the deliciousness of Japanese wine, which has been gaining popularity in recent years. In Yamanashi, new wines made from Koshu and Muscat Bailey A grapes are called "Yamanashi Nouveau," and the release date is set for November 3rd every year. It's like "Japan's Beaujolais." Also, the screw cap was a key point in my selection. It's easy to open, and you can reseal it if there's any left over, so I think it's suitable for camping.

Takahashi: And finally, a bottle of Champagne, a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France. When I visited the Champagne region, a local producer set up a table in a corner of the vineyard and served wine and food. It was delicious, and above all, I was impressed by their attitude of making wine in harmony with nature. I think it's perfect for camping to enjoy nature.

Suzuki: They're all so appealing! It's fun to hear the thoughts behind the wine selection, and it makes the experience even more enjoyable. Just listening to it makes me feel like I've traveled to that place. It's like the campsite has turned into a vineyard.

Okada: Camping offers many opportunities to talk to strangers. A common conversation topic is, "I brought this kind of alcohol, would you like to drink together later?" Alcohol can be a great way to start a conversation, so choosing a wine with a story behind it is a good idea.

Perfect for wine and camping! Three recipes devised by a chef.

Sakamoto: Now, the dishes prepared by Chef Suzuki are also on the table today. Mr. Suzuki, could you explain the menu?

Suzuki: I think Beaujolais Nouveau is a relatively light and easy-to-enjoy wine, so I added a little something extra to the dishes. I created the menu with "smoked" as the theme, keeping in mind that it would be suitable for camping. Smoking is one of the great pleasures of outdoor cooking. The smoky aroma, of course, but also the umami that spreads in your mouth and the lingering aftertaste are what make smoked food so appealing. I wanted to pair this with fresh Beaujolais.


Sakamoto: Smoking food sounds like it would be quite difficult.

Suzuki: It's true that smoking food from scratch can be quite challenging, but this time we've incorporated items that make it easy to enjoy smoking, and all the recipes are simple.

First up is "Smoked Oil Marinated Grilled Eggplant." Eggplant is cooked in olive oil and then combined with sun-dried tomatoes, salt, and vinegar. The key to the aroma and flavor is the "smoked powder." Just sprinkling this spice on top gives the dish a wonderful smoky aroma.



Suzuki: Next up is "Steamed Oysters with Chipotle Confit." We put scallions and shiitake mushrooms, which have been nicely browned, into chipotle (smoked jalapeño) and olive oil, brought it to a boil, then added rosemary and smoked oysters and slowly heated it through. The smoked oysters are sold at Uosei in the Fresh Market.


Suzuki: And the third dish is "Spicico and Seared Cod Roe Pumpkin and Potato Salad." Spicico affumicato is smoked mozzarella cheese. Steamed and mashed pumpkin and potatoes are mixed with spicico and a " smoked bagna cauda " sauce made with garlic and barley miso. You can also add smoked powder to taste.
Okada: You've used a variety of spices and foods that would be useful for camping. That's helpful.


Suzuki: All of these are available at the Fresh Market on the first basement floor of the Isetan Shinjuku Main Building...just a little advertisement (laughs). Well then, let's have some!

Sakamoto: Delicious! The marinated eggplant has a smoky flavor amidst the acidity, and when paired with the acidity of the wine, the balance is excellent and there's a synergistic effect.

Takahashi: You're good at food reviews (laughs).

Suzuki: When I cook, I think about how the food will pair with the wine, but I don't think there's a "it has to be this way" rule. For me, the most important thing is to "drink it the way you want to drink it, and eat it the way you want to eat it."

Takahashi: If you just look at the cooking itself, it looks like it's at a very high level, but from what you've told me, it seems surprisingly easy.

When choosing wine for camping, "think about the wonderful time you'll have."

Sakamoto: Thank you for the delicious wine and food. By the way, I'd like to ask Okada-san, who is one of Isetan's top campers, is there a best season for camping?

Okada: I'd like to go all year round, but autumn is a pleasant time to visit. It gets quite chilly at night, so it's fun to have a bonfire or cook a warm meal. Unlike the middle of winter, it's a season where children can comfortably enjoy themselves, so I recommend it for families.



Sakamoto: By the way, Mr. Okada prepared all of today's camping gear for us. They're all really cool items. Is the preparation quite a lot of work?

Okada: There are tough times, but it's fun. I started camping because I liked the gear in the first place (laughs). It's exciting to think about things like, "Let's bring this and have fun together."

Sakamoto: Listening to everyone's stories today, I was reminded once again how wonderful it is to spend time preparing while thinking about things like, "I want to make someone happy," or "Would this be fun?" I hope that with this event, you'll be able to choose your wine while imagining the fun times you'll have at camp.

Suzuki: It would be great to use Beaujolais as an opportunity to go camping. Like, "It's released, let's go camping!" (laughs).

Sakamoto: That sounds great. I'd like to have a "Beaujolais Camp" too!






Text: Shin Ichinose
Photo: Natsuko Okada

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