Kaya Tsutsui

Kaya Tsutsui, a passionate thirty-something, now runs winemaking at Les Jardins de la Martinière. Until 2018, it was Xavier Caillard, icon of Les Jardins d’Esmeralda, at the helm. Since the Japanese family company Nichifutsu Shoji – specialists in French wine imports and the very folks who brought the baguette to Japan – took over, the first vintage of this new era has already made waves. Located in Coutures, Maine-et-Loire, the estate spans 6 hectares, 2 of them recently planted (2021–2022), mainly with Chenin and Cabernet Franc. Kaya, the owner’s nephew, vinifies with guidance from Hirotake Ooka, natural wine star from Ardèche now working in Japan. All-natural cuvées fly off the shelves. Far from a passing trend, these wines are already beautifully structured… grab them before it’s too late.