NORIA Wines

About Winery: In 2010, Noria Wines was born: a new style of California wine that pairs beautifully with the full spectrum of Japanese cuisine, from delicate sashimi to rich wagyu. But turning a winemaking dream into a thriving business required more than passion. Years later, when college tennis teammate Atsushi found himself in the Bay Area with an MBA and business expertise, the partnership was inevitable. Together, they built California's only Japanese urban winery where wine culture remains accessible to everyone. 

Visit their tasting room in the vibrant Gilman District of Berkeley, CA, where they’re open Thursday through Sunday.

Aggie Connection: At 22, wine was completely foreign to Nori, but during a graduation trip to Italy, a glass of Barbaresco changed everything. The revelation was so eye opening it led him to study Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis and apprentice throughout Napa and Sonoma. In 2010, Noria Wines was born: a new style of California wine that pairs beautifully with the full spectrum of Japanese cuisine, from delicate sashimi to rich wagyu, honoring the harmony and balance that first captivated Nori in that Italian moment.

Alum: Nori Nakamura '04, Owner & Winemaker