Alsace wines featured at the Osaka World Expo

The historical ties between Alsace and Japan are further strengthened this year with the participation of Alsace Wines at the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, within the French pavilion, under the aegis of the CIVA (Interprofessional Council of Alsace Wines). This is a wonderful opportunity for Alsace to showcase its expertise to the Land of the Rising Sun!

The city of Osaka, Japan, will host the 2025 World Expo from April 13^th to October 13^th. The event is expected to attract 28 million visitors to its 36 national pavilions.

Within the French pavilion, the Interprofessional Council of Alsace Wines (CIVA) will be a “gold” partner of the event this year. Supported by the Grand Est region, Alsace wines will represent French excellence in Osaka, alongside luxury brands like Louis Vuitton and Dior.

A total of 78 estates have been selected to represent Alsatian winemaking expertise, with their vintages featured on the wine list of the French pavilion’s bistro. The estates were chosen through a blind tasting orchestrated by renowned sommeliers and oenologists.

Alsatian wines pair surprisingly well with Japanese cuisine. Over a million bottles are exported annually to Japan from Alsatian vineyards, making the Land of the Rising Sun the largest importer of Alsace wines in Asia and a strategic market for winemakers.

Over 160 years of tight-knit relationship

Alsace and Japan have forged strong ties since the second half of the 19^th century. Japanese businessmen, impressed by Alsatian expertise in the textile industry, established partnerships with companies in the Mulhouse region to print Japanese patterns on wool fabrics for the Japanese market.

Since then, relations between Alsace and Japan have only progressed, particularly in the academic field (a Japanese studies department was created in the 1980s, followed by the European Center for Japanese Studies in Alsace in 2001), diplomatic field (the Japanese General Consulate was inaugurated in Strasbourg in 1992), and cultural field, with numerous museums, exhibitions, and events dedicated to Japanese culture.

Alsatians and Japanese share many common values, including rigor, discipline, and the satisfaction of a job well done, as well as the art of living, the connection to the land, and the love of gastronomy.

In popular culture, Alsatian architecture is highly appreciated in Japan, with the city of Colmar notably serving as inspiration for the famous director Hayao Miyazaki’s film “Howl’s Moving Castle“.

Finally, dozens of internationally renowned Japanese companies are established in Alsace, including THK, Mitsubishi, Konica Minolta, and Toshiba.

Thanks and congratulations to all those who foster the precious Alsace-Japan relationship!