The premium tour at Yokohama Winery offers an unparalleled culinary adventure, seamlessly blending a guided winery experience with a hands-on cooking class. Guests are treated to a warm welcome and a delightful dashi tasting, setting the stage for a deep dive into the nuanced flavors that define Japanese cuisine. As they don their aprons and explore a buffet-style cooking session, visitors have the opportunity to craft traditional oden, exploring the umami-rich dashi broth and the premier ingredients cultivated by the winery. This tour promises to unveil the secrets of Japanese culinary mastery, leaving participants with a newfound appreciation for the art of dashi-making and the perfect pairing of food and wine.

Key Points

Premium Tour With Cooking Experience Yokohama Winery Ingredients Premier - Key Points

  • The tour offers a premium culinary experience, combining a guided winery tour and a hands-on cooking class using locally-sourced ingredients from the Yokohama Winery.
  • The cooking session includes instruction on making dashi stock, a fundamental element of Japanese cuisine, using high-quality kelp and bonito flakes.
  • Guests start with a welcome drink of sparkling wine and dashi tasting bowls, preparing them for the subsequent buffet-style cooking and the traditional Japanese oden dish.
  • The cooking session allows participants to arrange local vegetables and ingredients, culminating in a hands-on experience in crafting the dashi broth and assembling the oden.
  • The tour includes transportation, accessibility for families and guests with disabilities, and a flexible cancellation policy to accommodate guests’ needs.

Tour Details

Premium Tour With Cooking Experience Yokohama Winery Ingredients Premier - Tour Details

The Yokohama Winery Cooking Tour offers a premium experience that combines a guided tour of the winery with a hands-on cooking class featuring locally-sourced ingredients.

Guests will start with a welcome drink of sparkling wine and sample dashi tasting bowls, which showcase the rich flavors of traditional Japanese broth. They’ll then learn how to make dashi stock using kelp and bonito before diving into a buffet-style cooking session.

The menu highlights seasonal local produce, with dishes like oden stew. Throughout the experience, travelers will ride in an air-conditioned vehicle and enjoy commentary from a knowledgeable guide. It’s a unique opportunity to take in Yokohama’s food and wine culture.

Included in the Tour

A premium selection of culinary experiences awaits guests on the Yokohama Winery Cooking Tour, including a starter of fresh vegetables, an introduction to the art of crafting dashi stock using kelp and bonito, and a welcome drink of sparkling wine alongside beverages from around the world.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to arrange local vegetables and ingredients, taste various Japanese dashi broths, and participate in a cooking demonstration with a buffet-style meal.

The tour also includes the chance to try traditional Japanese oden, all while being transported in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.

With a focus on high-quality ingredients and authentic culinary traditions, this tour offers an immersive and delicious experience.

Making Dashi Stock

Premium Tour With Cooking Experience Yokohama Winery Ingredients Premier - Making Dashi Stock

Crafting the perfect dashi, the foundation of many Japanese dishes, involves a delicate balance of kelp and bonito flakes, meticulously combined to extract the umami-rich flavors that elevate these savory broths.

During the cooking experience, you will learn the art of making dashi, beginning with the selection of high-quality konbu (kelp) and katsuobushi (bonito flakes).

By simmering these ingredients together, they’ll unlock the complex depth of flavors that define authentic Japanese cuisine.

Through hands-on demonstration and tasting, guests will gain an appreciation for the nuances of this essential stock, setting the stage for the subsequent culinary creations.

This essential step lays the groundwork for the delectable dishes that follow, showcasing the importance of mastering the fundamentals of Japanese cooking.

Welcome Drinks and Tastings

Guests kick off the Yokohama Winery Cooking Tour with a welcome drink of sparkling wine, complemented by a selection of beverages from around the world that provide a global introduction to the experience.

The local vegetables and ingredients are thoughtfully arranged, inviting guests to admire the fresh, high-quality produce they’ll be using in their cooking.

Dashi tasting bowls filled with the umami-rich Japanese broth allow participants to appreciate the subtleties of this essential ingredient before they begin their hands-on culinary adventure.

With the stage set, guests are eager to don their aprons and dive into the buffet-style cooking session, where they’ll learn to prepare a variety of dishes showcasing the premier ingredients provided by Yokohama Winery.

Cooking and Buffet

Premium Tour With Cooking Experience Yokohama Winery Ingredients Premier - Cooking and Buffet

After taking in the aromas and sights of the thoughtfully arranged local ingredients, guests eagerly don their aprons and dive into the buffet-style cooking session at the Yokohama Winery.

Under the guidance of the experienced instructors, they learn to prepare a variety of dishes that showcase the premier ingredients provided by the winery, honing their culinary skills and expanding their repertoire.

The cooking segment includes:

  • Crafting the foundational dashi broth using kelp and bonito flakes
  • Preparing a selection of seasonal vegetables and proteins
  • Assembling the traditional Japanese dish of oden
  • Tasting the various dashi broths to appreciate their nuanced flavors

The hands-on cooking experience allows guests to enjoy the art of Japanese cuisine and leave with newfound knowledge and appreciation for the winery’s premium offerings.

Oden

Premium Tour With Cooking Experience Yokohama Winery Ingredients Premier - Oden

Oden, the beloved Japanese winter dish, occupies a central place in the cooking session, as guests learn to assemble this comforting stew using the high-quality ingredients provided by the Yokohama Winery.

The chef guides participants through the process of creating the dashi broth, a foundational element of the dish, utilizing the premium kelp and bonito flakes available.

Guests then select from a variety of delectable ingredients, such as daikon radish, boiled eggs, and fishcakes, to layer into the simmering broth.

As the oden simmers, the aroma fills the air, whetting the appetite for the satisfying meal to come.

This hands-on experience allows guests to gain a deeper appreciation for the nuances of traditional Japanese cuisine.

Transportation and Accessibility

The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle to transport participants from the Motomachi-Chūkagai Station, Exit 5 ground floor hall, where the meeting point is located. While the winery is near public transportation, the vehicle ensures a comfortable and convenient journey for guests.

The tour’s accessibility features include:

  • Stroller accessibility for families
  • Infant seats available for child safety
  • Service animals allowed for guests with disabilities
  • Not wheelchair accessible, as the winery may have limited mobility options.

Cancellation Policy

Travelers can cancel their booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, but changes less than 24 hours prior aren’t accepted.

If the tour gets canceled due to poor weather, guests will be offered a different date or a full refund.

This flexible cancellation policy provides peace of mind for participants, allowing them to plan their trip with confidence. The tour operator understands that unforeseen circumstances can arise, and they’re committed to accommodating their guests’ needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Dress Code for the Tour?

The dress code for the tour is not explicitly stated in the given information. However, it is a premium tour, so participants are likely expected to dress in smart casual attire that is comfortable for cooking and dining experiences.

Are There Any Dietary Restrictions Accommodated?

The tour provides dietary accommodations. It notes that vegetable starters and local ingredients are included. Travelers with certain medical conditions or who are pregnant are advised not to participate, but service animals are allowed.

Can I Purchase Any Items During the Tour?

Yes, customers can purchase items during the tour. The tour includes a visit to Yokohama Winery, where visitors can purchase wines and other locally-sourced products. Additional shopping opportunities may be available depending on the tour’s itinerary and locations visited.

Is the Cooking Class Hands-On or Demonstration-Based?

The cooking experience is hands-on, where participants actively prepare and cook the dishes alongside the chef. It’s not a demonstration-based class; instead, guests get to directly engage in the cooking process.

Can I Extend the Tour or Add Additional Activities?

Customers can’t extend the tour or add additional activities. The tour package has a fixed itinerary, and changes less than 24 hours before the tour are not accepted. However, customers can book a private tour for more flexibility.

Recap

The premium tour at Yokohama Winery offers a unique culinary journey, blending a guided winery experience with a hands-on cooking class.

Guests will learn to craft the umami-rich dashi stock, then dive into a buffet-style cooking session, creating traditional oden and exploring the nuanced flavors of Japanese cuisine.

This comprehensive tour provides a deeper understanding of the premium ingredients cultivated by the winery.