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Endoji Shopping Street is a mixture of shops that retain the atmosphere of the Showa era and makes you feel nostalgic, and bars and restaurants that match the current era. In July 2021, "commone", a wine bar that anyone can casually enjoy, opened in the immediate vicinity of this shopping street.
In addition to enjoying wines from Tokoname Winery "Neighborhood," one of only three wineries in Aichi Prefecture, visitors will be able to taste "Nagoya wine" made from grapes harvested in Nagoya and brewed at the commone winery.
This time, besides the charm of Commone and how to enjoy wine, I will also introduce the "Nagoya Wine" project, which brews grapes grown in Nagoya in Nagoya.
Commone is a casual
dining bar where you can enjoy wine
The wine bar Commone, developed by Blue Chip Co., Ltd., which operates wineries and farmhouse restaurants in Tokoname City, Aichi Prefecture, has the theme of "a test kitchen where Tokoname Winery winemakers pursue true marriage with wine."
At Tokoname Winery Neighborhood, you can enjoy dishes that go well with wine in a casual atmosphere. Wine is a drink with a strong image of a high threshold, but Commone has no dress code or charge. Therefore, you can stop by casually after shopping on holidays or after work.
The interior has a warm atmosphere reminiscent of a living room. It feels like being invited to a brewer's house.
Conversation will naturally be stimulated around the delicious wine and food.
The retro-modern space that is not too stylish is comfortable and you can relax.
There are also counter seats, so you can casually enjoy wine by yourself.
In the back of the store, the walls are lined with wine barrels that symbolize Commone. How about tasting delicious wine surrounded by the unique atmosphere and aroma of wine barrels?
Characterized by the freshness created by Tokoname's climate
The wine that you can taste at Commone is made at Tokoname Winery Neighborhood. Wine made from grapes nurtured in Tokoname's climate, such as soil, temperature, and humidity, is characterized by its refreshing and fresh taste. Among them, Tokoname Pinot Noir, a red wine variety, is easy to drink even for people who don't like the astringency of red wine, and it goes well not only with meat dishes but also with refreshing salads.
Tokoname Winery grows four varieties of grapes: one red and three whites. All varieties of wine can be tasted at Commone.
In addition, Tokoname Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 is a popular brand with a track record of 5 stars in the blind tasting of the wine magazine “Wine Kingdom”.
I also recommend "Amphora," a red wine that has been aged in a Tokoname ware pot for about one year. By letting it sit in the pot, the wine is mellowed. The taste of wine produced not in barrels but in a pot made of Tokoname ware is hard to find anywhere else.
The wine culture of Oregon, U.S.A., is the model for the Tokoname Winery.
Tokoname Winery Neighborhood is one of only three wineries in Aichi Prefecture. Noriyuki Baba, the brewer who created Tokoname wine, decided to introduce the beautiful scenery and wine culture that he saw at a winery in Oregon, USA, to Japan, and launched from a situation of zero funds.
Wine is a very familiar drink in Oregon. The culture of enjoying wine casually anytime, anywhere has taken root, not only at home parties, but also at restaurants where you can enter in casual clothes like flip-flops and denim.
In Japan, many people have an image of wine as being difficult and expensive, so Tokoname Winery aims to promote the culture of enjoying Oregon wine and make it more accessible.
Commone has also introduced a no dress code and no charge system under the theme of "enjoying wine in a casual manner." The atmosphere is appealing because it is easy to come in, even if you are not familiar with wine.
Commone's recommended menu
Commone pursues dishes that match Tokoname wine based on classic French. The menu, which is carefully crafted with a focus on the marriage of each item, has a rich lineup from appetizers to main dishes and desserts.
This time, I have picked up the most popular items on the menu.
Assortment of 6 types of vegetable side dishes
The vegetable side dish plate with six colorful dishes and a melting egg on top is a dish that will lift your spirits just by looking at it. The refreshing vegetables and the acidity of the marinade make a perfect match when paired with a fresh glass of wine.
Pictured from top to left are carrot rapees, marinated purple cabbage, mini tomato basil sauce, lentil salad, marinated beets, and celery root remoulade. Remoulade is a salad with mustard mayonnaise.
Roasted duck breast
The carefully roasted duck breast is soft and crunchy, with just the right amount of sweetness from the fat. Accented with the aroma of crispy grilled skin. The juicy figs also go well with the duck breast.
The fruity red wine gives a refreshing aftertaste and enhances the taste and aroma of the duck breast.
The lunch menu also includes a hearty hamburger.
Commone is also open for lunch, serving king-sized hamburgers with home-brewed wine sauce.
The wine sauce specially developed just for this hamburger is superb! Alcohol is skipped, so pregnant women and those who do not like alcohol can enjoy it.
You can choose from the following three types of hamburgers. (listed in order from the right of the photo)
・Cabernet Burger
Burger with cabernet wine BBQ sauce, beef patty, and thick-sliced bacon・Chardonnay Burger
Chardonnay basil mayonnaise, salmon and cream cheese for an elegant and creamy hamburger・Pastrami burger
Cabernet wine BBQ sauce, special roast ham high quality burger
A winery will open in Endoji in the spring of 2022!
Commone is located on the second floor of a building near Horikawa, which passes through Endoji shopping street. The ground floor is currently a garage, but is scheduled to open as a winery in April 2022.
Not only can you enjoy wine brewed on the 1st floor at the restaurant on the 2nd floor, but there are plans to turn the roof into a rooftop bar in the future. They're going to plant a grape tree in a planter too.
Enjoy the wine brewed in the land while looking at the vines. It is a way of enjoying that can only be done at Commone, which has a winery and a restaurant in one building.
And in 2025, "Nagoya Wine", which is brewed with grapes harvested from the vineyards in Nagoya City, will be born. Commone is also a wine bar opened as part of the "Nagoya Wine Project".
Local production for local consumption!
About Nagoya Wine Project
The "Nagoya Wine Project" is a project that has been started as an effort to revitalize the Endoji area. The plan is to open a vineyard in Midori Ward, Nagoya City, and create "Nagoya Wine" using grapes grown in Nagoya and brewed at a winery in Nagoya City.
Wine grown in the land of Nagoya is brewed in Nagoya and consumed in Nagoya. It is truly an initiative of local production for local consumption. Wine is said to be suitable for the 6th industrialization because it is affected by the soil quality, air, and temperature of the region, and the regional characteristics are strongly visible.
The Nagoya Wine Project will start cultivating grapes from now on, and the harvest is scheduled for July 2025. Nagoya wine will not be available until winter 2025 at Commone.
What will the Nagoya-born wine made for the people of Nagoya taste like? We are looking forward to it now.
Enjoy wine at Commone without any pressure!
Enjoy wine in a casual manner!
Commone, located right next to Endoji shopping street, is a place where you can casually enjoy delicious wine and food that goes well with wine. Therefore, it is a wine bar that even people who are not familiar with wine can easily enter.
There are Italian bars and Spanish bars in the Endoji shopping district, and events such as "Endoji Autumn Paris Festival" and "Nagano Wine Festival Nagoya" are held, so it can be said that it is an area that is familiar with wine.
It's within walking distance from Nagoya Station, so why not stop by and enjoy a glass of wine when you go out?