JancisRobinson.com, the world’s leading independent wine platform founded by renowned Master of Wine Jancis Robinson, has announced the launch of its Japanese-language website, bringing 25 years of accumulated wine expertise to the Japanese wine market.
According to the company, the launch coincides with two significant milestones: the 25th anniversary of JancisRobinson.com and the 50th anniversary of Jancis Robinson’s career in wine writing.
Japanese members will be able to access the platform’s core wine resources through the Japanese site, including nearly 300,000 tasting notes, as well as more than 15,000 members-only articles written by an international team of experts, covering wine regions, producers, vintages and industry developments.
Members will also enjoy exclusive online access to the fifth edition of The Oxford Companion to Wine and the complete set of high-resolution maps from the eighth edition of The World Atlas of Wine.
The Japanese site also features a members’ forum, enabling users to interact with fellow members and the JancisRobinson.com team.
Jancis Robinson, editor-in-chief of JancisRobinson.com, said: “I have long admired Japanese gastronomic culture and traditions, as well as the unparalleled thirst for knowledge and respect for longevity exhibited by the Japanese people. It seems entirely fitting, therefore, that we are celebrating these unique anniversaries by launching this Japanese version.”
Japan is one of Asia’s most important wine markets, with one of the region’s largest market sizes and a very high level of maturity. It ranks among the leading export destinations for many premium wine regions worldwide. More than 80% of the wine consumed in Japan is imported.
From January to November 2025, Japan imported 223,085,980 litres of wine, with a total import value of 231,615,384,000 yen (approximately US$1.518 billion), according to customs data compiled by Vino Joy News. Current data show a pattern of declining volumes but rising value, with import volumes falling slightly by 2.20% year on year, while import value increased by 1.59%.
This trend highlights the premium-oriented structure of Japan’s wine market. Consumers are more sensitive to origin, producer stories and critical scores, and are willing to pay a premium for certainty of provenance and style. For JancisRobinson.com, these dynamics clearly represent a significant market opportunity.
Lance Johnson, chief executive officer of JancisRobinson.com, noted that Japan has a refined and deeply rooted culture of food and wine appreciation, with consumers showing genuine and informed interest in wine origins, producers and the stories behind what is in the glass.
“Our Japanese site has been created to meet the expectations of Japanese wine lovers for both quality and depth of content,” Johnson said. “Launching it during our 25th anniversary year underscores that this is a long-term commitment, not a short-term experiment.”
JancisRobinson.com’s Asia-Pacific coverage is led by Richard Hemming MW, a Singapore-based Master of Wine who has been writing for the platform since 2008. He said Japan is one of the most mature and discerning wine markets in Asia, where consumers demand rigorous and objective information.
“The launch of the Japanese site not only expands our regional presence, but also reflects our long-term commitment to Asia’s wine community,” Hemming said. “We will continue to deliver the independent, professional and trustworthy wine content that has defined JancisRobinson.com for the past 25 years.”
Founded in 2000, JancisRobinson.com serves wine lovers in more than 100 countries worldwide. The platform offers paid content including tasting notes and regional reports, produced by contributors from around the world, including nine Masters of Wine. In recent years, the site has stepped up its focus on Asia and now offers English, Japanese and Chinese interfaces to better serve its growing Asian readership.
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