From 2026-03-26 10:00 to 2026-03-26 17:00
Venue: Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo
ICCJ is pleased to announce a special Walk Around Tasting & Masterclass, organized in collaboration with the CONSORZIO PER LA TUTELA DEI VINI VALPOLICELLA.
Representatives from the wineries will also attend the walk around tasting, offering Japanese industry professionals a unique opportunity to meet producers directly.
This event is reserved for distributors, importers, restaurants, and media
Event Details
Date: Thursday 26th March 2026
Time: 10:00 – 17:00
Venue: Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo
(2 Chome-10-8 Sekiguchi, Bunkyo City, Tokyo 112-8680)
Free entry / Advance reservation required
Advance registration required – click here to register
Masterclasses
There will also be two special masterclasses during the day, with one session in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Speakers
Morning session
Time: 11:30-13:00
Asami Yoshikawa
Valpolicella Wine Specialist
CEO, aiVino CO., LTD.
Wine Educator, Academia du Vin
In 2019, Asami Yoshikawa was certified as an Italian Wine Ambassador by the Vinitaly International Academy (VIA), headquartered in Verona, Italy. She was subsequently recognized as the only Japanese Italian Wine Educator certified by VIA.
In 2025, she earned the prestigious Italian Wine Expert title from VIA—held by only around twenty individuals worldwide—achieving the highest score in the tasting examination (the first and only Japanese recipient). In the same year, she was selected as a Langhe Wine Ambassador 2025 by the Barolo Barbaresco Academy, one of only three ambassadors worldwide.
She holds the WSET Diploma (DipWSET) and communicates the essence of Italian wine through a global perspective grounded in international wine standards.
As a wine educator at Academia du Vin, she teaches courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels, including WSET and Wine Scholar Guild certification programs, as well as specialized Italian wine courses.
In 2022, she founded aiVino CO., LTD. a company specializing in Italian wine. She operates an online boutique focused exclusively on Italian wines and is also actively engaged in direct wine importation.
Certifications
- WSET Diploma (DipWSET)
- Italian Wine Expert (Vinitaly International Academy)
- Italian Wine Educator (Vinitaly International Academy)
- Valpolicella Wine Specialist (Consorzio Tutela Vini Valpolicella)
- Langhe Wine Ambassador 2025 (Barolo Barbaresco Academy) – one of only three worldwide
- Italian Wine Scholar with Highest Honors (Wine Scholar Guild)
- JSA Wine Expert
- JSA Sake Diploma
- CPA Certified Cheese Professional
Afternoon session
Time: 14:30-16:00
Irving So
Valpolicella Wine Specialist
Consultant Buyer, aiVino CO., LTD. (Tokyo)
Irving is a Valpolicella Wine Specialist of the Consorzio Tutela Vini della Valpoliclella. He is a WSET Certified Educator. He holds the prestigious title of Italian Wine Expert (VIA), shared by less than 30 people in the world. He is also an Italian Wine Educator (VIA), a Langhe Wines’ Ambassador (Barolo & Barbaresco Academy), an Italian Wine Scholar (Highest Honor, Wine Scholar Guild), as well as a WSET Diploma holder (DipWSET). He has conducted masterclasses for various Consorzios including Valpolicella and Lugana, as well as producer associations from Veneto.
Participating Wineries
16 Valpolicella wineries will be presenting at the walk-around tasting.
You can visit each winery’s website by clicking on the winery name.
