ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata in Chuo Ward, Niigata City, will host a one-night-only collaboration dinner with Fermier, a winery in Echizenhama, Niigata, on Sunday, November 29, 2026. The dinner, titled "A Wine Evening of Fine Cuisine and Brewing" (美食と醸し ワインの夕べ), takes place in the Sky Banquet Lumière on the 16th floor of the hotel.
Six fine wines made by Fermier winemaker 本多 孝 are paired with a special French course created by the hotel's executive chef, 田村 宏晃. The evening also includes a talk session with sommelier 石川 仁 of Wine Bar Cork (ワインバー コルク), who joins the winemaker and the chef to explore the appeal of the wine and the cuisine.
Winery & Restaurant Fermier
Winemaker: 本多 孝
本多 孝 was born in Niigata City in 1967. After graduating from the University of Tsukuba and working at a bank and a securities firm, he studied at the winery management school run by Cave d'Occi Winery (カーブドッチワイナリー). In 2006, he founded the winery Fermier in Echizenhama, Niigata.
Fermier uses grapes grown in the sandy soil of Echizenhama, close to the Sea of Japan, to make fine wines that reflect the climate and character of the land. The wines are known for their elegant aromas, delicate flavors, concentrated umami, and minerality, and small-scale production gives them a distinct individuality.
Honda aims to make wines that express what is special about the place where they are grown. For this collaboration dinner, six wines that showcase Fermier were selected to go with the special French course.
ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata
Executive Chef: 田村 宏晃
After graduating in 1987 from the culinary school 大阪あべの辻調理師専門学校, 田村 宏晃 began his career as a cook at 葉山ラ・マーレ・ド・茶屋 (now レストラン ラ・マーレ) in Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture.
Coming to appreciate anew the richness and appeal of the ingredients of his hometown, Niigata, he joined 株式会社ホテル新潟 (now ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata). He worked as chef of the all-day dining restaurant Season Cafe (シーズンカフェ) and as head chef of Western cuisine for banquets before becoming executive chef in 2019.
Building on classical Western cooking techniques, Tamura values Niigata's abundant ingredients and the thoughts of the producers, and pursues cooking that brings out the natural qualities of each ingredient.
He received the 2022 Niigata City Distinguished Service Award for Skilled Workers (新潟市技能功労者表彰) and the 2024 Niigata Prefecture Governor's Commendation (新潟県知事表彰). He is also a Disciple member of the Japan Escoffier Association (日本エスコフィエ協会ディシプル会員) and a director of the Niigata Prefecture headquarters of the All Japan Chefs Association (全日本司厨士協会新潟県本部理事).
Wine Bar Cork (ワインバー コルク)
Sommelier: 石川 仁
石川 仁 set his sights on becoming a sommelier in high school, after experiencing the restaurant service of his mentor, 渋谷康弘. He was drawn to the depth of service, which goes beyond knowledge of food and wine to staying close to guests and valuing every moment.
After gaining service experience at hotels, he went independent in 2007 and opened Wine Bar Cork (ワインバー コルク). As owner-sommelier, he has been sharing the appeal of wine ever since.
Ishikawa currently serves as vice chair of the Niigata branch of the Japan Sommelier Association-certified sommeliers (日本ソムリエ協会認定ソムリエ・新潟支部副支部長) and also teaches as an instructor for the Niigata Nippo Mediaship course "ソムリエの楽しいワイン講座."
On the day, he takes part in the talk session with Honda and Tamura, and each speaks about the appeal of wine and cuisine from their own perspective.
Event Details
Collaboration Dinner "A Wine Evening of Fine Cuisine and Brewing" (美食と醸し ワインの夕べ) with Winery Fermier
- Date: Sunday, November 29, 2026
- Venue: Sky Banquet Lumière, 16th floor, ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata
- Time: Reception opens at 5:00 PM; dinner starts at 5:30 PM
- Price: ¥23,000 per person (including consumption tax and service charge)
- Includes: French course with six Fermier pairing wines, and a talk session
- Application deadline: Friday, November 20, 2026
- Details and reservations: Via the hotel's official website at https://www.anacrowneplaza-niigata.jp/topics/hp_news_2026_fermier_collaboration.html
- Organizers: ANA Crowne Plaza Niigata, Winery & Restaurant Fermier, and Wine Bar Cork (ワインバー コルク)
