Sapporo Grand Hotel Opening's 85th anniversary special plan

In 1934, Sapporo Grand Hotel opened as the first authentic Western-style hotel in Hokkaido. With its elegant setting and sophisticated service, the hotel has welcomed many important guests from other areas in Japan and from abroad, and therefore has played a major role in the development of a whole new culture in the city of Sapporo.
　In 1954 the Showa-era emperor and empress paid a visit to the hotel. During and from that time, the staff members all worked together to build the "Sapporo Grand Hotel" brand, always looking for the best way to deliver the maximum satisfaction and excitement to their visitors. This constant quest for perfection is still ongoing 85 years later.

　To thank our guests for their loyalty and patronage over the years, the Sapporo Grand Hotel is glad to offer various special offers as part of the 85th anniversary project. The offers include limited-time accommodation plans, and special menus at the hotel's restaurant.

The staff members launched the challenge to create an original wine, as part of the special project to celebrate the 85th anniversary of their company's founding. Led by the restaurant and cooking teams, they worked on the grape cultivation in the district of Tsurunuma, Urausu city, which is one of Hokkaido's leading wine-growing regions. From spring to autumn, they split their time between their usual work and their numerous visits to the field, working hard on growing those grapes.

　Even in Hokkaido, the temperature can exceed 30 degrees Celsius in the middle of the summer. That did not stop the staff members from taking care of this sunny vineyard and carefully handling the fruits of their labor. "We are taking care of the grapes and already thinking about the kind of dish we can pair with the wine we will make," they said cheerfully.

The grapes were harvested by the hotel staff in mid-September and went through the whole wine-making process. The original wine created to celebrate the Sapporo Grand Hotel opening's 85th anniversary is a German variety. While blending several types of wine, the team plans to present a white wine with a subtle balance between sweetness and sourness, and a red wine with a delicate plum taste.

　The announcement presenting the wine will be performed as part of the commemorative event and the wine will also be available in the hotel's restaurant. The Bakery & Pastry will also be selling bottles. We were blessed with nice weather this summer in Hokkaido as the hot temperatures were ideal for growing wonderful grapes. The wine is planned to be ready in mid-November. Since there was no typhoons or heavy rains in the area before harvesting, we expect to deliver right on time.

The Sapporo Grand Hotel is organizing a large variety of events for its anniversary year. Most notably, the Sapporo Grand Hotel's 85th Anniversary Special Tasting Party will be held on November 20th.

　The participating chefs created and preserved some "traditional tastes," and they devoted themselves to creating a special menu, showcasing technique and sensitivity. The event will be a night of luxury gastronomy, with chefs talks and live cooking, and of course the original wine will be served.

　With the slogan "Hokkaido always by your side,” the Sapporo Grand Hotel offers the best of hospitality and quality for all customers. We hope you will be looking forward to enjoying our future projects as the hotel continues its support of the development of Hokkaido.