Is Chateau Uenae's Snow Beef aged in snow?

No. The name refers to the snowflake-like look of the marbling. It is not a snow-aging method, which is a separate Niigata tradition.

Japanese producer · Hokkaido

Chateau Uenae Wagyu

Hokkaido producer of the 'Snow Beef' line.

Region: Hokkaido (Lake Utonai)
Produces: Hokkaido Snow Beef
Character: Fine, lacy marbling
Rarity: Very small output

Map of Japan with Hokkaido Prefecture highlighted, the origin of Chateau Uenae Wagyu — Hokkaido Prefecture, the designated origin of Chateau Uenae Wagyu.

The Snow Beef farm

Chateau Uenae is a Hokkaido farm on the banks of Lake Utonai, and it is the producer of Hokkaido Snow Beef. The operation began as a Wagyu research-and-development farm, and after that project ended in 2002 it was taken over and continued by its current operator, with the beef originally served only at a private restaurant in Sapporo.

The "Snow Beef" name describes the fine, lacy appearance of the marbling. Output is very small, and the beef is marketed through a specialty export network with strong superlatives about its rarity that are best read as marketing.

Where to buy it1

● Certified Kobe

Pursuit Farms

Japanese A3/A4/A5 by named brand (Kobe, Ohmi, Hokkaido Snow, Olive, Sendai Gyu, Shichiri from Hida, Ozaki, Mizusako), Australian, own-ranch American

Ships nationwide

Common questions

Is Chateau Uenae's Snow Beef aged in snow?: No. The name refers to the snowflake-like look of the marbling. It is not a snow-aging method, which is a separate Niigata tradition.

Looking for the U.S. ranches that raise Wagyu? See the farms · The Kobe list · How to spot authentic Wagyu