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INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE ANNOUNCES SAKE CHAMPION, AND AWARDS FIRST GREAT VALUE SAKE AWARDInternational Wine Challenge announces Sake Champion at prestigious Trophy Awards dinner
Sake maker Hirata Shuzojou Co. Ltd picked up the award for Champion Sake at the 31st annual International Wine Challenge Awards for its 1995 Jukusei Koshu Hidanohana Suiou. This very special 18.7% ABV koshu (aged sake) fought off competition from over 700 other entries to scoop the prestigious Champion Sake award, which is sponsored by Japan Airlines.
This family-run brewery in Hida-Takayama, Japan has been making Sake since 1895 and had just 5 employees. The Champion Sake winning undiluted Junmai Sake impressed the IWC Sake panel with its rich golden colour and delicate sweetness.
Winning the IWC Champion Sake accolade will catapult this small brewery to international fame at a time when Sake is becoming increasingly popular around the world. IWC Award winning Sake is already served in Japanese Embassies throughout the world. His Excellency Ambassador Keiishi Hayashi welcomed the delegation of brewers and members of the Sake Samurai Association to the UK, including previous Sake Champions. His Excellency Ambassador Keiishi Hayashi also played host to the International Wine Challenge’s award winning sake tasting to celebrate the IWC’s 31st Anniversary.
In a competition first, the International Wine Challenge also awarded a Great Value Sake Award, sponsored by the Sake Samurai Association. Niigata based brewery, Asahi Shuzo Co. Ltd, which has been making Sake for almost 200 years, received the Award for its Asahiyama Senjuhai 2013. This traditional Niigata style sake can be served chilled or warm.
Now in its 8th year, the IWC Sake competition has grown dramatically in recent times. 725 Sakes entered this year’s competition with 37 variants being awarded the much-coveted Gold medal for excellence. Sakes from 18 different prefectures were award Gold medals, with Yamagata and Niigata both leading with five breweries each picking up Gold.
This year’s competition also saw the introduction of two new sake categories: Ordinary Sake (futsu-shu) and the relatively new phenomenon of Sparkling Sake.
An international panel of over forty Sake experts judged the prestigious competition, including master of wines (MWs) from over 10 different countries including Australia, China, USA and Japan. This cements the IWC Sake competition as the most unique and multi-national Sake judging in the world.
Kenichi Ohashi, Co-Chairman of the Sake competition continued;“Every year we are seeing the quality of sake entering the International Wine Challenge improve, and 2014 is no exception. It is wonderful to see different varieties succeeding at the competition, picking up prestigious awards and being exposed to an international audience. The introduction of a Great Value Sake Award in the competition also shows how you don’t need to break the bank to get an excellent Sake.”
Sake has seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years across Asia, USA and Europe as more people discover this unique tipple. The surge in quality, availability and popularity across the world has also been supported by the Japanese state campaign to promote Sake overseas as a symbol of national identity of the country.
Rie Yoshitake, the IWC Sake Ambassador commented:
All International Wine Challenge news can be found at our Digital Newsroom
“More and more people from all around the world are being seduced by this versatile and intriguing drink. With more new varieties hitting the market and winning prestigious awards at respected competitions like the International Wine Challenge, I am confident the popularity of Sake is going to surge worldwide. With so many different styles to try, you could never get bored of Sake.”
For more information about the International Wine Challenge visit; http://www.internationalwinechallenge.com/
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What is the International Wine Challenge?In its 31st year, the International Wine Challenge is accepted as the world’s finest and most meticulously judged competition. The IWC assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Each medal winning wine is tasted on at least three separate occasions by a minimum of 10 different judges including Masters of Wine. Awards include medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Commended awards. The IWC is committed to helping consumers discover great wine, and the medals displayed on winning bottles offer a trusted guarantee of quality.
Visit the IWC website for the full list of winners www.internationalwinechallenge.com
For more information please contact:Manifest IWCAli Maynard & Helen Kennyt. 0203 1379270m. 07712 877 972e. [email protected]
Chris Ashtont. 07884 063405e. [email protected]
All International Wine Challenge news can be found at our Digital Newsroom
