Introduction
I was very fortunate to be a part of a splendid IWC Hyogo Sake Challenge 2016.
I have been a sake judge in IWC since 2008. Being a part of IWC Hyogo Sake Challenge 2016 as a Panel Chair for a second time was truly a great experience.
IWC Mr. Chris Ashton, everyone from the cabinet of Hyogo prefecture & Sake Samurai association worked so hard during last year up until it finished. I am very grateful and thankful for their absolute hard works.
Within IWC (International Wine Challenge), Sake Challenge was first launched back in 2007 in London. There were 313 Japanese sake entries back in 2007 and the number of the entry has been rapidly increasing ever since.
2016 IWC Sake Challenge was held in Hyogo prefecture in Japan to celebrate its 10th anniversary invited 57 sake specialists from 14 different countries to judge a record-breaking entry of 1282 Japanese Sake. Hyogo prefecture has the biggest sake production in Japan and the origin of Yamadanishiki, a king of sake rice. 2016 was also 80th anniversary after the discovery of Yamadanishiki, which has made this special occasion even more suitable as a world top standard, truly amazing celebratory competition.
A great journey has started on the 15th of May 2016.
SAKE Symposium in Kobe
Firstly, there was SAKE Symposium in Kobe organised by Jetro. It provided great insights into a current international sake market and what is needed to increase sake sales and consumption abroad. Great presentations were given by Mr. Sam Harrop MW, Mr. Kenichi Ohashi MW, Mr. Sinya Tazaki, Chairman of Japan Sommelier Association.
This was followed by panel discussion about how to strengthen international sake branding. The panel included great personalities like Miss. Toshie Hiraide, Mr. Antony Moss MW, Mr. Hitoshi Utsunomiya, a director of Japan National Tax Agency.
After gaining valuable insights into the international sake market, splendid journey of IWC Sake Hyogo 2016 has began. On the first evening, we visited Nishinomiya Shrine, welcomed by wonderful local sake and food festival on the way to the main shrine for a sacred and beautiful purification ceremony by Shinto Priests whishing safe and smooth sake judging during IWC.
Performance of very rare traditional Kagura dance created lovely celebratory atmosphere before the welcome dinner reception by Hyogo prefecture.
Welcomed by a great speech by the governor of Hyogo, Mr. Toshizo Ido, and the Mayor of Nishinomiya City Mr. Takeshi Imamura, followed by wonderful Kagami-Biraki ceremony, the evening showed amazing “Omotenashi” (Japanese Hospitality).
16th May 2016 Sake Tasting Round 1
We were at Hakutsuru Brewery by 9.30am, where all the judging took place this time round.
It was Sake tasting Round 1, an important day to judge medal candidates among all entries. If judged as non medal, it would be either commended or out. Intense judging session was had from 10:00am until 4:30pm tasting around 100 sakes per panel, divided into 9 categories: Futsu, Honjozo, Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, Ginjo, Junmai Daiginjo, Daiginjo, Koshu and Sparkling. Each panel had 4-5 judges with one being a panel chair, passionate discussions were happening across the tasting room. My first day panel had judges from France, Canada, and Japan, all very experts on sake tasting. It is a very valuable experience to discuss and communicate different views and opinions on sake.
After a long day, it was lovely to be welcomed by the president of Sakuramasamune, Mr. Tazaemon Yamamura, at Sakuramasamune Museum, with delicious food, sake and great entertainments.
17th May 2016 Sake Tasting Round 2
Here comes Sake Tasting Round 2 on the third day. During Round 2, a panel is required to decide which sakes are Gold, Silver or Bronze medal qualities with some sake to be put back as commended or even out at this stage. If any sake is judged as any medal standard, a panel has to provide also a tasting note. A panel is different from Round 1, consisting of 4-5 judges including a panel chair and a tasting note taker.
Round 2 is carried out in much greater details with smaller number of sake to taste than Round 1. Discussions during Round 2 have a lot to learn from, exchanging different taste preferences and descriptions according to each judge’s background. On my Round 2 panel, we were fortunate to have Mr. Utsunomiya from Japan National Tax Agency with many years of great sake judging/tasting experiences and other two amazing judges. Round 2 finished in late afternoon.
We were out on the sea to take a fresh breeze to relax after an exciting yet another intense day – On the bay boat trip – delicious locally sourced food matched with different local sake with beautiful sun-set from the deck.
18th May 2016 Trophy Sake Tasting
Co-Chairs and Panel Chairs had another day of sake judging on the fourth day – Sake tasting trophies. This is to decide which gold medalled sake deserves a trophy. Panel Chairs are divided into three groups, tasted categories of gold medalled sake assigned.
IWC Sake’s great Co-Chairs, Mr. Sam Harrop MW, Mr. Kenichi Ohashi MW, Mr. Takuya Kusuda and Mr. Simon Hofstra, have the hardest job to re-taste sakes judged by panels on Round 1 & 2, and on the trophy sake tasting. It is those four Co-Chairs that make sure all the medal selections are as fair and correct as possible.
It was another great evening at Fukuju’s Kobe-Shu-Shin-Kan brewery. All different breweries gathered here to socialise and enjoy the evening with IWC judges. There was foot hot spring, Geisha Games, and all the great breweries from all over Japan.
19th May 2016 Rice Planting Excursion
On the following day, Hyogo prefecture planned such a wonderful excursion – Planting Yamadanishiki rice on the rice field. It is so important to feel the soil, air and water, where ingredient rice is grown, to really understand sake. This followed by Yamadanishiki Master Class, creating awareness of sake terroir among sake & wine professionals. Rice planted by judges will be made into sake next year and sent to them to actually taste their hard work – What a great idea!
IWC Trade Sake Tasting & Medal Announcement followed by Gala lunch
The special journey, IWC Hyogo Sake Challenge 2016 had a Grand Finale with IWC Trade Sake Tasting & Medal Announcement followed by Gala lunch. Sake tasting had not only 2016 Gold medal sake, but also historical gold medallists like Nabeshima and Fukukomachi. Dewazakura Brewery won two trophies and IWC Sake Brewer of the Decade, and Sake Trophy Awards 2016 had the following great sake…
Hourai Tensai Touji no Nyuukonnshu
Honjozo Nanbu Bijin
Dewazakura Dewanosato
Gokeiji Junmai Ginjo
Amanoto Junmai Daiginjo 35
Dewazakura Oka Ginjo
Mutsu-Hassen Daiginjo
Koshu Eikyu no Kagayaki 1983
Sparkling sake “John”
There were the 10 years of the distinguished service award given to
Mr. Koichi Saura (Saura Brewery)
Mr. Kenji Ichishima (Ichishima Brewery)
Mr. Takeshi Sekiya (Sekiya Brewery)
Miss Toshie Hiraide (IWC Sake Ambassador)
Miss Rie Yoshitake (UK Sake Samurai Association)
Mr. Keisuke Irie
I would like to send my sincere congratulations to all the award winners!
I would like to sincerely thank all the people involved in organizing such an amazing IWC Sake Hyogo 2016 – Absolutely fantastic Governor Mr. Ido, Mr. Takanori Himeno from the Cabinet of Hyogo Prefectures, IWC Mr. Andrew Reed, Mr. Chris Ashton, Sake Samurai Association, Miss Rie Yoshitake, Miss Toshie Hiraide and many more. Omotenashi of Hyogo was absolutely outstanding and educational value was so significant as it is one of the most important prefectures for sake in Japan. This has become a truly unforgettable lifetime experience for my entire sake life.