The International Wine Challenge sake division results have just been released – and there are a few familiar faces, a few surprises and a new category!
The new category (which has actually been around since last year) is Aged Sake, which is confusing when listed alongside Koshu. According to IWC sake judge Sarah Stewart, the new category was created for sake aged under controlled temperatures, which gives it different characteristics from sake aged at ambient temperatures. [Like the phenomenal Hanahato kijoshu koshu, which won the koshu trophy again this year.]
With this new addition there are now 10 IWC trophies, which were won by:
- Futsu-shu Trophy: Rich Yamahai Kasumitsuru 2021/2022, Kasumitsuru Shuzo, Hyogo Prefecture
- Junmai Trophy: Enasan Junmai 2023/2024, Hazama Shuzo, Gifu Prefecture
- Honjozo Trophy: Atagonomatsu Kennai Honjozo 2023/2024, Niizawa Shuzo, Miyagi Prefecture
- Ginjo Trophy: Keiryu 150 Shunen Ginjo 2023/2024, Endo Shuzo, Nagano Prefecture
- Junmai Ginjo Trophy: Miyakobijin Taiyou 2023/2024, Miyakobijin Shuzo, Hyogo Prefecture
- Daiginjo Trophy: Miyanoyuki Daiginjo 2023/2024, Miyazaki Honten, Mie Prefecture
- Junmai Daiginjo Trophy: Toko Junmai Daiginjo Fukurotsuri Juhachi 2021/2022, Kojima Sohonten, Yamagata Prefecture
- Sparkling Sake Trophy: Dewazakura Awa Sake 2022/2023, Dewazakura Shuzo, Yamagata Prefecture
- Aged Sake Trophy: NIIZAWA KIZASHI 2019 2019/2020, Niizawa Shuzo, Miyagi Prefecture
- Koshu Trophy: Hanahato Kijoshu Aged for 8 years 2015/2016, Enoki Shuzo, Hiroshima Prefecture
So a couple from Hyogo and Yamagata prefectures, and two trophies going to one brewery! The full list, including the regional trophies, is here. (Scroll and scroll all the way down to the end…)
As well as the headline trophy winners, there were also four nominations for Sake Brewer of the Year:
- Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten (makers of Zaku)
- Niizawa Shuzo (makers of Atago no Matsu, Hakurakusei and other brands)
- Hazama Shuzo (makers of Enasan)
- Aihara Shuzo (makers of Ugo no Tsuki)
The first two are no strangers to IWC, and Niizawa won Sake Brewer of the Year last year. (And aside from their two trophies, they won a ridiculous number of medals.)
Aihara Shuzo are very close to Enoki Shuzo, both near the town of Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture, and they previously won the IWC junmai ginjo trophy in 2018.
I hadn’t heard of Hazama Shuzo before, but as I lived nearby I asked about it and found out that the brewery had been taken over some years ago and changed its style. [More musings on that below.]
Another surprise was the increase in non-Japanese sake winning awards (although no non-Japanese trophies yet as far as I know).
- UK: 1 Gold, 1 Bronze and 1 Commended for Kanpai in London, and 1 Bronze for the Sparkling Sake Brewery
- USA: 1 Bronze for Origami Sake, 2 Commended for SakeOne, and 1 Commended each for moto-i, Takara Sake USA and Gekkeikan USA
- Taiwan: 1 Gold
- China: 3 Commended
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