Make mine a wine glass

Another permanent fixture in the sake world is serving in wine glasses, and there’s even a competition to go with it.

The Fine Sake Awards, or to give it its Japanese title, “Sake Delicious in a Wine Glass Awards” has been running for 15 years, and released the results of its 2025 competition on 26 Feb. There were 1091 entries, of which 56 won Grand Gold Medals and 291 gained Gold Medals.

The competition is divided into categories based on price:

• Main category: JPY 1400 or less for 720 ml (or JPY 2800 for 1.8 L)
• Sparkling category: JPY 1960 or less for 720 ml (or JPY 820 for 300 ml)
• Nama category: JPY 2000 per 720 ml (or JPY 1000 per 300 ml), distributed chilled
• Premium daiginjo category: daiginjo and junmai daiginjo above the price limit for the main category
• Premium ginjo category: ginjo and junmai ginjo above the price limit for the main category
• Premium aged category: aged at ambient temperature for at least 3 years, with pleasant matured aroma
• Premium sparkling category: sparkling sake above the price limit for the sparkling category

The percentage of Gold and Grand Gold Medals was fairly consistent across all categories, at 4.3–5.6% for Grand Gold and 25.0–28.3% for Gold.

The results page also notes that entries were received from 254 companies, which implies that most entrants submitted more than one sake. [Looking at you, Niizawa Shuzo.] 

Winners in the main division included two Hakurakusei from Niizawa Shuzo, the junmai ginjo and tokubetsu junmai, and two from Konishi, the daiginjo and ginjo from the Hiyashibori range.

The results should be available on the English page at some point.

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ワイングラスでおいしい日本酒アワード 2025 審査結果 (Fine Sake Awards)