Sake competitions offer invaluable insights for importers and alcohol professionals looking to navigate the world of sake and improve their sales. Here are some key sake competitions:
National sake competitions in Japan:
- Annual Japan Sake Awards (launched in 1911): The oldest nationwide sake appraisal event in Japan, assessing the quality of new sakes brewed each year to clarify trends and advancements in brewing techniques.
- SAKE COMPETITION (launched in 2012): A leading commercial sake competition that sets new quality standards through rigorous blind tasting, making sake more understandable for consumers.
- Fine Sake Awards Japan (launched in 2011): Celebrates the unique experience of enjoying sake in wine glasses, enhancing the appreciation of sake's aroma and visual appeal.
- Kan Sake Contest (launched in 2009): The world's only competition dedicated to selecting the best heated sake, promoting its culinary pairing potential and rich cultural heritage.
- World Sakagura Ranking (launched in 2019): Evaluates sake breweries based on points earned in various competitions, highlighting top-performing breweries and guiding consumers to quality sakes.
- International Sake Challenge (launched in 2005): Enhances the global understanding, awareness, and sales of sake through a panel of Japanese and international experts.
International sake competitions overseas:
- International Wine Challenge (IWC) Sake Category (launched in 2007): The most influential wine competition with a dedicated sake category, drawing significant international attention and boosting sake's global presence.
- Kura Master (launched in 2017): A prestigious French competition that targets European audiences, promoting sake alongside local culinary traditions through expert evaluations.
- Sake Challenges (launched in 2016): Global competitions that judge sake within each region's cultural context, helping breweries enter new markets and enhance their profiles.
- U.S. National Sake Appraisal (launched in 2001): The oldest sake appraisal outside Japan, promoting high-quality sakes and contributing to the growth of the sake market in the U.S.
- Concours des Vins Féminalise (launched in 2007): A unique all-female judged competition that celebrates diverse Japanese beverages, highlighting exceptional quality and innovation.
- Oriental Sake Awards (launched in 2022): One of Asia's largest sake-tasting competitions, focusing on selecting high-quality sakes that cater to Asian consumers' preferences.
National Sake Competitions in Japan
Annual Japan Sake Awards
The Annual Japan Sake Awards (全国新酒鑑評会) are jointly hosted by the National Research Institute of Brewing (NRIB) and the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS). Held each May in Hiroshima, where the NRIB is located, this prestigious event has been evaluating new sakes since 1911, marking its 111th edition this year.
The primary goal of the Annual Japan Sake Awards is to assess the quality of new sake brewed nationwide each year. This evaluation clarifies current trends and advancements in brewing techniques and sake quality, contributing to their ongoing improvement. Additionally, the competition seeks to raise public awareness and appreciation of sake, making it the only nationwide sake appraisal event in Japan. This significant role helps enhance both the quality and brewing techniques of sake.
In 2022, the event introduced a new format due to the COVID-19 pandemic, featuring three separate tasting sessions. This year, the competition extended its duration and held two tasting sessions. The 2023 competition saw 818 entries, with over 394 prize winners, including 218 gold medals awarded for excellent product quality. Only Ginjo-style sakes with more than 0.8 acidity and no added aroma compounds are accepted, ensuring a high standard of entries.
SAKE COMPETITION
The SAKE COMPETITION, one of the leading commercial sake competitions, has grown annually since its inception in 2012, setting new standards for quality and helping consumers discover truly delicious sake. Organized by the SAKE COMPETITION Executive Committee, the event is held every year from May to June. The 8th edition in 2019 was the largest to date, with 1,919 entries.
The competition addresses the challenge of sake being "hard to understand" for many people by setting a clear standard. This involves gathering as many sakes as possible and having them judged by the same panel in a blind-tasting format. The judging team includes technical advisors, recommended breweries, and industry experts. Both preliminary and final tastings are conducted with the brand names hidden, and the order of display is shuffled by computer to ensure impartiality.
The judging criteria focus on "dignity as sake," assessing whether the sake conforms to the typical aroma and taste of rice-based sake, and "suitability as a drinkable sake," evaluating its overall quality as a beverage. The top 10 entries in each category receive GOLD awards, while the top 10% below GOLD receive SILVER.
In 2023, the competition featured 1,000 entries divided into four categories: Junmai Sake, Junmai Ginjo, Junmai Daiginjo, and Super Premium. These entries were judged blind by a panel of 20 preliminary judges and 10 final judges, including technical advisors, experts, and brewery owners. The top 10 entries in each category were awarded GOLD.
- Junmai Sake Category: 10 GOLD, 18 SILVER, 138 qualifying entries, 273 total entries.
- Junmai Ginjo Division: 10 GOLD, 24 SILVER, 175 qualifying entries, 343 total entries.
- Junmai Daiginjo Division: 10 GOLD, 23 SILVER, 171 qualifying entries, 333 total entries.
- Super Premium Division: 3 GOLD, 2 SILVER, 51 total entries.
The SAKE COMPETITION continues to lead the sake industry by promoting quality improvement and making it easier for consumers to find excellent sake.
The Fine Sake Awards Japan
The Fine Sake Awards Japan (ワイングラスでおいしい日本酒アワード), launched in 2011, celebrates the unique experience of enjoying sake in wine glasses. This innovative approach, inspired by the global popularity of Japanese cuisine, particularly in the U.S. and Europe, emphasizes the importance of aroma and visual appeal. Wine glasses enhance the delicate aromas and subtle colors of sake, providing a new sensory experience.
The awards are judged by experts through a blind evaluation, focusing on showcasing the newly discovered charms of sake to the public. With over 1,000 entries from more than 200 breweries, it has become one of Japan's largest sake contests. The aim is to popularize the enjoyment of sake in wine glasses, ensuring its cultural heritage is preserved and passed down through generations.
This year, the 14th edition received 1,038 entries from over 260 breweries across Japan. Judging was conducted in six categories, resulting in 55 top gold medals and 267 gold medals.
The main categories in the Fine Sake Awards Japan include:
- Sparkling Sake Category
- Premium Daiginjo Category
- Premium Junmai Category
- Premium Aged Sake Category
- Premium Sparkling Sake Category
The Fine Sake Awards Japan continues to lead in promoting the sophisticated enjoyment of sake through wine glasses, enhancing sake’s appreciation both domestically and internationally.
Kan Sake Contest
The Kan Sake Contest (全国燗酒コンテスト), or National Heated Sake Contest, is the world's only competition dedicated to selecting the best sake when heated. Sake is unique among alcoholic beverages due to its versatility with drinking temperatures. Warming sake enhances its umami, softens its flavor, and complements food by dissolving fats and oils. This tradition dates back to the Heian period (794-1192) and became standard practice during the Edo period (1603-1868).
Despite the rise in popularity of chilled sake varieties around 1980, the Kan Sake Contest aims to dispel the misconception that high-quality sake should not be heated. Through rigorous judging, experts evaluate the quality of heated sake, promoting its rich cultural heritage and culinary pairing potential. The contest highlights the unique flavors and textures of heated sake, encouraging people to explore and appreciate sake at different temperatures.
In 2023, the Kan Sake Contest received a total of 808 entries. Rigorous judging resulted in 248 selected entries, with 42 receiving the Highest Gold Award and 206 receiving the Gold Award. The contest features several categories:
- Value-Priced Lukewarm Category (45℃): 720ml priced at 1,100 yen or less (excluding tax) or 1.8L priced at 2,200 yen or less (excluding tax).
- Value-Priced Hot Sake Category (55℃): 720ml priced at 1,100 yen or less (excluding tax) or 1.8L priced at 2,200 yen or less (excluding tax).
- Premium Heated Sake (45℃): 720ml priced over 1,100 yen (excluding tax) and 1.8L priced over 2,200 yen (excluding tax).
- Special Lukewarm Category (45℃): Includes nigori sake, old sake, cask sake, yamahai sake, etc.
The Kan Sake Contest continues to promote the enjoyment of heated sake, emphasizing its versatility and rich culinary pairing potential.
World Sakagura Ranking
The World Sakagura Ranking (世界酒蔵ランキング), or World Sake Brewery Ranking, evaluates sake breweries based on points earned from various sake competitions held in Japan and internationally. Launched in 2019, it ranks the top 50 breweries out of over 1,500 based on their performance. This ranking highlights breweries with exceptional motivation, facilities, technology, raw materials, and skilled human resources.
The ranking's criteria are based on rigorous, blind-judged competitions, ensuring reliable results. Details about entries, awards, judges, and methods are disclosed for transparency. Reflecting the increasing number of international sake competitions, the ranking promotes sake and understanding of local tastes. Breweries participate to receive objective evaluations, boost internal confidence, and support sales, signaling their commitment to improvement. For consumers, the ranking serves as a guide to choosing quality sake by highlighting top-performing breweries, making it easier to find and enjoy excellent sake.
In 2023, 701 sake breweries and 2,606 products were ranked, with points calculated from nine different national and international sake competitions. Niizawa Brewery emerged as the top-ranked brewery for the second consecutive year, exemplifying excellence in the sake industry. The World Sakagura Ranking makes it easier for consumers to discover great sake while encouraging breweries to excel.
International Sake Challenge
The International Sake Challenge, despite its name, held annually in Tokyo, is now in its 18th edition. Its primary goal is to enhance the understanding, awareness, distribution, and sales of sake internationally.
The 17th edition took place on 30th September 2023 at Daiichi Hotel Ryogoku, featuring a judging panel of seven leading Japanese sake experts and four top international wine experts. They awarded Trophy, Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals to the entries. The competition has strong ties with leading international wine education bodies and major wine competitions in North America, Asia, and Europe, promoting sake on a global scale.
International Sake Competitions Overseas
International Wine Challenge (IWC) Sake Category
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The International Wine Challenge (IWC) is the world's most influential wine competition, held annually in London since 1984 and judged by a panel of leading liquor experts. In 2007, a sake category was established, drawing significant attention both domestically and internationally. Award-winning sakes often sell out quickly, underscoring the contest's global influence and its importance for sake's overseas expansion.
The judging for the Sake category of the International Wine Challenge 2023 took place in London from April 24 to 27, 2023. A total of 63 judges from 14 countries blind-tasted 1,601 sake entries, including 18 international entries, across nine categories. Medals were awarded based on the results of these blind tastings, including Gold, Silver, Bronze, and recommended sakes.
The categories in the IWC Sake Competition include:
- Futsu-Shu (Basic Sake) Category
- Honjozo Category (Trophy winner: ATAGO NO MATSU Honjozo Extra Dry)
- Junmai Category
- Ginjo Category
- Daiginjo Category
- Junmai Ginjo Category
- Junmai Daiginjo Category
- Sparkling Sake Category
- Koshu (Aged Sake) Category
Additionally, there is a Best Value Award and a Sake Brewery of the Year Award, based on overall results. In 2023, Niizawa Brewery from Miyagi was named Sake Brewery of the Year.
Kura Master
Kura Master is a prestigious sake competition held in France since 2017, targeting French and European audiences. The jury is comprised mainly of professionals from the food and beverage industry, including MOF (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) holders, top sommeliers, bartenders, and curators from leading French establishments. The latest competition saw a record participation of 1,110 sake brands. In 2021, the event expanded to include authentic shochu and awamori, with 193 brands entered in 2022. In 2023, a Japanese plum wine (Umeshu) category was added, with over 102 entries.
In 2023, the competition featured 1,090 entries from 340 breweries across five categories. A total of 359 sake bottles were awarded prizes, including 117 Platinum Awards and 242 Gold Awards, based on the points earned in each category. Notable platinum trophy winners in the Junmai Division included ATAGO NO MATSU Junmai Ginjo and ZAKU Junmai Ginjo "Megumi no Tomo". In the Junmai Daiginjo Division, SHICHIDA Junmai Ginjo Omachi 50% and REIKYO Junmai Daiginjo Absolute 0 took home top honors.
For the 2024 Kura Master, there are six categories with results to be announced in summer:
- Junmai Division
- Daiginjo Division
- Junmai Daiginjo Division
- Sparkling Sake Division
- Classic Heritage Division
- Aged Sake Division
Kura Master continues to elevate the profile of Japanese sake in France (the largest sake market in Europe), bridging cultural gaps and enhancing international appreciation for these traditional beverages.
Sake Challenges
The Sake Challenges promote sake on a global scale by allowing sake breweries to enter new, specific markets. These competitions judge sake within the cultural context of each region, using local sake sommeliers and regional food pairings to assess how sake fits into the market. This approach helps introduce new sakes and enhance the profile of existing ones.
The Sake Challenges aim to dispel the notion that sake is only for Japanese cuisine, showcasing its compatibility with diverse culinary traditions. These events enable breweries to launch into regional markets based on local research and consumer preferences. Notable competitions include the Milano Sake Challenge and Singapore Sake Challenge, with additional events in Luxembourg, Bordeaux, London, and Tokyo. The sake award categories and judging criteria are tailored to each location.
In the Milano Sake Challenge 2023, ZANKYO Junmai Daiginjo Super 7 won the Platinum Medal in the Junmai Daiginjo/Daiginjo Category, and MUTSU HASSEN Ginjo PINK was awarded a Silver Medal in the Junmai/Honjozo Category. These achievements highlight the global appeal and versatility of sake, furthering its appreciation and integration into various culinary landscapes.
American Sake Appraisal
The U.S. National Sake Appraisal, held annually since 2001, is the oldest sake appraisal outside Japan. Eleven judges, typically nine from Japan and two from the U.S., evaluate over 500 sake entries over three days using traditional Japanese judging procedures. Top-scoring sakes receive gold and silver awards, with "Grand Prix," "Second Grand Prix," and "Third Grand Prix" titles awarded to the highest marks in each category.
The primary purpose of the Appraisal is to recognize breweries that produce exceptional quality sakes and to elevate public awareness of sake outside Japan through tasting events. The event is dedicated to Takao Nihei, a master brewer and pioneering research technician at Honolulu Sake Brewery. Following the Appraisal, The Joy of Sake, the largest sake tasting event outside Japan, significantly contributes to the sake market's growth in the U.S.
In 2023, a total of 198 breweries submitted 578 entries to the Appraisal. Of these, 141 received gold awards and 137 silver awards across five categories: Daiginjo A, Daiginjo B, Ginjo, and Junmai. In the Ginjo Category, KATSUYAMA Junmai Ginjo "KEN" took the Grand Prix Second Place. In the Daiginjo A Category (premium daiginjo sake with a polishing ratio of 40% or less), KATSUYAMA Junmai Daiginjo "DEN" and ZAKU Junmai Daiginjo Shizuku "Satori" were awarded gold medals.
Féminalise
The Concours des Vins Féminalise is a prestigious tasting award, unique for its all-female judging panel composed of about 600 wine experts from around the world. This diverse group includes sommeliers, oenologists, journalists, and chefs, who bring their extensive knowledge and expertise to the rigorous blind tasting process.
The Concours des Vins Féminalise 2024 took place on April 8-9 in Beaune, France—a renowned hub for wine enthusiasts. This year, the competition received 368 entries from Japan across various categories. Out of these, 119 entries were honored with awards, showcasing the exceptional quality and innovation of the participants, across 6 main categories.
- Japanese Wine Category
- Japanese Sake Category
- Japanese Liqueur Category
- Japanese Distilled Alcohol Category
- Japanese Beer Category
- Japanese Cider Category
Some of this year’s gold medalists include REIKYO Junmai Daiginjo Absolute 0 and ZANKYO Junmai Daiginjo Super 7.
Oriental Sake Awards
Launched in 2022, the Oriental Sake Awards (OSA) is a relatively new sake award and one of Asia's largest sake-tasting competitions. The OSA brings together experts in alcoholic beverages to conduct blind tastings, selecting high-quality sakes that appeal to Asian consumers' preferences.
In 2023, Niizawa Brewery was awarded Sake Brewery of the Year, along with several medals for different sake bottles, including HAKURAKUSEI Junmai Ginjo in the Light & Clean Junmai Daiginjo/Ginjo Category. The Oriental Sake Awards continue to set a high standard for excellence in the sake industry, fostering growth and appreciation for sake across Asia.
Conclusion
Awards and trophies from sake competitions are invaluable tools for promoting sake to consumers, especially beginners. They provide a clear and trustworthy indicator of quality, making it easier for customers to choose a sake that has been tasted by sake professionals.
In conclusion, the world of sake is abundant with opportunities for discovery and appreciation, thanks to the numerous prestigious competitions that highlight the industry's best. For sake importers and alcohol professionals, these competitions serve as a valuable reference for selecting top-quality sakes that cater to diverse consumer preferences.
If your target market has a large female audience, consider referencing the Féminalise awards. On the other hand, if you aim to appeal to wine drinkers or restaurants that serve sake in wine glasses, the Fine Sake Awards Japan can be an excellent guide. By understanding and leveraging the insights from these competitions, professionals can enhance their offerings, boost consumer confidence, and ultimately improve sake sales.
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