Grower: Akishika Shuzo
Region: Osaka, Japan
Material: Omachi Rice
Viticulture: Organic
Category: Sake
Size: 750ml
"Producer: Akishika’s sake-making starts in the paddy. An intense amount of work and attention is given to their sake’s raw material - organic rice. Sixth-generation kuramoto (brewery owner) Oku Hiroaki says, “I am a farmer who makes sake, and I want the finished product to convey as much as possible the taste of the wonderful rice we grow.” Making sure as much of the rice as possible dissolves into the brew - having minimal amount of lees left - together with high levels of acidity and minerality is the secret behind the sake being light in weight but rich in flavor and complexity. At present, Akishika Shuzō is cultivating around 25 hectares of rice, comprising nearly 100 separate paddies, most of which are rented from nearby farmers who are no longer active. The rice is grown biodynamically, with only what comes out of the ground (fermented rice husks, rice shavings, and sake lees) returned into the ground as fertilizer. The brewery is located in the village of Nose in the mountainous northernmost part of Osaka Prefecture. The water is medium-soft, and comes from a well inside the brewery.
Sake: This dry ginjō (polished to 60%) sake is a fine example of the bold and expressive flavor of Omachi rice, with a rich palate that provides a fine backbone of acidity and delicate umami. It is made from 100% organic rice grown by the master brewer. Slow-brewed. Unpasteurized, unfiltered, undiluted."
