International Wine Challenge names its Sake Champions

The International Wine Challenge announced its Sake Champions at the prestigious awards dinner
ceremony in London last night. The three Sake Awards comprised the Great Value Champion, theSake Brewer of the Year, and the Champion Sake 2019.
The winner of the Great Value award, sponsored by the Sake Samurai Association, is the 350-year-oldKiku-Masamune brewing company’s Shiboritate Gin-pack. This Futsu-Shu Sake, the most popular stylein Japan that accounts for 75% of all sake produced, demonstrates an elegant style of the category,with tasting notes of red apple skin with a soft texture and yoghurt creaminess, mixed with a hint ofgrapefruit zest, melon rind and white pepper, and a long, lingering aftertaste.
The highly coveted accolade of IWC Brewer of the Year was awarded to Heiwa Shuzo Co, who broughthome four Gold medals this year, three Silver and two Bronze. The company was founded in 1928,
and is located on the site of a temple. The brewery is in a valley which receives plenty of rainfall,
providing a generous supply of the essential soft spring water that is crucial for making world-classSake.
The final award, the IWC Champion Sake 2019, sponsored by Japan Airlines, was awarded toKatsuyama Junmai Ginjo Ken, which won both a Gold medal and the Junmai Ginjo Trophy. The sakeexhibits rich perfumed aromas of red apple and flowers. It has a juicy impact, with an elegant style,bright and firm while retaining freshness. It has a sophisticated finish, and is a good representation ofthe style.
IWC Sake Co-Chair Kenichi Ohashi MW commented: “The breadth of the style of top medal-winning
Japanese Sake has without doubt expanded. This is due to the diversification of flavours on theproducer side, the improvement of the tasting ability of the individual judges, and the attitude of IWC
in educating consumers.”
The IWC Sake competition was founded in 2007 and has grown exponentially with Sakes now enteredglobally – from regions as diverse as USA and Europe. The world-famous Japanese rice wine continues
to gain momentum around the world, with bespoke sake menus appearing in a selection ofrestaurants globally.
Chris Ashton, Director at the International Wine Challenge, commented: “Our rigorous approach andinternational judging panel make this a truly unique competition that is recognised the world over.
With these Trophies under their belts, these brewers can expect global attention.”
The competition, hosted last year in Japan, was held in London at The Oval in May this year.
In its 36th year, the International Wine Challenge is accepted as the world’s most rigorous, impartial andinfluential wine competition. The awards aim at recognising achievement across the industry with athorough judging process. This year’s winners were announced on 9th July and the full list of thoseawarded can be seen here.

NOTES TO EDITORS:The International Wine Challenge
In its 36th year, the International Wine Challenge is accepted as the world’s most rigorous, impartial andinfluential wine competition. The IWC assesses every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style,region and vintage. Each medal-winning wine is tasted on at least three separate occasions by a minimum of 12
different judges including Masters of Wine. Awards include medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Commendedawards.
The IWC Sake
The IWC Sake competition was introduced in 2007, and has grown exponentially with hundreds of sake beingentered from Japan, USA and Europe. The IWC employed a vast number of international sake experts to judge
the competition each year. The sake competition adheres to the same strict processes as the International Wine
Challenge which combined with the experience of the panel undoubtedly make the IWC Sake competition themost credible of its kind.
The IWC is committed to helping consumers discover great wine, and the medals displayed on winning bottles
and in winning shops offer a trusted guarantee of quality.
For more information on the IWC, please contact the IWC team at Phipps
iwc@thisisphipps.com : +44 (0)20 7759 7400 : 17 Exeter Street, London, WC2E 7DU, UK