MANOTSURU won the GOLD MEDAL
At the largest and most respected Sake
competition in Japan,
National Sake Competition 2008.
Also at IWC-INTERNATIONAL WINE CHALLENGE SAKE
CATEGORY 2007.
 The ‘Four Treasures’ of Sake Brewing, from
Sado, Niigata
The 3 elements that are commonly held to be crucial in sake
brewing are “Rice”, “Water” and “Humans” (Brewers).
In addition to the aforementioned three, we take into
account the importance of “climate and nature”, which greatly
influence the “Rice” and “Water”. Our motto is to brew sake
where the ‘four treasures’ may work harmoniously to produce a well balanced product.
Moreover, our family crest has ‘four points’, which stays true to our motto in holding these principles to be of utmost importance.
Sado Island, where our Manotsuru sake is brewed, has been in the forefront of wildlife and nature conservation. Particularly, we have concentrated our efforts in conserving the Japanese Crested Ibis (Toki in Japanese). An island that is kind to the Ibis is kind to humans as well, creating a safe atmosphere for living. Such an atmosphere yields positive results to every process of sake brewing.
Youthful Energy Shows no Compromise
At the
helm of overseeing the production of Manotsuru
sake is our head brewer,
Kenya Kudo (37 years old). Mr. Kudo apprenticed
under Maho Matsui, a famed
master brewer .
During the sake brewing months of October
through March, in order to live
and breathe with the sake, Mr. Kudo practices a
traditional and little used
method of brewing which requires one to tend to
the sake from the break of dawn,
enduring freezing temperatures in order to
create the best product possible.
Our young brewers show no compromise when it
comes to improving the
quality of our sake. This youthful energy has
contributed greatly to our brewery being
recognized and receiving Gold Medals at the
National Sake Competition for 7times including 6
straight years starting in 2001.
 Connecting
the Skies of Sado to that of the World
In
2008 , ‘Manotsuru
Maho’ earned a Gold Medal at the
“National Sake Competittion” in Japan, also
won the Gold Medal at the world renowned
International Wine Challenge (IWC). The naming
of our sake is a tribute to our former head
brewer, Maho Matsui. As the name suggests, we
are very pleased that the tasters at the
competition valued the depth of the sake,
reminiscent of rich ears of rice bursting with
flavor.
In
addition, our
Manotsuru Daiginjo
Sake in 180 milliliter bottles has been selected
to be served to First and Business Class guests
on Air France. We designed the labels
specifically for our in-flight tasters; with
images of the Japanese Crested Ibis flying
across the sky.
Manotsuru is a sake that was born from the
nature and climate that is Sado Island.
This very moment, there is life being breathed
into a new droplet of sake.
With the change of the seasons, a new sake will
be brewed to reflect and compliment the change
in climate and atmosphere. Sake brewing is a
never ending cycle, going hand in hand with the
nature that gives birth to it. Though it may
take some time, we would like to brew sake
unique to our Island where the Japanese Crested
Ibis roam free from harm.
It would bring me much joy to think, that one
day, the skies over Sado Island may connect with
that of the world and be a place that is loved
and appreciated by many.
By Rumiko Obata
OBATA SHUZO
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