IWC 2020 Sake

The IWC Sake Competition was introduced in 2007 with the support of the Japanese Sake Brewers Association. It has grown into one of the most recognised sake competitions with the most diverse set of judges from around the world.

The International Wine Challenge 2020 was delayed from April to November 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. We finally have the results!

This year, there were 1401 sakes within 9 categories. Some observations by the head judges was that there were fewer entries for low alcohol (12%) Junmais, maybe it is a trend that is fading. CO2 is more common in sakes, carrying on the trend from previous years.

Our portfolio breweries did very well this year, winning 4 of the 31 trophies up for grabs.

Sake Breweries in our Portfolio who won awards

Nihonsakari Co Ltd
Nihonsakari Junmai Daiginjo Namazake - Silver (Junmai Daiginjo)
Nihonsakari Honjozo Nama-Genshu - Silver (Honjozo)

Suzuki Sake Brewery (Hideyoshi)
Hideyoshi Junmai Daiginjo Matsuemon - Silver (Junmai Daiginjo)
Hideyoshi Daiginjo - Bronze (Daiginjo)

Dewazakura Sake Brewery
Dewazakura Oka Yamadanishiki - Trophy (Yamagata Ginjo)
Dewazakura Junmai Daiginjo Yukimegami - Gold (Junmai Daiginjo)
Dewazakura Sparkling AWA - Silver (Sparkling)
Dewazakura Daiginjo - Silver (Daiginjo)
Dewazakura Junmai Ginjo Tsuyahime - Silver (Junmai Ginjo)

Watanabe Sake Brewery (Hourai)
Hourai Komachisakura Betsugakoi - Trophy (Futsu)
Hourai Ginjo Dentou Karakuchi - Trophy (Ginjo) 
Hourai Junmai Ginjo Kadentezukuri - Gold (Junmai Ginjo)
Hourai Kuramoto no Kakushisake - Silver (Honjozo)
Hourai Komachisakura - Silver (Futsu)

Obata Shuzo
Manotsuru Daiginjo Maho - Bronze (Daiginjo)
Manotsuru Junmai Daiginjo Sado - Bronze (Junmai Daiginjo)
Manotsuru Junmai Daiginjo Miku - Bronze (Junmai Daiginjo)

Kikuchi Sake Brewery
Sanzen Junmai Daiginjo - Silver (Junmai Daiginjo)
Sanzen Daiginjo - Silver (Daiginjo)

Kojima Sohonten
Toko Junmai Daiginjo Yukimegami Shizuku - Silver (Junmai Daiginjo)
Toko Junmai Daiginjo Yukimegami - Silver (Junmai Daiginjo)
Toko Junmai Daiginjo Shizuku - Silver (Junmai Daiginjo)
Toko Junmai Ginjo Genshu - Silver (Junmai Ginjo)
Toko Junmai - Silver (Junmai)

Enoki Shuzo (Hiroshima)
Hanahato Kijoshu Aged 8 years -  Trophy (Hiroshima Koshu)

Endo Brewery
Keiryu Kuragakoi - Gold (Futsu)
Keiryu Daiginjo - Bronze (Daiginjo)

Saito Shuzo
Eikun Ichigin Junmai Daiginjo - Silver (Junmai Daiginjo)

Miyake Honten
Sempuku Yamadanishiki Junmai Daiginjo 35 - Gold (Junmai Daiginjo)
Sempuku Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Genshu - Silver (Junmai Daiginjo)
Sempuku Daiginjo Muroka Genshu - Silver (Daiginjo)

Link to the website and other winners http://internationalwinechallenge.com/