Wine Spectator’s recent monthly publication had two great articles about Sake. However, there was some misrepresentation about quality and classification in the article that we thought their readership might like to know. Here is the letter we sent to the editors this morning. The article, Cracking the Sake Code, can be found here: http://www.winespectator.com/magazine/show/id/48249
Daigingo is not the Pinnicale of Quality
Dear Wine Spectator Magazine,
It was great to read your article , “Cracking the Sake Code“, about sake and its success in America. However, establishing Diagingo as a synonym for quality in sake is unfair and misleading to your readership. It would be as bold as saying that the best quality wines are made of only Cabernet Sauvignon with the grape peel meticulously removed.
Although it is often taught in this manner, the degree that the rice is polished is not equal to the quality of the sake. Polishing only produces different styles in sake just as different grapes do in wine. One must evaluate and appreciate each sake within its category.
The variety, region, quality, and manner the rice is grown can determine the price of rice to a greater extent than polishing. The biggest cost and determined of quality in sake is the brewing process.
Whether Junmai or Diagingo, sake is a diverse and interesting world where you can find great and poor quality sakes in all categories. Junmai is a style of sake that has been produced for hundreds of years; Diagingo a modern invention that coincided with the decline of sake consumption in Japan. It is sad to see that no Junmai-style sake impressed Messrs. Marcus and Sanderson to an outstanding grade and that Junmai-style was de-emphasized in their article. The reality is this bolder more traditional style of sake has greater intrigue, diversity, and range that appeals more comprehensively with the boldness and span of cuisine enjoyed in America.
- Toji, Texas Saké Co.
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Happy Valentines! We trust you’ll have a great time today, we’ve got some updates for you on saké-related events for the coming weeks.
5-course Texas Dinner & Saké
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Warm Saké for the Holidays… read up…
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Open for the HolidaysSaturday Dec. 22 and Saturday Dec. 29 2:30-7:00pm
5501 N. Lamar A115, Austin Interested in a unique Austin experience to share with family and friends in town over the holiday season? If you haven’t made it to our tasting room yet, what better time of year then this to visit?! Enjoy the finest saké this side of the Pacific in our intimate and relaxed Saké-kura where its made. We’ll be open this and next Saturday afternoon, and you can always stop in to purchase a bottle or two even without a reservation. RSVP Recommended for Tasting Free Saké Tasting Tonight @ WholefoodsFriday, Dec. 21st 5:00-7:00pm
525 N Lamar Blvd. Austin Will you be shopping later today? Well, visit Wholefoods and say hello to Christiana who will be sampling both styles of our saké this evening at the Wine Department. This is our first tasting at Wholefoods, and you can now count on this downtown landmark as a place to find a good stock of our Whooping Crane and Rising Star Saké! More new locations…River City Market Far West Liquor and Fine Wines Muller Farmer’s Market For our other locations around Austin and Texas, check out our webpage here. Upcoming EventsNext event: Proper Warm Saké Is warm saké better or worse? Learn from our Toji on the proper techniques to warm saké and how to enjoy saké warm vs. chilled. January: Movie Night at the Kura We’ll have food, our Bouncy Fort, and even warm saké. We plan to screen Hiyao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro. |
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| Release of a New Governor! We are announcing the release of Rising Star Mathias de Aguirre. Read below to Get one Saturday » |
Visit our newly opened Tasting room this Saturday and try our just released batch of Rising Star Nigori RSVP »
Mathias De AguirreThere will be a new governor joining us in the kura this weekend: welcome Mathias de Aguirre, our newest batch of Rising Star! As you may know, we name each batch after a Texas governor, starting with the Spanish government. Mathias de Aguirre was the fourth governor of Spanish Texas, serving from 1703-1705. This most recent batch was just bottled in November, so if you’ve never tried a young saké, this is a special opportunity. New saké has a pleasant tartness that mellows with age—think “vino verde.” You can try the Mathias de Aguirre batch in our tasting room at the Kura at 5501 N. Lamar Saturday afternoons from 2:30-7:00pm. Can’t make it? Try us that morning at the downtown SFC Farmers’ Market Saturday from 9:00am-1:00 pm at the corner of Guadalupe and 5thStreet Free Tasting at Wheatsville CoopFriday, Dec. 7 5:00-8:00pm
3101 Gaudalupe St., Austin Spice up your visit to the grocery store with a sip of saké! You can get a taste of our Francisco batch at Wheatsville Coop this Friday, and then pick up the perfect dinner to accompany your bottle of choice. We’ll be offering free tastings of Whooping Crane and and Rising Star from 5:00-8:00pm tomorrow. Movie Night at the Kura
Friday, Dec. 28 6:30-9:00p 5501 N. Lamar A115, AustinWe’ll have food, our Bouncy Fort, and even warm saké. We plan to screen Hiyao Miyazaki’s My Neighbor Totoro.Stay tuned for more details! |
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Last week’s tasting room Grand Opening was a great success and we appreciate all who came out to share the experience with us. We look forward to seeing you all at our Tasting Room a Saturday coming soon.
This weekend we will have a vertical tasting available for those visiting our Tasting Room. As you may already know, we name our batches after the Texas Governors, starting with the Spanish Governors of the 17th century, its a great opportunity to taste them all this weekend. Read on below.
Saturday, Nov. 24 2:30-7p
Texas Saké Kura, 5501 N Lamar Blvd (We are in the back)
- The Carillon New American Grill at the University of Texas at Austin, 1900 University Ave. 78705, in the AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center,
- Sobani Kitchen. Bar. Patio. at 1700 Ranch Road 620 North #110, Austin, TX 78734 in Lakeway.
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