Adam Waxman is an award winning writer focusing on food,…
The Sakura Awards – Asia’s largest wine competition – has returned for its 11th year in Osaka and in Tokyo. The increasingly popular and influential competition sees thousands of entries from over 28 countries, blind-tasted and judged by an expert panel of Japanese women comprised of sommeliers, winemakers, beverage directors and journalists.
Established in 2014 by now-President Yumi Tanabe, the Sakura Awards represents an endeavour to focus on wine from the unique perspective of the Japanese woman. In Tanabe’s own words, the aim of the competition is to “find wines that go well with Japanese home cooking and expand opportunities for women in the wine industry.” The Awards reflect and support the significant domestic influence of Japanese women, who are beginning to shape the Japanese wine market through their own purchasing power.
With over 4000 entries recorded in the 2023 edition of the Sakura Awards, the event has quickly become iconic within the burgeoning wine culture of Japan. Judging of the Sakura Awards is held in Osaka and Tokyo and includes special awards for “Best Pairing Wine for Asian Cuisine.” The full list of results from 2023 includes 180 wines from Japan. The entry categories for the event are:
- Still Red Wine
- Still White Wine
- Still Rose Wine
- Sparkling Wine and Semi Sparkling Wine
- Fortified Wine
- Sweet Wine
- Orange Wine
Though traditionally known for saké, whisky and beer, Japan is quickly gaining international recognition for its wine. Though wine consumption in the country did not start until the 16th century with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries, the modern popularity of French and Italian cuisines has inspired domestic wine production across Japan, with Yamanashi, Nagano and Hokkaido emerging as major wine centres.
The Japanese Koshu grape is typically dry, crisp and citric, pairing well with Japanese cuisine. Today, there are more than 80 wineries in Japan, around half of which are located around Koshu City in Yamanashi, where the climate contributes to a delicate, smooth wine that has won admiration from around the world.
For more information about Japan’s wine industry and the 2024 edition of The Sakura Awards go to http://www.sakuraaward.com/jp/index.html.
Adam Waxman is an award winning writer focusing on food, wine, travel and wellness. As well as an actor in film and television, he is the Publisher of DINE magazine.