Bubbly from Japan: Sparkling sake - a great alternative to sparkling wine

Sparkling sake is a fantastic alternative to prosecco, sparkling wine or champagne! In the land of the rising sun, this sparkling pick-me-up does not have such a long tradition. It is only in recent years that breweries have been looking for ways to encourage the Japanese to consume more sake. Sparkling sake is, or was, a great way to set new trends. After all, pretty much everyone likes a little more sparkle in their lives!

There are basically three methods of producing sparkling sake.

1. Like Prosecco: carbon dioxide is added to the sake.
2. Barrel fermentation: Sake has carbon dioxide, which is produced by the yeast that comes into contact with sugar. Instead of allowing the carbon dioxide to escape from the barrel, it is left in the containers at low temperatures and carbon dioxide is produced.
3. Bottle fermentation (as with champagne or sparkling wine): The process is similar to barrel fermentation, except that the fermentation takes place in a bottle.

Sparkling sake often has a low alcohol content of 5-7% vol. However, there are also higher bottled variants with 11-15% vol.

We present our sparkling sake to you today.

Hana Awaka Sparkling Sake

Refreshing, fruity, delicious: Ozeki Hana Awaka Sparkling Sake is simply fun in a glass. With 7% alcohol, this sparkling sake is an ideal aperitif, but also a great accompaniment to a light meal.

Hana Awaka is mildly sparkling and has a pleasant, natural sweetness. The fruitiness, which comes from the white koji, is in harmony with the fresh and light acidity. Fine notes of melon and pear round off this sparkling sake.

Incidentally, Hana Awaka means "glittering blossom", which is reflected in the elegant bottle design decorated with flowers. Enjoy chilled, preferably straight from the bottle with a straw or in a champagne glass.

Jozen Mizuno Sparkling Sake

The Jozen Mizuno Sparkling Sake, produced by the Shirataki Sake Brewery, impresses with its fruity yet not too sweet taste. Fruity notes of lychee and guava can be tasted as well as green apple. It is characterized by a successful balance between sweetness and acidity. At 13% alcohol by volume, this sparkling sake has a higher alcohol content than others available in our store. The rice polishing degree is 60%.

The Jozen Mizuno Sparkling Sake is produced by the Shirataki Sake Brewery in Echigo Yuzawa in Niigata Prefecture. The region is particularly famous for its soft and mineral-rich water. This is certainly one reason why Jozen Mizuno tastes so well-balanced.

MIO Sparkling Sake and MIO Dry

One of our absolute bestsellers and probably the most popular sparkling sake in Japan: MIO Sparkling Sake has fruity aromas and a natural sweetness. You can taste grapes, melon and ripe pears, the sweetness is paired with a pleasant and very gentle, refreshing acidity. The carbon dioxide is used discreetly and is neither too strong nor too weak.

The MIO Dry variant is slightly less sweet.

Incidentally, we are the only importer in Europe to stock the large 750 ml bottles.