Hukuhaku Sake Hosts Sake Pairing Dinner Featuring Tsunan Sake Brewery at SKY Lab ¡ª Showcasing the Appeal of Japanese Sake to the Taiwanese Market
On August 16, 2024, Hukuhaku Sake, a Taiwanese company, collaborated with SKY Lab, a new style izakaya in Taiwan, to host a sake pairing dinner. The event aimed to further promote the appeal of Japanese sake in Taiwan, featuring popular sake series such as the “GO Series” and the new product “TSUNAN Ai.” Kengo Suzuki, President of Tsunan Sake Brewery, was also in attendance to explain the sake and outline his vision for expanding into the Taiwanese market.
About SKY Lab
Located in Taipei, SKY Lab is a modern fusion restaurant that blends Japanese and Western cuisine, gaining attention as a contemporary-style izakaya. Chef Jason¡¯s innovative creations provide guests with a unique dining experience, and the restaurant is known for its stunning atmosphere at dusk, where patrons can enjoy food and drinks in a relaxed setting.
Overview of the Pairing Dinner
The event started at 6:30 PM with casual small talk. Guests were welcomed with Go Vino, accompanied by finger foods consisting of raw and grilled seafood.
At 7:00 PM, the official dinner began. Tsunan Sake Brewery¡¯s President, Kengo Suzuki, greeted the guests and introduced the brewery¡¯s history and new products during a panel discussion. The details of the pairings are as follows:
– Vino ¡Á Italian-style Sashimi with Local Vegetables
The high acidity of the Vino wine paired perfectly with a salad made from tomatoes grown by small-scale farmers in Taiwan, offering a fresh and harmonious flavor combination.
– Diner ¡Á Sea Urchin Croissant with Grilled Vegetables
Diner wine was paired with SKY Lab¡¯s signature dish, the sea urchin cream croissant. The subtle spiciness and long, sweet aftertaste of the wine provided an enjoyable pairing.
– TSUNAN Ai ¡Á Main Course of Meat and Noodles
Tsunan Sake Brewery¡¯s new product, “TSUNAN Ai,” is characterized by its mild aroma and smooth taste, which pairs well with rich dishes. The combination with meat dishes and noodles stood out during the meal.
– Dolce ¡Á Dessert
The evening concluded with a pairing of balsamic-topped strawberry sorbet and the bitterness-free Dolce wine, which harmonized beautifully with the dessert.
Introduction of the New Product “GO Glanclass Uonuma Koshihikari Edition”
At the end of the dinner, the new “GO Glanclass Uonuma Koshihikari Edition” sake was unveiled. This sake, made from Uonuma Koshihikari rice, carries on Tsunan Sake Brewery¡¯s tradition of excellence while holding the potential to make a mark in the Taiwanese market.
Future Expansion in Taiwan
Through this dinner event, Tsunan Sake Brewery took a significant step toward increasing brand recognition in the Taiwanese market. In recent years, the demand for premium Japanese sake has been steadily growing in Taiwan, and through the collaboration with Hukuhaku Sake, there are high hopes that Tsunan Sake Brewery¡¯s high-quality products will be well-received by Taiwanese consumers. Particularly, the sake introduced during this event, such as the “GO Series” and “TSUNAN Ai,” showed great potential to offer a new tasting experience that resonates with Taiwan¡¯s food culture.
Tsunan Sake Brewery has won numerous awards, thanks to its regionally-rooted regenerative brewing practices and research into fermentation using the unique “Yukichugura” (Snow Cave Cellar) brewing techniques. The brewery continuously strives to improve quality by incorporating innovative brewing methods, including smart brewing technologies using generative AI. Along with its cooperation with Hukuhaku Sake, the insights gained from this event will help accelerate Tsunan Sake Brewery¡¯s expansion into the Taiwanese market and establish a new global business that can thrive internationally.
About Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. is a sake brewery located in Akinari, Tsunan Town, Nakauonuma District, Niigata Prefecture. Known for its heavy snowfall, this region uses natural spring water from 2,000-meter-high mountains for sake production. Utilizing local specialty sake rice ¡°Gohyakumangoku,¡± the brewery engages in sake brewing in harmony with nature under the brand concept ¡°Brew for Future ¨C Brewing a Coexisting Future.¡± Since 2023, with a new management structure, the brewery aims to create new value by integrating the brewery with science and expanding overseas.
