Pride of SAKE brewing
Our commitment to sake brewing
Yoshinogawa aims for a delicious and refined taste.
While maintaining the crisp, refreshing taste characteristic of Niigata's light and dry sake, it delivers a truly satisfying "delicious" experience from the very first sip. That is our definition of "delicious and light." Elegant sweetness, gentle acidity, and subtle umami combine to complement each other, creating a beautiful harmony. In the mouth, a pleasant aftertaste slowly expands, and finally, the flavor comes to a clean, refreshing finish. It combines the traditional crispness with a softness that suits today's dining table. This is a new Yoshinogawa sake that accompanies your daily meals.
All sake, with one thought in mind
What flows through all the sake that Yoshinogawa offers? It's a common core flavor: "delicious and light." From the "ultimate sake" that embodies the pinnacle of brewing technique to the "everyday sake" that naturally complements daily meals, we connect them all into one. The "special sake" that delivers new value, and the "original sake" that carries on the tradition of a beloved local evening drink, are also important. Regardless of the price or drinking occasion, the goal of deliciousness and the desire to enrich everyone's daily life remain the same. From a single philosophy, sake is born, each with its own role.
Continuing to engage with rice
The foundation that supports the flavor of sake is rice. At Yoshinogawa, we carefully select the rice variety, origin, and polishing ratio to match the desired sake quality and the individuality of each product. Furthermore, we grow our own rice and, by working directly with the rice paddies, we personally experience the changes in climate and growth each year. No two years are the same when it comes to rice cultivation, which is in the hands of nature. That's why we take responsibility for overseeing the process from the condition of each individual grain to the finished sake. This accumulation of effort is the starting point for our "delicious and light" sake.
The blessings of pure, pristine groundwater
Water, which makes up about 80% of the components of sake and is used not only in the initial brewing process but also in many other stages, is the foundation of all sake brewing activities. Supporting Yoshinogawa's sake brewing is the famous water "Tenka Kanro-sen" drawn from a well on the premises. This blessed water is formed when snow that falls on the Nagaoka Higashiyama mountain range seeps into the earth's layers over a long period of time, becoming pure and clear groundwater. This slightly soft, high-quality water is the foundation for creating "Bimi Tanrei," a sake that is clean, smooth, and has no harshness. The brewers carefully receive each drop nurtured by nature and use it to create the gentle and pure taste that is characteristic of Yoshinogawa.
With the hands of craftsmen and the precision of machines
Yoshinogawa sake is perfected by two strengths: the "craftsmanship" cultivated through tradition and the "advanced technology" that supports its quality. Our brewery is home to both "small-scale, handcrafted brewing," where craftsmen hone their senses to perfect every drop, and "large-scale brewing using advanced equipment," which consistently produces sake that is a part of many people's daily lives. Although their roles and the scale of brewing differ, they are connected by one desire: "to deliver sake that enriches everyday life." By combining the strengths of each, we enhance quality and deliver the same delicious taste.
The ever-evolving art of sake brewing
Our "evolution" lies in delivering the exquisitely refined taste we aspire to, to our customers in its most ideal form. Yoshinogawa has now taken quality control after brewing a step further, expanding its thorough management system to include everything from premium sake to everyday liquor. This includes "seasonal brewing" to ship various sakes at their optimal drinking time, and the introduction of "oxidation prevention equipment" and "refrigerated bottle storage warehouses" to deliver the flavor intended by the brewer without deterioration. All of these are testaments to our commitment to every step of the process, even after brewing.
Brewing throughout the year
We want to deliver all our sake, from freshly brewed varieties to those that have undergone the appropriate aging period, to our customers in their most delicious state. That's why Yoshinogawa has introduced "seasonal brewing." By brewing systematically throughout the year, we can ensure that our fresh sake is always vibrant, and that sake that needs aging is delivered at the optimal aging period. We have introduced large-scale cooling equipment to thoroughly control the temperature and hygiene of each stage of production. We have established a system that maintains the highest quality at all times, regardless of the season, allowing us to offer a wide variety of delicious and refreshing sakes.
Prevents oxidation and preserves flavor.
For sake, exposure to oxygen gradually deteriorates its aroma and flavor. To deliver the ideal "delicious and light" taste to our customers, it was necessary to reduce the risk of oxidation at every stage of the process. Therefore, we updated the "taretsubo" (sake receiving vessel) used during pressing and the pumps used for transfer to the latest models that minimize contact with oxygen. Furthermore, we not only updated the equipment, but also reviewed the daily "work of moving the sake" to minimize exposure to oxygen. We pay meticulous attention to every single small step of the process to deliver the true deliciousness of sake.
Refrigerated bottle storage
Storing sake in refrigerated bottles minimizes the risk of oxidation and heat damage, allowing us to maintain its quality in ideal conditions. Yoshinogawa has always used refrigerated bottle storage, but we have now significantly increased our capacity to accommodate an overwhelming 300,000 bottles (in small bottle equivalent). The main reason for introducing this large-scale facility is to ensure that not only our limited-quantity premium sake, but also our everyday sake that accompanies your daily life, is delivered under thorough quality control. Our commitment to quality is always there for you at your table.
