
Representatives from sake importer Vine Connections and representatives from MS Walker hosted three special guests, Miko Fujita, Kazuhiro Yamada and Miho Imada, for a portfolio tasting of their respective sake lines at Nicks on Broadway in Providence on May 10. The luncheon event paired Chef Derek Wagner’s cuisine with education and sakes from three Japanese prefectures with Yamada Shoten Brewery in Gifu, Fukucho Brewery in Hiroshima and Mioya Shuzo Brewery in Ishikawa.
- Fukucho Junmai Forgotten Fortune Sake, Fukucho Junmai Seaside Sparkling Sake, Fukucho Junmai Moon on the Water Sake, Yuho Junmai Sake Eternal Embers, Yuho Junmai Sake Rhythm of the Centuries, and Yamada Shoten Everlasting Roots Junmai Sake.
- Front left: Miko Fujita, President, Mioya Shuzo Brewery/Yuho Sake. Left to right: Dan Moriarty, Owner, Moriarty’s Liquor Locker; Kazuhiro Yamada, General Manager, Yamada Shoten Brewery/Everlasting Roots; Derek Wagner, Chef/Owner, Nicks on Broadway; Monica Samuels, National Sake Sales Manager, Vine Connection; Ian Magiros, On Premise Key Account Specialist/Sommelier, MS Walker; Miho Imada, President and Toji (Master Brewer), Fukucho Sake; and Joshua Slocum, Fine Wine Sales and Brand Manager, MS Walker.
- Miko Fujita, President, Mioya Shuzo Brewery/Yuho Sake; Ali Innes, Sommelier, Bin 312; Miho Imada, President and Brewmaster, Fukucho Sake; and Kazuhiro Yamada, General Manager, Yamada Shoten Brewery/Everlasting Roots.
- Ian Magiros, On Premise Key Account Specialist/Sommelier, MS Walker, pours for Miko Fujita, President, Mioya Shuzo Brewery/Yuho Sake and Kazuhiro Yamada, General Manager, Yamada Shoten Brewery/Everlasting Roots.
- Yuho Sake selections. Located in the Ishikawa Prefecture on the Noto Peninsula, Mioya Brewery is run by Miho Fujita, where her line of sakes known as Yuho originated. The Yuho range sakes are brewed to be full of flavor and umami, with well-balanced acidity that can be paired with richer style dishes and include Yohu No Shiro, Yuho 55 and Yuho Yamaoroshi.
- Female brewery owner and Toji, Miho Imada, creates this sparkling sake made through secondary fermentation in bottle. Imada uses a little white koji, resulting in citrus notes and a refreshing finish, which pairs with seafood such as oysters or spicy shellfish dishes, as well as fruit-based desserts.
- Everlasting Roots Tokubetsu Junmai Sake is a traditional sake with aromas of cocoa and clove, and notes of orange blossom and tangerine. The high polishing rate gives this sake defined fruit and floral expression while still offering rich umami from the highly flavorful local hida-homare rice.
- Featured sake brands on display.
Photos by Laura Widness.