Sake tasting reception at the Consul-General’s official residence (June 6, 2019)

On June 6^th, Consul-General Fukushima, in collaboration with groups such as the Houston JETRO office and the Sake Export Association, hosted a reception for local American guests to sample sake from Japan. Four breweries from across Japan hosted booths where guests had the opportunity to sample their sake; Nanbu Bijin from Iwate, Kaetsu from Niigata, Chiyonosono from Kumamoto, and Akita Seishu from Akita.
 
The Consul-General provided opening remarks where he compared the brewing of sake in Japan to winemaking in the West, noting that both are products of deep culinary cultures that prize craftsmanship. He went on to say that while more and more sophisticated varieties of sake have made their way to Texas, he hoped that the premium sake on offer at the reception would lead guests to become like evangelists, spreading word of what they had tried. 
 
Next, special guest Mr. John Gauntner, co-founder of the English language magazine Sake Today, presented a lecture on how to best appreciate the beverage. Mr. Gautner offered pragmatic remarks that could be easily understood by sake novices, touching on how it is made, the system of grading, methods for proper storage, and what to keep in mind when shopping for a bottle.
 
Following this introductory lecture, the tasting commenced as guests made their way to the booths hosted by each sake brewery. There, brewery representatives provided thoughtful explanations of their products, while guests sampled and thoroughly enjoyed the premium-grade sake that each had to offer. Many guests in attendance spoke glowingly about the evening’s events, saying that while they had encountered sake in the growing number of Japanese restaurants in Houston, they honestly never knew which to try, and that the lecture and tasting had equipped them with the knowledge required to better appreciate sake in the future.