Viu Manent received excellent awards in one of the most important Japanese wine contests, the Sakura Wine Awards 2021. The First International Wine Competition in Japan selected by Women Judges (System of judging wine exclusively by women). This year, we had to avoid long-distance travel by the judges and judging was done in Tokyo and Osaka. The event that was held in Tokyo (at Hotel Gajoen Tokyo on February 8th ) and Osaka (at Hotel Nikko Osaka on February 16th ) with a total of 186 judges, all women in the Japanese wine industry, judged 4,562 wines from 32 different countries.
CECCHI really made an impact with 6 awards. MAZZEI 3 awards for BELGUARDO and FONTERUTOLI (Vermentino, Tirrenico And Chianti Classico). BODEGAS CALLIA running off with 2 Gold medals for Callia Chardonnay and Callia Malbec. SALENTEIN with a Gold and a Silver for their Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. DOMAINE TARIQUET a precious GOLD award for Rose`.
In the Sparking and Champaign section we had GANCIA with 4 awards with their Italian Spumante ranges. LANSON with 3 awards and Taittinger with three DOUBLE GOLDS -> well done, for their Comtes De Champagne, Nocturne Rose And Prestige Rose Brut! (Rosé Champagne stealing much of the show, apparently).
The “SAKURA” Awards started its history in 2014 as the first international wine competition judged solely by women in Japan. Chaired by Yumi Tanabe, an active and leading wine educator in Japan, “The Awards” has grown gradually and now become the largest and the most important wine competition in Asia with over 4,000 items entry from across the world. The competition results always draw keen attention from both Japan and abroad, as it has encouraged the evolvement of new wine selection criteria from Japanese women’s perspective and further activation of wine culture and market in Japan is widely expected. The Sakura Awards has three goals, namely, finding wine suitable for home-cooked meals, increasing wine consumption, and expanding and supporting women working in the wine industry.
Sommeliers and Wine Experts / Wine Market in Japan
There are over 30,000 Sommeliers certificated by Japan Sommelier Association. 42% of them are women and many of them are working in wine industry typically in hotels, restaurants, importer companies and wine shops. Wine Expert is the title for wine lovers qualified by Japan Sommelier Association and 60% of them are women. Wine consumption in Japan has grown in last 10 years, and more people, especially women, enjoy wine in various places. During the coronavirus outbreak, dining out has decreased, but the consumption at home has increased. The wine sale at supermarkets, department stores, and internet online sales have expanded. Wine consumption at home now accounts for 70% of wine demand in Japan. The growth of sparkling wine exceeds still wines, 1.57 times over the past decade.
Additionally, Baron Philippe De Rothschild with some of their Mouton Cadet range.
Other mentions for Willy Gisselbrecht Alsace, Antinori, Banfi and Wente, plus Torres, who got 6 awards.
In total, 275 items were awarded “Double Gold”, 1,074 items were awarded “Gold”, 882 items were awarded “Silver”, and a total of 2,231 items were honoured with awards.
Further information on Sakura over here.
