By KATSUMI MITSUGI/ Staff Writer
May 14, 2021 at 07:30 JST
HOKUTO, Yamanashi Prefecture--World-renowned French chef Alain Ducasse lent his skills to help a local brewery here develop a high-end sparkling sake that bears his name.
Alain Ducasse Sparking Sake is produced with the "kijoshu" method, which involves fermenting sake with brewed sake instead of water, as well as yeast with a high malic acid content.
Yamanashi Meijo Co., which produces sake under the brand name of Shichiken, crafted the product to give it a savory "umami" flavor deriving from rice. It also has a hint of a fruity, sour taste, according to Ryogo Kitahara, the company's managing director in charge of brewing.
Ducasse, a Michelin star chef who joined a presentation event held March 21 remotely from Paris, boasted that he helped to create a sparkling sake like no other.
He also expressed his admiration for Japan, saying that it and France share common values in respect to things the two countries produce. Among other things, he cited know-how and techniques for the future, adding that he and the brewery made use of each other's expertise.
Yamanashi Meijo has been making sparkling sake since 2014.
"We want to seek out overseas markets by offering a high-value-added Japanese sake brand," President Tsushima Kitahara said.
A 720-milliliter bottle of Alain Ducasse Sparkling Sake sells for 5,500 yen ($51), including tax.
It is available at Shichiken's online shop at (https://shop.sake-shichiken.co.jp/) and elsewhere.
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French chef Alain Ducasse with a bottle of Alain Ducasse Sparkling Sake (Provided by GreenCreate)
