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SakéOne to be featured at Outside Lands 2015 Festival
7 August, 2015
SakéOne to be featured at Outside Lands 2015 Festival
Third year as sole saké to be poured at WineLands
San Francisco, CA –SakéOne, America’s first craft saké producer and importer of a diverse portfolio of Japanese saké is pleased to announce their third year as the only saké company featured at the 7th annual Outside Lands. The highly popular San Francisco music & arts festival draws over 70,000 music lovers from all over the world. For the past two years, SakéOne, has debuted new products at Outside Lands including Momokawa Organic Junmai saké on draft in 2013 and KIBO the premium grade canned Junmai saké in 2014.
Located in the center of the newly relocated Wine Lands tent within the festival, SakéOne will feature four sakés this year, two Oregon craft sakés, Momokawa Organic and g joy and two imports, KIBO and Hatkutsuru Sayuri Nigori. Patrons will use Bison Bucks to purchase either a pour or taste. The offerings include a range of styles and rice polish percentage, giving tasters an opportunity to experience the diversity of saké all in one place.
This year, Wine Lands will feature over 30 wineries pouring their diverse offerings. SakéOne will be the only saké company featured in the tent and every year the eclectic epicurean crowd flocks to experience and enjoy saké with the fantastic food offerings. Elsewhere around the festival, there will be additional areas highlighting Northern California’s elite culinary scene including Beer Lands, Choco Lands and Cheese Lands.
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival will take place on August 7-9 at San Francisco’s historic Golden Gate Park. More information can be found here http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/. Social media for SakéOne for the festival this year includes: #DrinkColdSaké #OSLsaké #SakéBetweenSets @SakéOne @KiboSaké on Twitter and on Instagram @sakeoneoregon or Facebook /sakeoneoregon.
About SakéOne
SakéOne is America’s first craft saké producer and compliments its own fine products with a growing portfolio of fine Japanese saké imports. Its Oregon craft saké brands Momokawa, Moonstone, and g Saké are joined by import brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa, Kasumi Tsuru, SakéMoto, Hakutsuru, KIBO and Tombo. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at www.sakeone.com.
For media information and interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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Oregon Craft Saké Brand Momokawa Announces Package Refinement
16 March, 2015
Oregon Craft Saké Brand Momokawa Announces Package Refinement
America’s #1 Craft Saké Brand Momokawa Announces Label Relaunch
Forest Grove, OR – The advent of spring always signals fashion week in NYC and Milan and appropriately this March, Momokawa, the number one craft saké brand in the United States, is unveiling striking new label colors for their award-winning SKUs.
Momokawa’s top-selling line of ultra-premium junmai ginjo saké is refreshed in new colors and matching closures representative of their jewel-inspired names. The pioneering Oregon-based craft saké brewer modified the packaging in such a way that the new colors pop off the shelves allowing consumers to clearly differentiate and locate each Momokawa saké variety. The striking colors bring to life the accompanying, iconic splatter design labels originally created by master label designer Jeffrey Caldewey.
“The color refinement is a direct result of observations by both retailers and consumers that the differences between the bottles were very subtle and hard to differentiate,” says Brian Lynch, VP of National Sales for SakéOne.
For ease of consumer identification, America’s number one ultra-premium saké[1], Momokawa Diamond, will retain its original blue label color and Momokawa’s ultra-premium organic products will retain their original green label color.
Within each newly dressed bottle, the award-winning craft saké that makes Momokawa America’s #1 craft saké brand remains the same.
The new labels will launch this spring, 2015; the new Pearl label will release mid-March, the Silver label late April, and the Ruby label April to early May.
Consumers and trade professionals can see the new packaging in person at several upcoming events, including: SF Vintner’s Market, April 11-12, Saké Fest PDX, June 25, Tales of the Cocktail New Orleans, July 15-19, SF Outside Lands, August 7-9, and Joy of Saké NYC, September 18.
Label launch support materials are available upon request, including a trifold brochure, printable 6-up shelf talkers, and bottle images.
About Momokawa Saké:
Momokawa is Oregon craft Junmai Ginjo saké, brewed with time-honored techniques and the pioneering spirit of the Pacific Northwest. Launched in 1998, Momokawa was the first commercial craft saké brand in America, and the first saké brewery in Oregon.
According to the latest Nielsen statistics that tracked the last 52 weeks of sales up until January 3, 2015,
Momokawa is America’s number one craft saké brand, America’s second largest selling ultra-premium brand in retail, and Momokawa Diamond is America’s number one ultra-premium saké.
For interviews, images and media information, please contact Kimberly Charles at Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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[1] Nielsen 52 weeks through January 2015
Oregon’s SakéOne Hosts Annual Kura Blessing at Forest Grove Kura
6 October, 2014
Oregon’s SakéOne Hosts Annual Kura Blessing
Forest Grove, Oregon – SakéOne, America’s premium saké producer and importer, held its eighteenth annual Kura Blessing Ceremony in anticipation of World Saké Day October 1st, which marks the beginning of the traditional Japanese saké brewing season. The ceremony, which is rooted in ancient Shinto tradition, is intended to cleanse the brewery and ward off mischievous spirits.
The Reverend Koichi Barrish, of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine in Granite Falls, Washington, the first American to ever earn the distinction of being named a Shinto priest, presided over the ceremony, as has been the tradition for 18 years. His reverence for the tradition of paying respects to the saké kami (nature spirit) was evident in the precision of his movements and in his close adherence to the longstanding rituals of the kura blessing in the Shinto tradition. Performing the ceremony in both English and Japanese, the Reverend sprinkled rice grains and cleansed the four corners of SakéOne’s Forest Grove facility with a ritual offering of saké intended to satisfy the evil spirits that might try to occupy the kura. He then scattered salt and handfuls of sand from a sacred Japanese mountain and evicted the pacified spirits with a wave of his harai-gushi (a tasseled wand used in traditional Shinto ceremonies).
As an extra precaution, the ceremony concluded with a gregarious performance by the Eugene Taiko drummers, which inevitably succeeded in frightening away any spirits stubborn enough to resist the Reverend’s enchantments.
Following the service, attendees were invited to taste some of SakéOne’s specially priced, world-class, imported offerings in honor of Saké Day. The tastings, designed to showcase the brewing styles associated with different regions of Japan, were served alongside a feast of Japanese food prepared by Wassabi, a pan-Asian restaurant located in nearby Hillsboro.
To see a video of the kura blessing ceremony from a previous year, please click here.
About SakéOne
SakéOne is America’s first craft saké producer and compliments its own fine products with a growing portfolio of fine Japanese saké imports. Its Oregon craft saké brands Momokawa, Moonstone, and g Saké are joined by import brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa, Kasumi Tsuru, SakéMoto, Hakutsuru, KIBO and Tombo. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
For media information and interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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KIBO Saké to Debut at San Francisco’s 2014 Outside Lands Festival
4 August, 2014
KIBO Saké to Debut at San Francisco’s 2014 Outside Lands Festival
SakéOne Debuts Premium Junmai Canned Saké highlighting “Hope” in the Lingering Aftermath of the 2011 Tsunami
Forest Grove, OR – SakéOne, the United States’ leading brewer and importer of premium saké, announced today that it will debut its newest import, KIBO Saké, at the sold out 2014 Outside Lands Festival, which will take place August 8th-10th in San Francisco. Suisen Shuzo, a saké brewery located in the Iwate Prefecture on Japan’s Northeastern coast, produces KIBO, which translates to “hope” in Japanese.
On Friday March 11, 2011, the very day that Suisen Shuzo was preparing to ship its 2010 production, the magnitude 9.0 Tōhoku Earthquake struck the coast mere miles from Suisen’s facility in Rikuzentakata City. The resulting tsunami decimated the entire city, including the Suisen kura, which sits two kilometers from the shoreline. The facility was reduced to rubble and its debris scattered across several kilometers. Seven of Suisen’s employees perished in the disaster.
Suisen Shuzo, a valuable contributor to Rikuzentakata City’s local economy, vowed to rebuild their facility in the wake of the disaster. With the generous help of fellow brewer Iwate Meijo, Suisen was able to temporarily resume its operations at a facility in the neighboring town of Ichinoseki for the duration of the rebuilding process. Now, more than three years after the devastation that took the lives of seven dedicated employees (and almost 16,000 others across the eastern coastline of Japan), the Suisen kura stands proudly once again – an intrepid symbol of human perseverance and the legion of Japanese restoration efforts that remain ongoing to this day.
KIBO is a premium grade canned Junmai saké, and is crafted from Hitomebore rice with a 70% polish rate. It is deliciously soft and sweetly mellow with a slightly dry finish. It has a 15.5% alcohol by volume and comes packaged in compact 180 ml cans that were designed by Swig Studio in San Francisco, the fitting site of KIBO’s forthcoming US debut. KIBO will make its national commercial debut on September 1st and will be individually for $5.99 per can (Suggested national retail price).
For the second year in a row, SakéOne will be the only saké brand represented at Wine Lands, the popular tented area of the Outside Lands festival dedicated to sharing and celebrating superlative beverages. Last year, SakéOne at Outside Lands made news by introducing their Momokawa Organic Junmai Ginjo saké in keg form, the first brand to do so in the US. The draft saké was an immediate success and is now in national distribution.
Compassionate concertgoers can imbibe with pride, knowing that they are the first to enjoy premium saké that will also help the towns and regions still recovering from this tragic disaster. Beneath the lid of the KIBO can is a small paper tab that depicts the following message (superimposed above the image of a lone pine tree): “The Miracle Pine Tree is the symbol of Rikuzentakata City, home of KIBO Saké. Of 70,000 pine trees in the coastal region, it is the only tree that survived the tsunami of March 2011. Support the ongoing efforts to rebuild the lives of the people here by donating to Mercy Corps at mercycorps.org/Japan.”
During the 2014 Outside Lands festival please follow SakéOne’s activities at #DrinkColdSaké #SakéBetweenSets and #OSLsaké. Also being poured this year will be the popular Momokawa Organic draft saké in a taiko drum keg as well as the Genshu grade g joy saké.
About SakéOne
SakéOne is America’s first craft saké producer and compliments its own fine products with a growing portfolio of fine Japanese saké imports. Its Oregon craft saké brands Momokawa, Moonstone, and g Saké are joined by import brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa, Kasumi Tsuru, SakéMoto, Hakutsuru, KIBO and Tombo. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
About Outside Lands
Outside Lands is produced by Another Planet Entertainment, Superfly Presents and Starr Hill Presents in a partnership with the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Now in its seventh year, Outside Lands has become a cherished event that the city of San Francisco has embraced. Fans from across the country flock to spend an incomparable weekend in one of America's greatest parks. Each year, festival organizers ensure that every facet of the event highlights the Bay Area and all of the components that make it one of the most desirable places to live and visit. In its first six years, Outside Lands raised over $8.3 million for the benefit of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. Based on a 2011 economic study, it is estimated that the festival generates over $70 million annually to the San Francisco economy. For current updates check out www.sfoutsidelands.com and follow Outside Lands on Facebook and on Twitter, @sfoutsidelands
For media information and interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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SakéOne Adds Fresh New Saké Cocktails to Portfolio
23 June, 2014
SakéOne Adds Fresh New Saké Cocktails to Portfolio
Developed by Alcademics’ Camper English & SakéOne
Forest Grove, Oregon – SakéOne, America’s first premium craft saké company, is proud to announce three newest additions to their ever-diverse portfolio of premium saké cocktails. For over 15 years, SakéOne has been crafting signature saké cocktails with noted mixologists and experts as to complement their premium saké offerings. Always seeking ways to incorporate fresh ingredients for innovative, seasonal twists on classic cocktails, this summer we are pleased to announce a new crop of tasty libations.
A perfect kick off to the recent start of summer, SakéOne presents: “Lady Marmalade” with Momokawa Organic Junmai Ginjo saké, white rum, orange marmalade, orange zest and cinnamon; “Mellow Mafia” with cucumber and serrano-infused g fifty saké, fresh lemon juice and simple syrup; and “50 Sensei” with g fifty saké, Bénédictine Liqueur, fresh orange juice, Absinthe and orange peel.
Two of the new cocktails (Lady Marmalade and 50 Sensei) were developed by Camper English, a San Francisco-based mixologist and freelance cocktails/spirits writer, whose work has appeared in publications including Saveur, Details.com and FSR Magazine. In addition, he also writes a popular blog about everything cocktails, spirits, bars and bartenders called Alcademics. The Mellow Mafia was created by the team at SakéOne.
Though it has become increasingly customary to find chilled, high quality, artisan saké served on it’s own, saké adds depth and body to cocktails at a lower alcohol level than the classic spirits or wine ingredients. Beverage enthusiasts have long touted that saké has no measurable sulfites, no measurable gluten, it’s lower in calories than spirits, and it can be used to create amazingly diverse cocktails. Because of this versatility, saké works seamlessly with spicy, fruity or floral flavors in cocktails.
To view SakéOne’s full cocktail portfolio, please visit the cocktail page on their website.
About SakéOne
SakéOne is America’s first craft saké producer and compliments its own fine products with a growing portfolio of fine Japanese saké imports. Its Oregon craft saké brands Momokawa, Moonstone, and g Saké are joined by import brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa, Kasumi Tsuru, SakéMoto, Hakutsuru and Tombo. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
For media information and interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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Hakutsuru Saké Brewing Company Names SakéOne New U.S. Importer
1 May, 2014
Kobe, Japan -- Hakutsuru Saké Brewery Co., Ltd. announced today that SakéOne Corporation of Forest Grove, Oregon has been appointed the exclusive importer for all its saké and related products in the United States. SakéOne's role as Hakutsuru importer will commence on July 1, 2014.
President Kenji Kano said, "Hakutsuru developed a strategic alliance with SakéOne in 2010 when it acquired a significant equity interest in the Oregon-based saké company. SakéOne has demonstrated a strong leadership position in the premium U.S. saké market, and affords Hakutsuru a new saké ‘category specific’ sales approach moving forward."
The Kobe, Japan based company is the world’s largest saké brewer and is America’s top selling imported saké. Founded in 1743, Hakutsuru is also Japan’s top selling saké and is exported to 45 countries.
Steve Vuylsteke, President and CEO for SakéOne stated, “The addition of Hakutsuru to our growing portfolio of Oregon craft saké and fine imported Japanese saké begins an exciting new chapter for SakéOne. In business since 1743, they produce outstanding quality products at unmatched value in the saké category and we look forward to expanding their presence and leadership position in the premium U.S. saké market.”
The premium saké category in the US market has been growing at 2.5 times the rate of the value saké segment. (Premium saké defined as 750ml equivalent bottles selling for $10 retail or greater.) When combined, the saké portfolios of Hakutsuru and SakéOne currently hold 50% of the premium saké market share of U.S. Grocery chains (Nielsen 52 week, September 14, 2013).
Hakutsuru President Kano stated, “Hakutsuru reached a mutual agreement with our former agent Dreyfus Ashby to move the U.S. distribution to a new importer. “I would like to thank the Dreyfus Ashby Company for the long-standing relationship and sales efforts in the United States. We look forward to the next chapter of our evolution with the team at SakéOne.”
About Hakutsuru
Hakutsuru was founded in 1743 and has been managed continuously by the Kano family for 271 years. Based in the renowned saké-brewing region of Nada (in the Hyogo prefecture), Hakutsuru is Japan’s largest saké brewer and the global leader in saké production. It also operates the Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum (opened in 1934 in Kobe) and the Hakutsuru Saké Brewery Museum (opened in 1982). The company champions saké and its role in Japan’s culture through its slogan “To friendship, for all time.” For more information, visit Hakutsuru’s website at hakutsuru-saké.com.
About SakéOne
SakéOne is America’s first craft saké producer and compliments its own fine products with a growing portfolio of fine Japanese saké imports. Its Oregon craft saké brands Momokawa, Moonstone, and g Saké are joined by import brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa, Kasumi Tsuru, SakéMoto, and Tombo. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
For media information, interviews and images in the United States, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463. For Hakutsuru related questions, please contact Katsuhiko Murakami at 310|381-0005.
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4-5-5, SUMIYOSH IMINAMl-MACHI , HIGASHINADA-KU, KOBE, JAPAN TELEPHONE: +81-78-822-8921
FAX: +81-78-841-8332
http://www.hakutsuru-sake.com/
ESTABLISHED 1743
SakéOne Launches First Saké Keg Nationally: Featuring Momokawa Organic Junmai Ginjo
26 February, 2014
Forest Grove, OR – SakéOne, America’s premium saké company, officially announced the national launch of their Momokawa Organic Junmai Gingo saké in keg form. It’s the first of its kind in the United States, and poised to drastically change the way saké is enjoyed by and marketed to consumers. After a successful Beta program in 2013 in diverse accounts in North America, SakéOne will fully launch the keg program in early 2014.
Momokawa Organic Junmai Gingo saké is crafted at SakéOne’s kura in Forest Grove, Oregon, using USDA certified Calrose organic rice polished to 60 percent, giving it the highest possible rating of “Ginjo,” or ultra premium. Its clean, tropical notes make it a wonderful accompaniment to grilled meats and rich shellfish dishes, and is fast proving itself as an ideal component to some of the most exciting new trends in cocktails.
The 19.5 liter keg containing Momokawa Organic Junmai Gingo saké features what’s known as a Nitro Keg system, which uses 75 percent nitrogen and 25 percent carbon dioxide to maintain the saké’s freshness and balanced, delicate flavor profile.
“We recently brought in Momokawa Junmai Ginjo and it’s already been a resounding success,” says Charli Hamilton, bar manager at Billy Beach Sushi Bar in Seattle. “It's been a perfect addition to our menu, and our customers have really enjoyed it - not only for the fact that it's organic, but also for the full-bodied, smooth flavor. Of course, the novelty also helps!”
Pure Food and Wine, New York City’s premier raw vegan restaurant, is the first restaurant in the U.S. to implement the draft saké in it’s cocktail program and currently uses one keg of Momokawa Junmai Gingo per a week due to its creative cocktail program which features the saké. “On busy nights, it creates so much fluidity for turning things out faster. I don't have to worry about running out of product and having to run up and down the steps to grab more bottles. My recycle bin is now so much lower since I've been using the keg,” says Joey Repice, Beverage Director at Pure Food and Wine. “Accessibility, quality, and convenience. You name it – it’s got it.”
The Momokawa Organic Junmai Ginjo Saké is currently on tap at restaurant locations in Oregon, California, Washington, Illinois, Nevada and New York.
For more information on SakéOne, please visit www.sakeone.com.
About SakéOne
SakéOne is America’s first craft saké producer and compliments its own fine products with a growing portfolio of fine Japanese saké imports. Its Oregon craft saké brands Momokawa, Moonstone, and g Saké are joined by import brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa, Kasumi Tsuru, SakéMoto, and Tombo. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
For media information and interviews, please contact Kimberly Charles of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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SakéOne Appoints Brian Lynch as Western National Sales Manager
16 October, 2013
Forest Grove, OR - SakéOne, an Oregon craft saké producer and fine saké importer, has announced the appointment of Brian Lynch to the position of Western National Sales Manager. Lynch will be responsible for leading the sales effort for the company’s saké portfolio in the western half of the U.S. market.
Lynch has over 27 years of beverage industry experience including most recently nine years in regional and national sales management positions at Wilson Daniels, Ltd. Prior to Wilson Daniels, Lynch managed the Central U.S. sales division for Caravelle Wine Selections. Lynch has also held sales positions with Marquis Selections, Federated Distributors, and Illinois Wholesale Liquors.
“SakéOne’s continued steady growth in the fine saké category necessitated additional sales leadership and Brian brings a proven set of beverage sales management skills to our team,” said Steve Vuylsteke, SakéOne President and CEO.
“I am proud and excited to join SakéOne and assist the current team in increasing placements, volume and awareness of this rapidly growing and exciting segment of the beverage alcohol business,” stated Lynch.
About SakéOne
SakéOne is America’s first craft saké producer and compliments its own fine products with a growing portfolio of fine Japanese saké imports. Its Oregon craft saké brands Momokawa, Moonstone, and g Saké are joined by import brands Murai Family, Yoshinogawa, Kasumi Tsuru, SakéMoto, and Tombo. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
For images and media inquiries, contact Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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Oregon’s SakéOne Hosts Annual Kura Blessing
18 September, 2013
***MEDIA ALERT*** MEDIA ALERT *** MEDIA ALERT *** MEDIA ALERT ***
WHO: America’s premium saké company, SakéOne, will hold its annual kura blessing Saturday, September 28th, 2013.
WHAT: This symbolic, community ceremony with ancient Shinto roots is designed to cleanse the brewery for the year to come. Admission to the spiritual kura blessing is free and will be open to the public. The event has always served to raise awareness of Japanese culture and tradition in the local community. The Shinto ceremony will be presided over by the Reverend Koichi Barrish of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Granite Falls, Washington, who uses a specialty brew for the occasion. Afterwards, guests can enjoy saké, Wassabi’s Japanese-fusion cuisine and an exhilarating taiko performance by Portland Taiko, an Asian-American drumming ensemble.
Following the blessing, there will be a unique tasting at the kura in honor of International Saké Day, which is on October 1st. A flight of three award-winning Daiginjo sakés will be available for purchase ($10 per person).
WHEN: The ceremony will be held from 10am-12pm, and the saké tasting will begin at 12pm and end at 4pm on Saturday, September 28, 2013. For more information, please contact 503-357-7056 x235 or email tastingroom@sakeone.com or click here.
WHERE: The events will be held at SakéOne’s brewery at 820 Elm Street in Forest Grove, Oregon.
VISUALS: To view a video of a kura blessing, where Reverend Koichi Barrish drizzles saké and tosses flower petals to cleanse the brewery, please click here.
MORE: SakéOne was founded in 1992 as a joint partnership with Momokawa Brewing Japan originally as an importer, later to be the original American operated Kura (brewery). SakéOne is the leading producer of “Ginjo” (premium) grade sake in the United States and today produces premium sakés under the Momokawa and G labels as well as innovative new products, such as the fruit-flavor infused saké under the Moonstone brand, in addition to its imported brands. Most recently, SakéOne released SakéMoto, a smooth and slightly dry saké with rice from the Yamaguchi prefecture, Kasumi Tsuru, a Kimoto style saké, as well as their newest American produced genshu saké, g fifty. SakéOne distributes its saké in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
CONTACT: For additional information and interviews, please contact Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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Craft Saké Brewery, SakéOne, Announces Inaugural Presence at Outside Lands 2013 with Flagship Brand, Momokawa
22 July, 2013
Making festival history, the increasingly popular beverage will be served for the first time at Wine Lands
San Francisco, CA – Momokawa, a premium craft saké produced by SakéOne in Forest Grove, Oregon, will join Wine Lands for the first time at the fifth annual Outside Lands, San Francisco’s music and arts festival that draws 200,000 attendees from around the world. SakéOne is one of the leading producers of Junmai Ginjo (premium) saké in the United States, with Momokawa as its flagship American-crafted brand.
In addition to pouring saké at the festival for the first time, SakéOne will be introducing its Momokawa Organic Junmai Ginjo saké on draft, which will be served from a 662-ounce/19.57-liter size keg using “Guinness Gas,” a blend of 75% Nitrogen and 25% CO2 to ensure the delicate saké’s aromatics and flavors stay fresh. The keg will be enclosed in a specially designed Japanese Taiko Drum, created by Brooklyn-based Draft Choice Corp. The San Francisco foodie crowd also loves indie music, so serving up an organic American made saké is a perfect fit for the ever progressive food & craft beverage scene in San Francisco.
Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival will take place on August 9 – 11 at San Francisco’s historic Golden Gate Park. Joining Momokawa at Wine Lands will be an additional 30+ wineries. General admission tickets are currently sold out; 3-day VIP tickets are available here. For more information on Momokawa at Outside Lands, please visit http://www.sfoutsidelands.com/wine/.
About Momokawa
Re-launched in May of 2011, Momokawa is the core American brand of SakéOne, America’s premium saké company based in Forest Grove, Oregon. Deeply rooted in tradition and technique, Momokawa is celebrated and perhaps best known for pioneering the revolution of saké in the United States. Momokawa is a Junmai Ginjo saké, which is made from domestically-grown Calrose rice under the watchful eye of sakémaster, Greg Lorenz, with help from Japanese brewers by employing traditional Japanese production techniques. Momokawa currently produces six different labels: Silver, Diamond, Ruby, Pearl, Organic Nigori and Organic Junmai Ginjo. The company is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit http://www.sakeone.com/momokawa.
For media information and interviews, please contact Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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SakéOne Launches Kasumi Tsuru, the Second Addition to its Import Portfolio in 2013
1 July, 2013
Forest Grove, OR – SakéOne, America’s premium saké company, has released its second new imported saké for the year called Kasumi Tsuru, adding to the impressive domestic and imported portfolio of the company. The saké category continues to climb in the United States, with over 100% growth in the last eight years1, as consumers learn more about this increasingly trendy and versatile beverage.
Kasumi Tsuru, a small artisan saké brewer in the Hyogo Prefecture founded in 1725, has earned the reputation for brewing some of Japan’s finest examples of Kimoto style saké. The Kimoto method, a traditional technique developed in the early 17thcentury, involves a labor-intensive way of making the yeast starter, called Moto. This produces a saké that is deep and layered, with a unique sense of lightness and refinement. Kasumi Tsuru Kimoto Extra Dry Saké, available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $30 per 720 ml bottle, compliments a wide range of light to medium-bodied foods such as poultry, seafood, sashimi and salads, and can be enjoyed cold, warm or hot. The saké is also available in 300 ml and 1.8 liter bottle sizes.
“We are very excited to bring Kasumi Tsuru’s Kimoto style saké to America,” states SakéOne President, Steve Vuylsteke. “The richness and complexity of this traditional and unique saké style is a great match for the diverse types of cuisine found in the United States. The addition of Kasumi Tsuru to our broad portfolio is further evidence of our commitment to being the number one choice for premium saké and saké education.” For more information, please visit www.sakeone.com.
About SakéOne
SakéOne was founded in 1992 as a joint partnership with Momokawa Brewing Japan originally as an importer, later to be the original American operated Kura (brewery). SakéOne is the leading producer of “Ginjo” (premium) grade sake in the United States and today produces premium sakés under the Momokawa and G labels as well as innovative new products, such as the fruit-flavor infused saké under the Moonstone brand, in addition to its imported brands. Most recently, SakéOne released SakéMoto, a smooth and slightly dry sake with rice from the Yamaguchi prefecture, in addition to their newest American produced genshu saké, g fifty. SakéOne distributes its saké in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States.
For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
For media information and interviews, please contact Skye Morgan of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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1SakéOne- research compiled from Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates Saké Reports in October 2012
SakéOne Launches g fifty, the Newest Addition to the g Saké Line
16 May, 2013
Forest Grove, OR – SakéOne, America’s leading producer of premium saké, has released the newest product in the American-produced g saké line, g fifty, which joins its sister product, g joy. g fifty is part of the rising trend of fine saké ($10+), a category that has recently seen significant growth in the US market. This emerging beverage category intrigues the consumer, as it’s an alternative everyday versatile libation for enjoying on its own or for food pairing.
Handcrafted by saké brewmaster, Greg Lorenz, g fifty is a Junmai Ginjo Genshu saké that uses rice milled to 50%, a Daiginjo grade. The difference between g joy and g fifty is the rice polish rate. g joy is also a Junmai Ginjo Genshu, but the rice is polished at 60%. The g saké line consists solely of Genshu products, meaning the saké is not diluted, indicating there is no secondary water added to modify the alcohol level. The water sourced for g fifty is from the Coast Mountain range in Oregon. It’s imperative to use exceptional water when brewing saké, as it makes up close to 80% of the product. The rice is from the renowned region of the Sacramento Valley in California and is M401, which is a special strain with lower fats and protein and produces an extremely subtle and delicate saké.
g fifty is a powerful, yet elegant saké, that boasts subtle notes of grape, pear and mint, with a backdrop of mineral and spice flavors. Although brewed in a customary Japanese sense by using traditional equipment, g fifty is fairly complex but smooth and harmonious, which captures the essence of East and West cultures.
It pairs impeccably with grilled meats and hard, aged cheeses. g fifty joins the esteemed g saké line, as well as SakéOne’s two other Oregon craft-brewed saké lines of Momokawa and fruit-flavor infused Moonstone. g fifty will be available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $25 for a 750ml bottle and $13 for a 300ml one, nicely placed in the niche premium saké category. For more information, please visit sakeone.com.
About SakéOne
SakéOne was founded in 1992 as a joint partnership with Momokawa Brewing Japan originally as an importer, later to be the original American operated Kura (brewery). SakéOne is the leading producer of “Ginjo” (premium) grade sake in the United States and today produces premium sakés under the Momokawa and G labels as well as innovative new products, such as the fruit-flavor infused saké under the Moonstone brand, in addition to its imported brands. Most recently, SakéOne released SakéMoto, a smooth and slightly dry sake with rice from the Yamaguchi prefecture. SakéOne distributes its saké in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at sakeone.com.
For media information and interviews, please contact Skye Morgan of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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SakeOne Announces Newest Addition to its Import Portfolio: SakeMoto
6 March, 2013
Forest Grove, OR – SakéOne, America’s premium saké company, is proud to announce the launch of SakéMoto, a pure, premium saké imported from Japan, adding to the well-curated domestic and imported portfolio of the company.
SakéMoto is a light, smooth, balanced and slightly dry style of saké accented by whispers of sweetness and a charming floral freshness. Brewed with rice from the Yamaguchi prefecture in Japan and created with mountain-sourced water from the Nada region, SakéMoto fits an important niche in the marketplace from a price and quality perspective. Adding to the premium Oregon craft brewed saké line of Momokawa and G labels as well as the naturally fruit flavored infused line of Moonstone sakés, SakéMoto makes a perfect imported compliment to the SakéOne portfolio, joining the longstanding brands of the Murai family and Yoshinogawa.
SakéOne President Steve Vuylsteke believes they have hit the proverbial bulls-eye with this newest addition. Says Vuylsteke, “The Japanese have always preferred a finer, more subtle saké than Americans – they appreciate their saké drier, lighter in texture, with a focused, clean mouth feel. From what we’ve observed, American stylistic preference has been moving in that direction, but currently leans towards a bigger, richer, taste expression. SakéMoto is the result of over two years in development working with a Japanese brew master to craft the perfect Japanese style saké for the American marketplace.” SakéMoto reflects a sense of tradition and innovation, as the brewer has 41 years of saké brewing experience and the brewery has been crafting saké since 1743.
SakéMoto shows beautifully on its own, chilled and served in an all purpose white wine glass. It also pairs nicely with foods high in umami (i.e. “savory”) sensations, such as dried mushrooms, Parmesan cheese, aged beef, tomatoes, among many other options. Its package combines an homage to Japanese tradition with a clean post- modern American design, and is a nod to the two cultures which came together to craft SakéMoto.
SakéMoto is a Junmai saké – meaning, it is made purely from rice, water, yeast and koji (the natural mold that converts rice starches into sugars), and given that it is junmai grade, the rice is polished to 70%. SakéMoto is distributed nationally at a suggested retail price of $11. For more information, please visit sakeone.com.
About SakéOne
SakéOne was founded in 1992 as a joint partnership with Momokawa Brewing Japan originally as an importer, later to be the original American operated Kura (brewery). SakéOne is the leading producer of “Ginjo” (premium) grade sake in the United States and today produces premium sakés under the Momokawa and G labels as well as innovative new products, such as the fruit-flavor infused saké under the Moonstone brand, in addition to its imported brands. SakéOne distributes its saké in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, South America and the Caribbean. A leader committed to saké education at the wholesale, retail and consumer levels, SakéOne is focused on expanding the enjoyment of premium saké in the United States. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at http://sakeone.com/.
For media information and interviews, please contact Skye Morgan of Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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America’s Premium Saké Company, SakéOne, Hosts 14th Annual Kura Blessing
25 September, 2012
***MEDIA ALERT*** MEDIA ALERT *** MEDIA ALERT *** MEDIA ALERT ***
WHO: America’s premium saké company, SakéOne, will hold its annual kura blessing, Saturday, September 29th.
WHAT: This symbolic, community ceremony with ancient Shinto roots is designed to cleanse the brewery for the year to come. Admission to the kura blessing is free and will be open to the public. The event has always served to raise awareness of Japanese culture and tradition in the local community. The Shinto ceremony will be presided over by the Reverend Koichi Barrish of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Granite Falls, Washington. Afterwards, guests can enjoy sake, traditional Japanese cuisine provided by Syun Restaurant of Hillsboro and an exhilarating taiko performance by Monmouth Taiko of Monmouth, OR, a Japanese drumming and dance group.
Following the blessing, there will be a unique tasting at the kura in honor of International Saké Day. A flight of six special imported Japanese saké will be available for purchase ($15 per person, $10 for club members).
WHEN: The ceremony will be held from 10am-12pm, and the saké tasting will begin at 12pm and end at 4pm on Saturday, September 29, 2012. For more information please contact 1-503-357-7056 x235 or email tastingroom@sakeone.com or visit http://www.sakeone.com/Events/at-the-kura.html.
WHERE: The events will be held at SakéOne’s brewery at 820 Elm Street in Forest Grove, Oregon.
VISUALS: To view a video of the previous kura blessing, where Reverend Koichi Barrish drizzles saké and tosses flower petals to cleanse the brewery, please click here.
MORE: SakéOne is an importer of Japan’s finest sakés and is America's premium saké company. Founded in 1992, SakéOne has been crafting strictly junmai ginjo quality saké at its state-of-the-art kura (brewery) in the heart of the Willamette Valley: Oregon’s craft beer-brewing, spirits and winemaking mecca. In 2010, SakéOne’s Momokawa “Ruby” Junmai Ginjo earned a silver medal at the prestigious all-Japanese U.S. National Saké Appraisal, no small feat for an American saké producer. Though SakéOne undoubtedly honors tradition, their Oregonian pioneering spirit is constantly evolving and has truly defined Oregon craft saké. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at http://sakeone.com/.
CONTACT: For additional information and interviews, please contact Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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Oregon’s SakéOne Hosts the 14th Annual Kura Blessing
19 September, 2012
Forest Grove, Oregon- America’s premium saké company, SakéOne, will hold its annual kura blessing, Saturday, September 29th, to coincide with the traditional commencement of the Japanese sake brewing season. The symbolic community ceremony with ancient Shinto roots is designed to cleanse the brewery for the year to come.
Admission to the kura blessing is free and will be open to the public. The event has always served to raise awareness of Japanese culture in the local community. The Shinto ceremony will be presided over by the Reverend Koichi Barrish of the Tsubaki Grand Shrine of Granite Falls, Washington. Barrish will perform the traditional ceremony in both Japanese and English, tossing rice and splashing saké in the brewery’s corners to cleanse it of lingering evil spirits, in hopes that the offering of saké will allow them to leave happily. Following the ceremony, guests can enjoy sake, traditional Japanese cuisine provided by Syun Restaurant of Hillsboro and an exhilarating taiko performance by Monmouth Taiko of Monmouth, OR, a Japanese drumming and dance group.
Following the blessing, there will be a tasting at the kura in honor of international sake day, which is October 1st. A flight of six special imported Japanese sake will be available for purchase ($15 per person, $10 for club members). Saké from the Murai Family and Yoshinogawa kuras will be poured, including two Daiginjo saké.
The kura blessing will be held at SakéOne’s brewery at 820 Elm Street in Forest Grove, Oregon, from 10am-12pm. The international saké celebration tasting will begin right after the blessing, starting at 12pm and ending at 4pm. For more information please contact 1-503-357-7056 x235 or email tastingroom@sakeone.com and visit http://www.sakeone.com/Events/at-the-kura.html.
About SakeOne
SakéOne is an importer of Japan’s finest sakés and is America's premium saké company. Founded in 1992, SakéOne has been crafting strictly junmai ginjo quality saké at its state-of-the-art kura (brewery) in the heart of the Willamette Valley: Oregon’s craft beer-brewing, spirits and winemaking mecca. In 2010, SakéOne’s Momokawa “Ruby” Junmai Ginjo earned a silver medal at the prestigious all-Japanese U.S. National Saké Appraisal, no small feat for an American saké producer. Though SakéOne undoubtedly honors tradition, their Oregonian pioneering spirit is constantly evolving and has truly defined Oregon craft saké. For more information, visit SakéOne’s website at http://sakeone.com/.
For media information and interviews, please contact Charles Communications Associates at press@charlescomm.com or 415|701-9463.
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