Nabeshima Junmai Ginjō Akaiwa Omachi

Nabeshima Junmai Ginjō Akaiwa Omachi (鍋島 純米吟醸 赤磐雄町) is brewed by Fukuchiyo Shuzō in Kashima, Saga Prefecture. It is made with Akaiwa Omachi rice grown in Okayama Prefecture and polished to 50%. It presents a refined, fruity aroma reminiscent of muscat grapes, melon, and hints of banana, with a gentle yet elegant presence. On the palate, a lively acidity blends seamlessly with rich umami and concentrated sweetness, followed by a subtle, pleasant bitterness emerging towards the finish. Medium-bodied and well-balanced, it offers a juicy, full-flavoured profile with a crisp, clean aftertaste that lingers lightly. It provides a rich, full flavour with a clean finish. While enjoyable chilled, warming it to around 40°C reveals new depths in its character.

Fukuchiyo Brewery in Kashima, Saga Prefecture, is a small brewery with an annual production of around 400 koku that won the "Champion Sake" award at the International Wine Challenge in 2011 and gained national recognition. Its leading brand is "Nabeshima" (鍋島).

Founded in the late Taisho period under the name "Seijyu" (盛寿), it was renamed "Fukuchiyo" (富久千代) with the hope of "prospering for a thousand generations" after World War II. The company produced "Fukuchiyo" and "Izuminishiki" (泉錦) brands, which are the same as the company name, but began developing new products with local retailers. In 1998, after three years of planning, the "Nabeshima" brand was released. The name was chosen in a public contest, and permission was obtained from the descendants of the Nabeshima family.

Initially, Nabeshima did not take off as expected, and sales dropped sharply. In 2002, the brewery won first place in the Junmai sake category at the 14th International Sake Festival in Tōkyō. As of 2003, it won the gold medal at the National New Sake Tasting Competition for seven consecutive years, and its reputation improved. In 2011, at the International Wine Challenge, which was its second attempt, Nabeshima Tokubetsu Junmai won the gold medal in the Junmai sake category, and Nabeshima Daiginjō won the gold medal in the Ginjō sake and Daiginjō sake categories. Furthermore, Nabeshima Daiginjō won the "Champion Sake" award, the best of the year.