Chiyo Shuzo
Chiyo Shuzo is located in the picturesque town of Gose in Nara Prefecture. Using underground water that flows down from Mt Katsuragi, Chiyo has been making sake since 1873. Current brewery President and Toji Tetsuya Sakai took over operations in 2007. Previously a wine maker, Sakai san brings an interesting approach to sake making. His sakes deliver pronounced, but clean acidity and impeccable balance. He believes that unpasteurized sake can be brewed to be stable, balanced and ageable; an uncommon practice when producing Namazake. Most of his sakes have a bit of residual CO2, which gives off a refreshing, spritzy feeling. The brand, Shinomine, is named after the mountains which make up the brewery’s verdant surroundings.