REGION: Niigata

Founded in 1717, Aoki Shuzo has a 300 year history of making fine sake, carried on today by the 12th generation descendant of the founder, Takafumi Aoki. The brewery is located in Shiozawa, a section of the famed Uonuma rice growing region said to have the best quality well water of the entire area. They follow traditional methods of only producing sake in the cold winter months, letting the natural cold temperatures guide fermentation.

Founded 200 years ago, Aumont brewery (formerly known as Ichishima Shuzo) produces sake with soft water taken from Kaji river which flows from the Iide mountain range.