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Craft + Estate Sake Portfolio 23
F O C U S :
Sake Rice
All rice is not created equal, and Japan
is famous for producing some of the
world’s highest quality rice.
Individual seedlings are grown in a
nursery before being planted by hand in
the paddy. This ensures even
development and consistent quality.
There are many different varieties of
rice, and about 100 are used to make
sake. Higher-end sakes use sake-
specific rice varieties, which are larger
and have the starch concentrated in the
center. Their larger size makes these
sake rice more difficult to grow, but able
to be highly milled without breaking.
Every rice variety has its own unique
attributes, and will contribute greatly to
the body and flavor of sake. While
larger producers buy rice from all over
the country, smaller brewers use
predominantly local rice, adding a
regional profile to their products that
makes them distinct.