Gold Turns to Platinum for Saké Brand

American saké producer garners top honors at the 2007 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. Momokawa Diamond, a Junmai Ginjo saké received a Platinum medal after receiving Gold and Best of Class. Platinum honors were given to just 20 wineries from a fieldo of 3,789 entrants from 16 countries. Momokawa is the brand of traditional saké styles produced by SakéOne of Forest Grove, OR.

Forest Grove, OR (PRWEB) June 22, 2007 -- To garner a Gold medal is wonderful news to any winery or brewery. To attain a Best of Class honor is even better. But, to receive word that your saké is one of twenty from a field of 3,789 wines from 16 countries to receive a Platinum medal at the Los Angeles International 2007 Wine and Spirits Competition simply takes your breath away.

"We're ecstatic, this is huge for Momokawa," noted Greg Lorenz, Sakémaster at SakéOne the producer of Momokawa saké. "I'm almost speechless to hear that we were selected from such a vast field of entrants, so many wonderful wines. I thought Best of Class was as good as it gets but to find out that a handful of wineries were called out to an even higher award category and Momokawa Diamond is one of them, that's just amazing. It confirms we're doing something right with our traditional line of saké."

It retails for an average of about $12 nationwide and when stacked up to the imports coming in, you can't find a saké of comparable quality for less than $25. Our Sakémaster and his team work very hard to produce the finest saké in the U.S. This honor tells us we're accomplishing that goal

Diamond is one of four sakés to carry the Momokawa brand including Silver, Ruby and Pearl (a nigori Genshu). Like Silver and Ruby, Diamond is a Junmai Ginjo which means that it is made from the four pure ingredients (rice, water, yeast and Koji) with the rice milled to 60% of original size. Diamond is a medium dry saké with clean balance of flavors and a creamy body.

"Diamond is an exceptional value in the saké market," commented Jim Sculace, Vice President of Sales for SakéOne. "It retails for an average of about $12 nationwide and when stacked up to the imports coming in, you can't find a saké of comparable quality for less than $25. Our Sakémaster and his team work very hard to produce the finest saké in the U.S. This honor tells us we're accomplishing that goal"

Momokawa Diamond was also presented with a Gold medal and Best of Class honors at this year's competition.

Judges at the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition tasted 3,789 wines from 16 countries and awarded 2 Best of Show, 10 division winners, 20 Platinum, 11 varietals winners, 125 Best of Class, 440 Gold Medals, 921 Silver Medals and 908 Bronze Medals.

SakéOne is the leading brewer and importer of premium saké in America with distribution throughout the U.S. and the Americas. SakéOne crafts saké under the Momokawa (traditional styles), Moonstone (fruit infused), G (cask strength), Peaceful River (for restaurants only) brands, and import saké from Momokawa Brewing Japan under the Murai Family label.

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