Japan’s sake industry may be facing long‑term domestic decline, but a wave of innovation is reshaping its future in remarkable ways.

As highlighted recently by Kenichi Ohashi MW, IWC Sake co-chairman, breweries across Japan are responding to climate pressures, shifting consumer tastes, and rising production costs with bold experimentation—from in‑house rice cultivation and extreme polishing‑ratio exploration to the rapid rise of sparkling sake and the growing popularity of lower‑alcohol styles.

These developments not only diversify flavor profiles but also strengthen sake’s global identity, with exports now representing nearly 10% of production. It’s an exciting moment to watch how tradition and innovation intersect to shape the next era of sake.

For full story, see the original article at IWC Insight

WSET student offer

Free 12-month digital subscription to The Drinks Business and/or The Spirits Business, leading global drinks trade publications (worth £132)*. Perfect for staying up to date with the latest drinks industry news and insights.

• Monthly digital edition of The Drinks Business, plus all special reports such as annual Champagne Report and Italy Report

• Access to digital archive of all back issues and reports

• Access to all paywalled subscriber-only content

Sake’s global presence is rapidly expanding beyond Japanese restaurants, increasingly appearing on wine lists in fine dining and upscale venues worldwide, driven by rising consumer interest, enhanced sommelier education, and expanding export markets.

Premium and artisanal sake varieties are gaining particular popularity in North America and Europe, supported by cultural appreciation and strategic marketing initiatives by Japanese producers.

With the global market value projected to grow steadily at around 4-5% annually through the late 2020s—fueled by innovation, digital outreach, and an expanding presence in over 80 countries—sake is becoming a mainstream premium beverage with diverse culinary pairings and growing appeal among younger demographics.

For full details, see the original article at The Drinks Business

The Academie Du Vin Library (inc Classic Wine Library) offers a rich collection of wine books catering to wine lovers, professionals, and enthusiasts.

Explore the world of wine for less

Use code BF2025 at checkout for 25% off*

* T&Cs apply.

• Discount excludes sale items, bundles, eBooks, Steven Spurrier Académie du Vin Wine Course, The South America Wine Guide, The Jumbo Shrimp Guides, Drinking Dom Pérignon, The Australian Ark and The Smart Traveller’s Wine Guide series.

Hello everyone, Our🍂 November meetup is approaching and there are still a few spots left! Join us to meet other members, explore Beaujolais wines and celebrate the release of 2025 Beaujolais Nouveau🍾. Please RSVP through the event page if you plan to join, so that we can confirm the numbers to the venue. Reach out to verafrajtova@gmail.com if you have any questions. Looking forward to seeing you there!

The 2026 Japan Sake & Shochu Academy will take place from February 16 to 20, 2026, in Tokyo.

This is an advanced course organized by the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, supported by the National Tax Agency and the National Research Institute of Brewing.

The course offers an immersive experience into sake and shochu culture, production, and tasting. As a graduate of 2020 Academy I can only recommend the course.

Applications are now open. Follow this link for full details and registration. Kampai!

Curious about studying sake? Join WSET School London for a one-hour webinar to explore WSET's full spectrum of sake qualifications – from Level 1 through to Level 3.

The first two levels are offered at our school.

The session will begin with a brief introduction to what sake is, before diving into the structure, content, and assessment of each WSET course.

A sake educator will share expert insights into how the tasting techniques and learning outcomes evolve across the qualifications. You’ll also hear from a student who has completed all three sake qualifications reflecting on the journey.

Whether you're considering your first step into sake education or looking to progress further, this session will help you choose the right level and understand what to expect.

Hello everyone, As we explored wines of Chile last month, I’d like to share a few additional resources that I found useful.

There are couple of resources by Amanda Barnes, Master of Wine and wine writer internationally recognized for her expertise on South American wines. These resources are quite recent and I enjoyed mainly the podcast for its comprehensiveness.

• 📖 The South American Wine Guide, of which a chapter about Chile is available here as an e-book (for a small fee)

• 🎧GuildSomm Podcast providing a summary of Chile’s key regions (2025, free)

Other resources: