Dewazakura Introduces Ginjo to the World
At a Glance: Aromatic, floral, fruity, light, and clean– Oka is the archetype ginjo-shu. It was also the first commercial example produced.
Released in 1981– this sake has now achieved legendary status. Prior to Oka’s release, ginjo-shu was basically competition-only. Unsurprisingly– Dewazakura Oka 桜花 is arguably the quintessential ginjo. The aroma billows, with layers of fruit, sweet steamed rice, and cherry blossoms. Cherry Bouquet is a fitting name. The body is light with a modest sweetness.
Feminine, soft, and seductive– Dewazakura Oka is easy to love. It remains to this day one of the most popular and recognizable premium sake on the market.
Pairing/ Service
Salads, steamed and pickled vegetables, sashimi, nigiri, maki rolls– including spicy, kama shioyaki, all things shellfish– especially oysters and clams
Dewazakura Oka is best served chilled, but also cold or with only a slight chill. O-choko or guinomi work well, but a white wine glass will highlight this brew’s ginjo-ka (fruity, floral aroma).
Tech & Production Info
Rice: Dewasansan, Haenuki milled to 50%* Yeast: Ogawa Kobo (#10)
SMV: +5 Acid: 1.2 ABV: 15-16%
*type of sakamai has changed over the years
the Dewazakura Brewery
Brewery: Dewazakura Shuzo 出羽桜酒造 Location: Tendo, Yamagata EST: 1892
Official Site US importer Website: World Sake
Dewazakura Shuzo 出羽桜酒造 was founded by Seijiro Nakano in 1892, and today is one of the more innovative and well-respected breweries in Japan. The brewery itself is located within the Yamagata Basin and surrounded by mountains. The local economy is driven in part by agriculture, including rice. And there’s also plenty of precipitation in the form of summer and fall rain, and early winter heavy snows. This leads to an abundance of quality water usable for brewing.
a good video from Sake Fan World
Label / Kanji
Dewazakura 出羽桜 Dewazakura Shuzo 出羽桜酒造
Yamagata-ken 山形県
Oka 桜花 Ginjo 吟醸
Dewasansan 出羽燦々 Haenuki はえぬき
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