Vine Connections | Sake | Heaven’s Door Ginjo-Shu Japanese Sakés Ginga Shizuku - Divine Droplets Mukune - Root of Innocence Rihaku Nigori - Dreamy Clouds Chiyonosono - Sacred Power Tentaka Kuni - Hawk in the Heavens Takatenjin - Shrine of the Village Ama no To - Heaven's Door Nanbu Bijin - Southern Beauty Fukucho - Moon on the Water Mantensei - Star-Filled Sky Sato no Homare - Pride of the Village Rihaku - Wandering Poet Takasago - Morning Glow

Ama no To - Heaven’s Door

“Go local” is the motto of this Akita-based brewery. Asamai brewery only uses local Akita rice from a unique cooperative of 17 different local growers. They not only get quality rice from this cooperative but also quality brewery help! Four of their experienced growers (including Toji Moriya) also work in the brewery helping with everything including koji production, pressing and bottling! This is extremely rare for brewers, since most must look outside the prefecture for brewing help, and nobody takes more care in brewing than the guys who grow the rice, pictured in the photo below.

Sake Facts
Quality Grade: Tokubetsu Junmai (at least 40% of rice grain polished away)
Seimaibuai: 55% (45% of rice grain polished away)
Rice: Ginnosei (organically grown but not yet certified)
Yeast: #AK-1
Nihonshu-do: +4
Alcohol: 16.2%
Acidity: 1.5
Sulfite-free. Gluten-free. Kosher.

Brewery Facts
Brewery Name: Asamai Shuzo (founded in 1917).
Brewery Location: Akita Prefecture
Toji (Master Brewer): Koichi Moriya
Brewery President: Hidemori “Special K” Kakizaki

Tasting Notes
With sweet rice aromas surrounded with floral fresh herb spiciness, this slightly dry, medium-bodied sake has mouthwatering apple flavors with an agreeable earthiness on the mid-palate. Clean and focused on the finish that accentuates its rice-like qualities.

 

Reviews & Press
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 2007 “I recently tasted through the sake portfolio of Vine Connections, better known for their prime selection of wines from Argentina , and was knocked out by the quality of sakes they import from small, family-run brewers in Japan .”
91 Points – Ama no To Heaven's Door

Recommended! Wine Spectator, “Seduced by Sake”, 2007

 FYI. The Shinto icon on the Ama no To label represents Amaterasu, the Sun Goddess, and literally translated means “…that which illuminates Heaven”. Japanese emperors are said to be descended from Amaterasu.

 

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