Shuho 'Awesome' Chokarakuchi Junmai Daiginjo, Yamagata City, Yamagata, Japan

Founded in 1890 at the foot of Mount Zao, Shuho Shuzo is a family-run brewery dedicated to crafting precision-driven Daiginjo sakes from some of the highest-quality rice grown in Yamagata. Under the leadership of toji Katsuyuki Aita, Shuho specializes in clean, umami-balanced styles that reflect both the purity of local ingredients and the technical mastery of high-polish brewing. Yamagata is home to Japan’s only internationally recognized sake GI, and Shuho exemplifies why.

• BREWER: Katsuyuki Aita

• FOUNDED: 1890

• TOWN: Yamagata City

• PREFECTURE: Yamagata

• FARMING & INGREDIENTS: Locally sourced Yukimegami rice, polished in-house

• YEAST: Yamagata yeast

• POLISHING (SEIMAIBUAI): 45%

• STYLE: Junmai Daiginjo (Chokarakuchi = ultra-dry)

• ALCOHOL: 17%

• SMV (SAKE METER VALUE): +10

• TEMPERATURE RANGE: Best served chilled (46–50°F)

• TASTING NOTES: Subtle aromas of honeysuckle, lychee, and tarragon float over a dry, medium-bodied palate. Clean notes of steamed rice, green grapes, and bruised apple emerge with clarity, supported by a brisk, mineral-driven finish.

• PRODUCTION STYLE: Focused on Daiginjo-grade expressions, Shuho polishes over 10 varieties of local rice in-house. All sakes are made in small lots, prioritizing balance and texture.

• PAIRING SUGGESTIONS: Grilled squid, snapper sashimi, asparagus with sesame dressing, or dry-aged Comté.