Kura Master 2026: 10th Anniversary Competition Announces Award-Winning Sake and Wine in France!

The Kura Master Organizing Committee (Headquarters: Paris, France; Representative: Keiichiro Miyakawa) announced the results of the Kura Master Sake Competition and Wine Competition, which were held on Monday, April 27th, at Le Pavillon Ledoyen in Paris, France, known as an independent maison with the most Michelin stars in the world.

Xavier Thuizat, chairman of the Sake Competition jury, presenting the Sake Competition's top Judge's Award and the Alliance Gastronomie Award winners for each category.

## About the Sake Competition

This year's Sake Competition was judged across nine categories, selecting Gold and Platinum Awards, which are given to the top 33% of entries. From the Platinum Award winners, finalists were chosen, and from those, the outstanding awards were selected. Furthermore, nine sake brands received the "Judge's Award," the top honor in each category. The judging categories were: Sake Sparkling, Junmai Daiginjo (1-35% polishing ratio), Junmai Daiginjo (36-50% polishing ratio), Junmai (51-65% polishing ratio), Junmai (66-100% polishing ratio), Daiginjo, Kimoto, Koshu (aged sake), and Jukuseishu (matured sake) – a total of nine categories. Additionally, this year's special Alliance Gastronomie Award was selected from the Sake Sparkling category.

(Award-winning sake brands are listed below. Details are announced on the official HP https://kuramaster.com/ja/.)

Paz Levinson, chairman of the Wine Competition jury, presenting the Wine Competition's top Judge's Award winners for each category.

## About the Wine Competition

This year marked the second edition of the Wine Competition, which was judged across two categories: Koshu and Muscat Bailey A. Similarly, Gold and Platinum Awards were selected, and outstanding awards were chosen from the finalist wines. From these, two wine brands received the top "Judge's Award."

(Award-winning wine brands are listed below. Details are announced on the official HP https://kuramaster.com/ja/.)

## About the "Alliance Gastronomie Award," a Special Award for Sake Competitions that Judges Food Pairings

This year, for the fifth time, the special "Alliance Gastronomie Award" involved a pairing evaluation with Sake Sparkling. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the competition this year, Yannick Alléno, a chef symbolizing French gastronomy, was welcomed as a special guest. The judging venue was also held at Le Pavillon Ledoyen, Alléno's historic base and an independent maison with the most Michelin stars in the world.

The compatibility between sake sparkling and dishes supervised by Chef Alléno, who currently holds the most Michelin stars in the world, was judged. Five finalist sake sparklings that advanced to the second round were paired with the dishes. A judge nominated by the jury chairman then awarded the Alliance Gastronomie Award to the sake sparkling deemed to have the most excellent marriage with the cuisine.

*Details of the pairing dishes are as follows:

- Crispy tartlets filled with snow crab meat, topped with tomato essence espuma
- Poached small fish from Guilvinec, lightly dressed with a herb green sauce
- Periwinkle cocotte, foie gras-flavored modern mayonnaise, with a hint of curry

Special guest judge Yannick Alléno, who provided dishes for pairing with Sake Sparkling during the selection process for the Alliance Gastronomie Award.

## Sake Competition Judge's Award Winners (Top in each of the 9 Sake Categories)

<1. Sake Sparkling Category>
Yamanashi Prefecture: Yamanashi Meijo Co., Ltd. "Shichiken Hoshi no Kagayaki Sparkling"

<2. Junmai Daiginjo [1-35%] Category>
Hiroshima Prefecture: Miyake Honten Co., Ltd. "Senpuku Yamada Nishiki Junmai Daiginjo 35"

<3. Junmai Daiginjo [36-50%] Category>
Akita Prefecture: Azakura Shuzo Co., Ltd. "Azakura Junmai Daiginjo Muroka Genshu Misato Nishiki Jikomi"

<4. Junmai [51-65%] Category>
Hyogo Prefecture: Tsubosaka Shuzo Co., Ltd. "Junmai Ginjo Yukihikoyama Muroka Genshu"

<5. Junmai [66-100%] Category>
Chiba Prefecture: Nabedana Co., Ltd. "Jinyu Junmai"

<6. Daiginjo Category>
Akita Prefecture: Akita Seishu Co., Ltd. "Kariho Koun"

<7. Classic Kimoto Category>
Ishikawa Prefecture: Shata Shuzo Co., Ltd. "Tengumai Yamahai Jikomi Junmai"

<8. Koshu (Aged Sake) Category>
Hiroshima Prefecture: Eno Shuzo Co., Ltd. "Hana Hato Kijoshu 8 Years Aged"

<9. Jukuseishu (Matured Sake) Category>
Hiroshima Prefecture: Miyake Honten Co., Ltd. "Senpuku Shinriki Kimoto Junmai Muroka Genshu 85"

## Sake Competition Alliance Gastronomie Award (Special Award) Winner

Akita Prefecture: Akita Seishu Co., Ltd. "Dewatsuru awa-sake Asu e"

## Wine Competition Judge's Award Winners (Top in each of the 2 Wine Categories)