SAKE MAP
Kansai / Types: Sake · Umeshu (plum liqueur)
Six drinks from Wakayama, each with a snack that suits it and a short story behind the bottle.
Kuroushi
A Kainan bottle named after "Kurousi-gata," a place sung of even in the Manyoshu. Its hallmark is a rich junmai that firmly conveys the umami of rice. As a representative Wakayama food sake, it's widely loved. You'll want to savor it, tale of the historic place-name and all.
Pairs with：Nama-maguro (fresh tuna) / Shirasu (baby whitebait)
KID
A Kainan powerhouse whose name means "the climate of Kishu." Its fresh, soft taste is popular for great value, too. Its endearing spelling "KID" is loved by younger drinkers. A bottle to honestly feel the blessing of Kishu's clear water.
Pairs with：Shirasu (baby whitebait) / Mehari-zushi (mustard-leaf rice ball)
Kurumazaka
A bottle of a brewery pursuing a powerful umami in the mountains of Kishu. Its firm, satisfying body deepens further with ageing. It chooses honesty over flash, a connoisseur's taste. A dependable sake evoking the deep embrace of the Kii mountains.
Pairs with：Nama-maguro (fresh tuna) / Kujira (whale)
Saika
A Kinokawa bottle carrying the name of the "Saika-shu," the warring-states gunners. Harnessing its origins in vinegar-making, its hallmark is a refreshing acidity. Its crisp, clean-cutting taste pairs well with sushi and seafood. Feeling the historical romance, you'll want to tip it with style.
Pairs with：Nama-maguro (fresh tuna) / Shirasu (baby whitebait)
Minakata
A Yuasa bottle whose name evokes the naturalist Minakata Kumagusu. Brewed in the birthplace of soy sauce, its hallmark is a firmly savory taste. Its creed is an honest craft that stands by the local food culture. A sake you'll want to savor along the Kumano Kodo journey.
Pairs with：Mehari-zushi (mustard-leaf rice ball) / Kujira (whale)
Kishu Umeshu
A plum liqueur, said to be Japan's finest, that plum-famed Wakayama takes pride in. Its hallmark is the full aroma of Nanko plums and a mellow sweetness. The blessing of Minabe, the world's plum village, is lavishly packed in. A bottle to enjoy slowly on the rocks after a meal.
Pairs with：Kishu umeboshi (pickled plum) / Shirasu (baby whitebait)