What is the sake pairing contest?

Discover with us the fascinating world of sake

In recent years, sake has increasingly established itself in Europe as a perfect accompaniment to food. However, recommending the right sake to go with a dish is as much an art as choosing the right wine. The sake pairing contest was created by Yoshiko Ueno-Müller in order to discover the many possible combinations of sake pairings and to make them known worldwide. It is organized by the Sake & Shochu Academy Europe with the support of strong partners such as the Sommelier Union in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland as well as UENO GOURMET.

Only sommeliers, restaurateurs and wine trade employees based in Germany, Austria and Switzerland are admitted to this unique and innovative competition. The participants create their individual pairings from a selection of premium sake. In the final, they then present these to a top-class jury (chaired by Markus Del Monego MW). In the end, they will decide who will be the "Master of Sake-Pairing 2022".

In the final, they then presented them to a top-class jury (Chairman: Markus Del Monego MW). In the end, you decide who will be the “Master of Sake Pairing 2022”. You can find the recording of the 2022 final here.

Winner 2022

The sake pairings of the finalists of the 2022 Sake Pairing Contest

HATSUMAGO, Kimoto Tradition / Saltimbocca vom Kalbsbries

1st place Angelika Grundler

Restaurant Pavillon, Hotel Baur au Lac, Zürich CH

HATSUMAGO Kimoto Tradition / Saltimbocca of veal sweetbreads

Saltimbocca of veal sweetbreads with chanterelle ragout and Gribiche sauce

Amabuki Rhododendron / Pigeon with boudin noir cream

2nd place Tobias Schneider

Restaurant Hotel Jagdhaus Monzabon in Lech, Austria

Amabuki Rhododendron / Pigeon with boudin noir cream

Pigeon with boudin noir cream and Jerusalem artichoke

NANBU BIJIN Southern Beauty / Yuan-style grilled wagyu fillet

3rd place Ayano Otsuka

Restaurant Kappo, Frankfurt/Main, Germany

NANBU BIJIN Southern Beauty / Yuan-style grilled wagyu fillet

Yuan-style grilled wagyu fillet with apple cider

Hatsumago Kimoto Tradition / Pigeon grilled on the carcass

4th place Shahzad Talukder

Restaurant Atelier, Hotel Bayerischer Hof in Munich, Germany

Hatsumago Kimoto Tradition / Pigeon grilled on the carcass

Pigeon grilled on the carcass - black salsify - miso

RIHAKU Caro Pink / Marinated beef tartare

5th place Marius-Mueller

Park Hotel Vitznau, Vitznau CH

RIHAKU Caro Pink / Marinated beef tartare

Marinated beef tartare with beetroot and cassis marinade, duck liver ice cream, beetroot shiso jelly

Dewazakura Kirschblüte / Coupole of radish

6th place Carine Patricio

Restaurant Schanz in Piesport, Germany

Dewazakura Kirschblüte / Coupole of radish

Coupole of radish and mackerel tartare with seaweed broth

Special Prices 2022

All participants and contributions 2022

66 sake pairings and 30 sommeliers from the preliminary round and the final:

All Sake-Pairings All Sommeliers

About the finals 2022

Each of the six contestants had five minutes on Feb. 21 to explain their assigned sake to the jury, explain the dish and justify the pairing with the sake. The aim is both to explain the pairing from a professional point of view and to present it in a way that is comprehensible to the guest. The order in which the participants take part in the livestream was determined by a live random draw.

The jury retired briefly after the presentations and selected the winners. In the process, all finalists will each receive a brewery trophy with 12 bottles of sake each for future sake pairings in the restaurant. The runner-up will win a participation in the Sake Diploma course and an exam (value 980 €). The first place winner will receive the title "Master of Sake-Pairing 2022" and a trip to Japan worth 2,000 €. In addition, each juror will award one more special prize to a participant.

The Sake & Shochu Academy team is happy about a successful competition and would like to thank all the finalists.

Contest Videos

The finals of the Sake-Pairing-Contest 2022 and trailer:

  • Finals 2022

  • Trailer #1

  • Trailer #2

  • Trailer #3

このビデオは日本産酒類海外展開支援事業費補助金を活用して作成しています。

Review:
Sake-Pairing Contest 2021

The result, sake pairing contributions and participants 2021:

Results Sake-Pairings Sommeliers

Organizer

  • Sake & Shochu Academy Europe
  • Sommelier Union Deutschland
  • Sommelier Union Austria
  • Sommelier Verband Deutschschweiz
  • Sake Embassy Germany
  • UENO GOURMET

Organizers

UENO GOURMET GmbH
Sake & Shochu Academy Europe