Niigata Prefecture is known for heavy snowfall, leading to rich nutrients from melted snow, and enjoys other great natural bounties. With its abundance of high-quality rice and water well-suited for sake brewing, Niigata has 88 sake breweries, making it Japan’s most prolific producer of high-quality sake.
In addition to the region’s classic light and dry variety with its crisp, clean flavour that does not linger, there are also a variety of mellow and sweet brands available.
Since 2018*, NICO has organised this London-based fair at Japan Centre, one of the largest Japanese food retailers in the United Kingdom and Europe, with the aim of presenting the true appeal of Niigata’s food and beverages, including sake, and helping establish them as new favourites in the region.
This year’s Niigata Fair will feature sixteen food products including rice, seasonings, Japanese sweets and soba noodles, as well as a record number of 12 brands of Niigata’s sake and other products. Sake has been gaining recognition outside of Japan in recent years, and several sake breweries that have won medals at the International Wine Challenge (IWC), the world’s largest sake competition, are included in the line-up this year.