A brewing venture in the Tohoku region has made a splash abroad with sake matured in oak wine barrels.
Wakaze Inc. in Tsuruoka, Yamagata Prefecture, exports its Orbia brand sake to markets such as France and Hong Kong. Orbia comes in two varieties, Sol and Luna (Latin for sun and moon), with the former known for its rich sourness and fruity aroma and the latter for its delicate sweetness, the company claims.
Each one has a well-structured body and aroma, as the sourness and sweetness from the rice turns smooth and mild after aging in the oak barrels, the company said.