Tōhoku: Yamagata Flashcards
What is the pre-Meiji name for Yamagata?
Dewa
What are the mountains in Yamagata called?
Dewasansan Mountains
What is the major river called in Yamagata?
Mogami River
Where does the Mogami River originate in Yamagata?
The Azuma Mountains, in the south
What two climatic zones does Yamagata have?
Coastal – temperate due to maritime influence
Inland – between Dewasansan Mtns and Ōu Mtns –> diurnal temperature fluctuations and cold winters
What are the four districts of Yamagata?
Going clockwise:
Mogami
Murayama
Okitama
Shōnai
What is important about The Shōnai?
Its agriculture
Home to one of Japan’s most important granaries
Which three mountains are in the Dewasansan Mountain range?
Mt. Gassan
Mt. Haguro
Mt. Yudono
Where are the majority of Yamagata’s breweries located?
Coastal Shōnai area
or
Cold mountainous interior of Murayama and Okitama
Yamagata’s brewers are unified in establishing and maintaing high quality brewing standard by __________
Yamagata’s brewers are unified in establishing and maintaing high quality brewing standard by embracing a spirit of openness
Another distinguishing factor in Yamagata’s sake scene is the absence of _______
Another distinguishing factor in Yamagata’s sake scene is the absence of a tōji guild
What are the SIX quality requirements required to be able to use the DEWA 33 brand?
- Made with 100% Dewasansan rice
- Brewed as Junmai Ginjō
- Seimaibuai of 55% or less
- Utilise Yamagata prefectural yeast
- Utilise Yamagata prefectural kōji-kin Oryzae Yamagata
- Sake undergo a rigorous review board
What is the typical profile of DEWA 33 sake?
- Soft
- Deep
- Distinct personality
When did Yamagata receive its GI for sake?
December 2016
This was the first GI awarded to an entire sake-making prefecture
What are the rice conditions of GI Yamagata?
Rice cultivated in Japan
What are the water conditions of GI Yamagata?
- Water must be 100% Yamagata water
- Water is described as “limpid, soft water with low iron”
- Water contributes to sakes’ pure texture
What is the kōji condition of GI Yamagata?
Kōji must be made in Japan
Yamagata is a treasure trove of famous ______
Yamagata is a treasure trove of famous waters
Some of Yamagata’s key water sources consist of snow melt from which mountains?
Mount Gassan
Mount Chōkai
Tsukiyama
Asahi-Dake
Yutsuyama
The waters throughout Yamagata tend to be _____
What exceptions are there?
The waters throughout Yamagata tend to be soft
Exception is medium hard waters of
- near Sagae (compared to Nada; used by Sawa Masamune)
- Tendo (Mitobe Shuzo; noticeably harder than neaby Dewazakura Shuzo)
How many Yamagata KA yeast are there?
Five
The primary Yamagata KA yeast originates from Kyōkai Yeast No. ___ and has a good balance between _____ and _____
The primary Yamagata KA yeast originates from Kyōkai Yeast No. 9 and has a good balance between isoamyl acetate and ethyl caproate
Describe Dewasansan’s characteristics
- Resistant to cold & winds of Yamagata’s climate
- Soft, dissolving well in the moromi –> rice flavour comes through in sake
- Herbal quality balanced by depth of flavour
Describe Dewanosato’s characteristics
- Large shinpaku
- Low protein content
- Lower purchase price
- Reliable for junmai and honjōzō
- High rate of shinpaku (94-95%)
- High acidity
- Low umami
Which recently developed rice is hoped to reduce Yamagata’s dependence on Yamada Nishiki for Daiginjō?
Yuki Megami
How is Yuki Megami similar to Yamada Nishiki?
How is it different?
Like Yamada Nishiki:
- The shinpaku is flat
- The rice resists cracking, even when milled close to the shinpaku
- The rate of shinpaku is very high
Compared to Yamada Nishiki, the sake from Yuki Megami is
- lighter
- more delicate
What is the story behind table rice Kamenoo?
- Originally cultivated in Shōnai in 1893
- Farmer discovered on pilgrimage
- Was in vogue in 1925 with both farmers and brewers
- Due to low resistance to pests and fertilisers, popularity declined
- Revitalised in Niigata in 1983 by Kusumi Shuzo (Kiyoizumi)
Which three rice strains were developed by Takagi Shuzo, makers of Juyondai?
- Sake Mirai
- Tatsuno Ōtoshigo
- Ushū Homare
All are based on Miyama Nishiki
