Tanaka X Chartier

A REVOLUTION IN THE WORLD OF SAKE

BLENDING THE BEST WITH THE BEST

François Chartier, the Canadian-born aroma specialist and “créateur d’harmonies” is shaking up the art of making sake in Japan. Until now, the idea of blending has never been part of Japan’s sake culture, as it is with Champagne, great wines, whiskies, sherries and port. But François Chartier is changing that, by introducing high-end quality and luxury sake blends.

After spending a week at the Tanaka Sake Brewery in early 2018, he was surprised to learn that the art of blending is not used anywhere in Japan to improve sake. Chartier tried some blending experiments onsite, and the Tanaka team was surprised to find that his blends enhanced their different sakes.

He was immediately hired as Tanaka’s new master blender to work alongside the toji or master brewer. How did he achieve the different blends?

First, he used his aromatic science and secondly, the blending techniques he has learned through his own wine venture in Europe, working closely with Dr. Pascal Chatonnet, an oenologist from Bordeaux.

The elegance, freshness and vivid acidity of the world's best white wines (like those from Burgundy and the Loire Valley) also inspired Chartier. He believes that sake can resemble those wine styles, without compromising the soul of sake.

The result has been the birth of a revolutionary new line of sakes developed, selected and blended by one of the world’s best sommeliers.

Literally sakes for wine lovers!