Suwaizumi Junmai Ginjo Mantensei

Suwa Shuzo was founded in 1859 in the Chizu district of Tottori Prefecture, a former post town in Japan's least-populated prefecture, set in the forested Chugoku Mountains with the Sendai River as the brewery's water source. The Mantensei brand is produced exclusively as junmai-grade sake and above, with the brewery president Masahiko Touda serving concurrently as master toji, an unusual arrangement that places both business and craft decisions in the hands of a single expert. This Junmai Ginjo is made from a blend of Yamada Nishiki and Tamakasae rice polished to 50%, fermented slowly at low temperatures using the soft Sendai River water, which encourages the clean, fragrant character the label is known for. Tottori's isolation from major urban brewing centers has allowed Suwa Shuzo to develop its own distinct, measured style rather than chasing regional trends.