We are thrilled to announce that Sake Samurai and International Wine Challenge sake judge Michael Tremblay will be teaching his Sake Scholar course here in the UK at West London Wine School! This is the first time this amazing course is being offered outside North America, and we have been able to secure an exclusive £60 discount on the course fee for BSA members – we hope you can take advantage of this wonderful opportunity.
Sake Scholar features a full three days of class, curated sake tastings and the opportunity to network with many like-minded individuals. The course will cover the 47 prefectures that comprise Japan, exploring the regionality of each through the lens of sake and shochu, and by exploring their history, geography, ingredients, and sake making techniques. There will be numerous case study tastings of sake to support and explore the presence of regionality (or absence of) at the macro and micro levels that can exist within the realm of Japanese sake. Participants will receive the latest hardcover edition of the Sake Scholar textboook. The full course syllabus can be found here.
Prerequisite for registration onto the course is an existing sake credential (WSET Level 3, Sake Professional Course, International Kikizake-shi SSI, JSA Sake Diploma or Certified Sake Sommelier). HOWEVER, exceptions are possible for dedicated students — so if you are interested but haven’t yet completed a course, contact us to discuss!
BSA’s own Ollie at Tengu Sake has great things to say about the Sake Scholar course:
“A really unique and excellent course is coming to London. It was created and is taught by my friend and fellow International Wine Challenge judge, Michael Tremblay. Michael is a details person and he’s put together an advanced sake course focusing in on the regionality of Japanese Sake. All 47 Prefectures are looked at.
I took the first course ever in New York a few years ago (pre COVID) and can attest to its excellence. It is extremely detailed and provides a kind of over-arching narrative and framework to sake that really helps to join dots together and fill in gaps in knowledge.
Questions like, “Why is a lot of high-end sake from Tochigi Prefecture dry when other output tends towards the sweet?” Answer: “Because the local population enjoy a sweeter style but Tochigi shares a tax dept with Niigata Prefecture and so, when sake is entered into regional competitions, it is grouped in with Niigata – the home of crisp & dry style!”
As it is an advanced course it is strongly advised that you should have completed another qualification beforehand (such as International Kikizake-shi, WSET Level 3, Sake Professional Course, JSA Sake Diploma, etc.); however, if you think you’re the sake-bomb and haven’t done any of these then I’m sure Michael could be persuaded!
Michael is all the way over from Canada to teach this so I have no idea if or when there will be another opportunity. I really cannot stress enough how much I recommend this course!”
Visit the Sake Scholar website
Wednesday April 27 – Friday April 29
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm daily
post-course social at Kanpai Brewery on Friday evening till late!
Cost: £600 for general public
(£540 for BSA members with discount code)
Venue: West London Wine School
Address: 71 Townmead Rd, London SW6 2SG
Register here, or contact sarah@britishsakeassociation.org with any questions
British Sake Association 英国日本酒協会 