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Makers & Origins

Domaine de Villaine

Elevating Burgundy’s “Forgotten Grape”

A Half-Century of Dedication to a Unique Village AOC The White Grape Long Overshadowed by Chardonnay When people think of white Burgundy, Chardonnay is what usually comes to mind. Meursault, Chablis, Puligny-Montrachet｜each is a celebrated wine born from Chardonnay. But Burgundy has another white grape variety: Aligoté. For a long time, Aligoté was treated as a […]

Drink

The “Third Act” of Umeshu

Craftsmanship and Japan’s Heritage Liqueur The “Third Act” of Umeshu: Craftsmanship and Japan’s Heritage Liqueur A Heritage Reimagined For generations, umeshu has been quietly associated with large glass jars in family kitchens｜a gentle liqueur steeped in rock sugar and time. Today, this heritage drink is entering its “third act.” Moving beyond its history as a homemade […]

Drink

The Quiet Revolution of Sparkling Sake

“Awa Sake” Opens a New Frontier for Fine Bubbles Within the bubbles lives another philosophy of brewing. When people hear “sparkling sake,” many still picture a sweet, lightly fizzy drink. But in 2026, a movement is quietly spreading from Japan’s breweries to the rest of the world｜one that fundamentally overturns that image. At the heart […]

Drink

The Flourishing Sake Scene in Bangkok

Inside Southeast Asia’s Premier Sake Destination An exclusive curation of rare labels graces the counter. Throughout 2025 and 2026, bespoke sake lounges and fine-dining establishments have elegantly proliferated across Bangkok. The era of sake being relegated to a mere footnote on an izakaya menu has gracefully transitioned into a new epoch｜one where the sake itself […]

Drink

An Elixir Veiled in Umami

Okinawa’s “Smoky Umami Rum” Redefines the Art of Spirits The Bold Allure of Katsuobushi In the refined realm of spirits, the selection of botanicals is a profound reflection of the master distiller’s vision. While juniper, cinnamon, and cardamom have long dominated this botanical landscape, an extraordinary innovation has emerged: katsuobushi, the quintessential Japanese dried bonito. Crafted upon […]

Drink

Yumezukuri

A Promise Between the God of Sake Brewing and the Man Entrusted with Hibiki In December 2023, at the Commissioner for Cultural Affairs Awards ceremony, two master craftsmen from entirely different worlds exchanged words for the first time. One was Naohiko Noguchi. Born in Noto, Ishikawa, in 1932, he devoted himself to sake brewing from […]

Bar

Zebra Striping

The Sophisticated 2026 Art of Alternating “Drinking” and “Not Drinking” Like the striking contrast of a zebra’s stripes In 2026, a quiet yet profound shift is gracing bar counters worldwide. An artisanal gin and tonic to begin, followed by a botanical zero-proof soda, and perhaps a refined glass of sake for the third｜within a single soirée, […]

Château des Annereaux ｜ AOC Lalande de Pomerol

Six Centuries of Legacy

The Enduring Prestige of Château des Annereaux On Bordeaux’s Right Bank, within the heart of Lalande-de-Pomerol, the vineyards of Château des Annereaux flourish just a stone’s throw from the prestigious borders of Pomerol. Since the Annereau family first graced this land in 1390, the art of winemaking has been preserved through the same lineage for […]

Drink

Shochu’s “Silent Revolution”

Experiencing Japan’s Premier Spirit in the Heart of Bangkok While sake has gracefully secured its place at fine dining tables worldwide, another spirit stands as Japan’s undisputed master of distillation: shochu. Sweet potato, barley, rice, brown sugar｜the vibrant diversity of its ingredients, the mastery of artisanal distillation techniques, and the profound depth of flavor cultivated […]

Drink

An Ode to Freedom and Romance

LIBROM’s “Kyoho and Oak” Unveils a New Paradigm Tucked away in a quiet alley of Fukuoka’s Chuo Ward lies an exclusive boutique brewery. Founded in 2021, LIBROM Craft Sake Brewery is an urban sanctuary whose name gracefully intertwines the Italian words LIBERTÀ (freedom) and ROMANZO (romance). Their guiding ethos is as poetic as it is […]

Domaine Dominique GRUHIER

Memories of a Monastery, A Love Letter to a Daughter

800 Years of Domaine Gruhier’s “Cuvée Juliette” In the village of Épineuil in the Yonne, northern Burgundy, the landscape unveils a serene, contemplative elegance｜strikingly distinct from the glamorous hills of the Côte d’Or. There, a monastery that has witnessed the passage of eight centuries still stands in graceful silence. In 1212, Cistercian monks established the […]

Domaine DECELLE

A Third Masterpiece, Toward Burgundy

Domaine Decelle & Fils Paints a Portrait of Chambolle-Musigny In the world of French wine, there’s an unspoken rule: earn renown in one region, and that should be enough. But Olivier Decelle has transcended this convention｜twice. In the southern Roussillon, he took the reins of Mas Amiel, a storied name in fortified wines. In Saint-Émilion, […]

Age Verification