PARIS: A Japanese sake contest will be held in Paris on June 25, the first of its kind in France, its organizing committee reported.
According to details, the Paris-based committee, which promotes sake in the country, aims to attract about 250 brands to the contest. The two best brands each will be picked in the junmai and junmai daiginjo categories. Highly rated brands may be served at top restaurants, according to the committee.
The jury will include Xavier Thuizat, 31, chief sommelier at the luxury Hotel de Crillon in Paris and head of the committee. The committee expects further growth in sake imports to France, which are on the rise lately.
Japanese sake breweries should export more to France to keep themselves alive, at a time when many of them are being driven out of business, said Thuizat.