The Sake Sommelier Association is a global partnership of talented educators providing and accrediting sake courses and working to benefit the world of sake. It is the first organisation based outside of Japan that is solely committed to sake education and promotion worldwide. Created by sommelier Xavier Chapelou and sake expert Kumiko Ohta in 2000 in London, it is the first organisation in the United Kingdom to offer sake education outside Japan.
Objective
The association's objective is to strive to develop global education and awareness of sake to increase opportunities for students to learn the cultural history of sake and to advance the success of sake demand and consumption on a global scale.
Education
The Sake Sommelier Association operates from the London-based Sake Sommelier Academy and certifies the professional courses included in the programme of the Sake Sommelier Academy and their franchises worldwide. The sake education courses offered are provided world-wide, including Italy, Austria, Singapore, Hong Kong, Netherlands, France, Spain, China and Norway.
London Sake Challenge
, established in 2012 by the Sake Sommelier Association and its founders Xavier Chapelou and Kumiko Ohta, is an annual sake competition and is the first competition of its kind. Products submitted from breweries all over Japan are evaluated by sake sommeliers from around the world and judged by taste, quality, labelling and packaging. The first competition took place on 20 August 2012 at Harrods during 2012 London Olympic Games and is now held worldwide. The purpose of the event is to recognise outstanding premium sakes. It aims to promote the consumption of sake by highlighting a new market where sake is matched with non-oriental food. It also seeks to increase public awareness and fashionability of the drink in the world.
Sake Sommelier of the Year
is an annual competition jointly organised by the Sake Sommelier Association. Held in London it is the first of its kind to be held outside Japan. The competition aims to find the most skilful Sake Sommeliers bringing them to the attention of their customers and raising the profile of their establishments. More than 50 sommeliers from Europe, Asia and the Middle East entered the first competition in 2013. In 2015, two new titles were introduced to both encourage and reward contribution to the world of sake; Young Sake Ambassador and Sake Ambassador.
