Masa Shiroki, the Sakemaker who established Artisan SakeMaker in 2007 on Granville Island, has had a longtime dream of creating sake with 100% Canadian rice. The rice-growing experiments began in earnest in 2009, first in Kamloops, Ashcroft, Agassiz and Vancouver Island. In 2011 and 2012, Shiroki planted sake rice in Abbotsford. In May of 2013, the company released Fraser Valley Junmai Sake, Series One, the first sake made 100% with Canadian rice. The second release, Series Two, followed in January 2014. This fall, an expanded rice field of seven acres in total is expected to produce enough sake rice for ASM’s entire production in 2015.
In celebration of the company’s 7th anniversary and in appreciation of sake enthusiasts’ continued support, ASM is holding a rice-planting field trip and inviting interested public to the rice field. Registered participants will have an opportunity to perform hand-planting and learn more about sake rice as well as to discuss important social and ecological aspects of sake rice production.
The planting will take place on Monday, May 5 from 10am – 12noon. Say’s Shiroki, “This year, we are about to reach a significant milestone for becoming the first sake maker in Canada to produce rice wine from 100% local ingredients. We very much look forward to having you and witness the important first step that will lead to this significant milestone with you. Let’s have fun getting your hands and feet wet and enjoy scrumptious picnic lunch afterwards. And let’s hope that we will be blessed with the most spectacular backdrop of Mount Baker on May 5.”
Rice Planting Field Trip to Abbotsford, BC
Monday, May 5, 2014, 10 am – 12 noon
1356 Sumas Way – (Hwy #1 Exit 92 Mission/USA Border)
Artisan SakeMaker is known as a unique commercial winery that produces hand-made, small batch and fresh sake. Our sake is Canada’s first locally produced fresh premium sake and its popularity has reached across the country and beyond. The philosophy of our production centres upon “Sustainable, Local and Natural.” artisansakemaker.com
