We are holding an awards ceremony and premium Japanese wine dinner for the Washu Awards 2024, which took place in Hong Kong in November!
Now in its fifth edition, this year's awards drew more than 170 entries, with 10 wines earning Platinum Awards.
At this premium dinner, guests can enjoy the Platinum Award-winning wines and other noteworthy Japanese wines to drink now together with French cuisine by Chef Omura of Horizon Tokyo.
We will also hold an awards ceremony for the Washu Awards Platinum winners, giving guests the chance to share a table with the award-winning producers and enjoy unhurried conversation with them.
These are some of Japan's finest wines, selected through rigorous judging by leading sommeliers active across East Asia.
Some wines have yet to be released, while others are already sold out.
Please take the time to enjoy this one-night-only premium Japanese wine dinner together with the producers.
Here are the Platinum Award winners
Washu Awards organizer Kenneth Lee will travel from Hong Kong for the ceremony.
Kenneth is scheduled to present trophies to the Platinum Award-winning producers.
Talk show with Mitsuhiro Anzo and Wataru Iwata
Alongside the awards ceremony, there will also be a talk show that is a must-see main event for wine fans.
The two speakers, both deeply knowledgeable about wines from around the world, will discuss the theme “Japanese wine today as seen from the global market.”
Winemaker Mitsuhiro Anzo, who has worked toward making Japan a world-class wine region, will appear with Wataru Iwata, one of Asia's leading sommeliers.
We look forward to hearing in depth what they think about Japanese wine today and what they expect for its future.
Mitsuhiro Anzo
Graduated from the Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, the University of Tokyo, and completed a master's degree in Applied Biological Engineering (Applied Microbiology) at the university's graduate school.
Joined Mercian Corporation and was assigned to Katsunuma Winery.
From 2001, he was stationed at Château Reysson, owned by the company in Bordeaux's Haut-Médoc. During the same period, he earned the DUAD and DU Technologie du Vin qualifications from the Faculty of Oenology at the University of Bordeaux.
After returning to Japan in 2005, he served as head of quality control at Katsunuma Winery (winemaker), head of quality control at headquarters, and later General Manager of Château Mercian. From 2020 he also served as chairman of the Yamanashi Wine Brewers Association and a director of the Japan Winery Association, and in 2023 became Executive Winemaker at Mercian.
Wataru Iwata
Chief Sommelier at THE THOUSAND KYOTO.
Just three years after becoming a sommelier, he won the All Japan Best Sommelier Competition. The following year he won the Asia-Oceania Best Sommelier Competition, and in his first appearance at the World's Best Sommelier Competition the year after that, he reached the semifinals and placed 11th. Despite his youth, he has already built a remarkable career and is attracting attention as one of Japan's leading sommeliers.
The venue: Horizon Tokyo, one of Tokyo's best-view restaurants
Horizon Tokyo is located 210 meters above ground, offering sweeping aerial views of major Tokyo landmarks including Rainbow Bridge and Tokyo Skytree.
A massive chandelier and a panorama of more than 270 degrees from 210 meters above the city captivate visitors, while window seats offer the sensation of dining in midair.
Please enjoy premium Japanese wines together with Chef Omura's full-course French cuisine.
Executive Chef Masahiro Omura
After working at Bistro Rotius, La Promenade, New Park Hotel and other restaurants, he traveled to France, where he trained primarily at one-star restaurants.
After returning to Japan, he served as chef at numerous leading French restaurants, including Takanawa Hotel Tokyo, Château Restaurant Taillevent Robuchon, The Strings Hotel Tokyo InterContinental, and Ebisu Robbin's Club.
Date and time: Friday, February 7, 2024; doors open at 6:30 p.m., dinner starts at 7:00 p.m.
Venue: Horizon Tokyo (47th floor, Caretta Shiodome)
Fee: ¥22,000 (tax included)
Dress code: Smart casual
Special guests: Mitsuhiro Anzo, Wataru Iwata, Platinum Award-winning producers, Kenneth Lee
Apply here
Only 80 seats are available for this special event. Reservations required.
If you are interested, please apply early.
WASHU AWARDS 2024 presents “Premium Japanese Wine Dinner” — Vin Japonais Fes! World Mission