Overview: Hiro Sake has secured a Double Gold Medal and a 98-point score at the 2026 San Francisco International Wine & Spirits Competition. This achievement marks the highest point total ever awarded to a sake within this prestigious international beverage evaluation. The brand is now available through selected retailers, restaurants, and distributors across the United States.
The Full Story
Carlos Arana, co-founder and CEO of Hiro Sake, described the recognition as an extraordinary honor that validates the quality and character of the product. Receiving 98 points makes this recognition particularly meaningful, demonstrating that premium sake can compete at the highest level alongside the world’s finest wines and spirits. The San Francisco International Wine & Spirits Competition brings together leading judges and beverage professionals to evaluate wines, spirits and other beverages from around the world. Medals are awarded following professional blind evaluation, with Double Gold reserved for products receiving exceptional recognition from the judging panel.
Marco Destefanis, Marketing VP at Fujininski Brewery, noted that American consumers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about Japanese sake. At Fujininski Brewery, significant time and effort have been dedicated to refining the quality of Hiro Sake. The 98-point score provides powerful independent recognition of the brand’s quality and reinforces Hiro’s positioning in the growing premium sake market.
What This Means
The award comes at an important moment for Hiro Sake as the premium Japanese sake category continues to gain recognition among American consumers, sommeliers, chefs, collectors and beverage professionals. The 98-point score is particularly significant because scores at this level are rarely awarded in international beverage competitions. According to competition organizers, the 98-point result is the highest score ever awarded to a sake at the San Francisco International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Consumer Takeaway
Hiro Sake is available through selected retailers, restaurants and distributors in the United States. The brand combines traditional sake-making heritage with a contemporary approach designed for today’s international wine, spirits and culinary communities.
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