IWA is Japan’s new ultra-premium sake, created by Richard Geoffroy, Dom Perignon’s former winemaker. Through this innovative project, Richard’s vision was to create a sake that would be extremely versatile and could pair with virtually all types of cuisine – not just Japanese. To achieve the required level of balance and complexity, he created a sake that is an assemblage of rice varieties, terroirs and yeast strains, and even using reserve sake from previous years to enrich the blend.

The number 5 is the symbol of “Harmony”. With a milling rate of 35% remaining, IWA showcases a perfect combination of the sweet, the bitter, the sour, the spicy and the umami. Not to mention a wonderful texture and a wide array of aromas and flavors. IWA’s bottle was designed by Marc Newson.

Designed by Kengo Kuma, the kura is surrended by 10 hectares of rice paddy fields. It is located in the village of Shira Iwa (White Rock) in Toyama Prefecture. Inspired from traditional village community buildings, it houses everyone under one roof: sake-making team, office employees and visitors.

Richard Geoffroy created IWA after he retired from being Dom Perignon's cellar master for 28 years. Richard lives in his native Champagne region in France, but frequently travels to Japan and to the world.