FREE Sake Tastings in Berkeley

For many people drinking sake is an acquired taste.  I put myself on that list, having always thought that it was a little too bitter and harsh for my personal preferences.  Little did I know that sake has a range of flavors and styles nearly as broad as my favorite red wine.

You can learn about and taste sake at the Takara Sake USA headquarters in Berkeley, California (708 Addison Street, between 3rd & 4th Street).  You can’t miss the big sign outside, and the invitation to a FREE sake tour and tasting.

The tour begins with a brief video about the history and tradition of sake making, and a large room that serves as a sake museum and showcases a variety of sake making artifacts. 

Let’s face it, though — most of the visitors here are coming for the free tastes! 

The tasting room is a lovely example of Japanese architecture (photo at left), with a simple and eco-friendly design.  It’s light and airy, and makes you want to linger, sharing your personal tasting preferences with other tasters, and talking to the servers about the nuances of the different sakes.

Takara Sake USA produces two sake brands (Sho Chiku Bai and Takara Mirin) and plum wine.  Those were available for tasting, along with some other products from its Japanese facility.  There are even some fruit-flavored sakes, which I thought tasted a little odd.  Oh well, acquired taste and all!

The tasting room is open daily from noon - 6 pm.  The tour and tastings are FREE.  A variety of products are available for purchase.  The tasting room is also available for event rentals (150 person capacity). 

There is also an adjacent conference room (12 person capacity) and an A/V room (32 person capacity).  This would make a unique and beautiful location for a small conference or workshop.

While I didn’t fall in love with sake, I did learn a lot more about the tradition and historical roll that the beverage plays in Japanese culture.  If you’re a true sake fan, you’ll find much to enjoy in the tasting room, and I suspect you’ll be taking a bottle or two home with you.

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