Categories: Food & Drink

Canada’s first true sake winery is hidden on Vancouver’s Granville Island

Photo via Artisan SakeMaker/Instagram

You might not know it, but for over a decade a Vancouver sake maker has been quietly setting the bar not just in Canada, but around the world. Say hello to Artisan SakeMaker, a Vancouver brand that is hoping to share this traditional beverage not just with the city, but the entire country. Let’s check it out!

Artisan SakeMaker first opened up shop in 2007, using imported rice to create many varieties of their own rice wine. And while this worked, they had a much bigger goal in mind- becoming the first in the country to use entirely local ingredients. But not only did that mean changing some of their recipes, it also meant sourcing from as close to home as possible.

Luckily, that dream became reality in 2015, when the maker was finally able to declare 100% Canadian rice in all their products. And, just like with grape wine, this led to deep connections with local farms and growers. Of course, instead of grapes, Artisan SakeMaker is checking in with rice paddies across BC’s Fraser Valley. Curious about how things are going? Just like wineries, they publish season newsletters to keep you in the loop.

So for the past 6 or so years, they’ve been quietly growing their collection of amazing sake. These days, you can find sakes to match the season, premium bottles, and even a range of sparkling sake (also a first in Canada). Tell us that wouldn’t be the perfect pairing for a little homemade sushi this summer, we dare you.

Heck, they’ve even got non-alcoholic options now, using byproducts from the fermentation process. And if that’s still not enough, they’re one of the few stores to sell BC rice, as long as there’s extra going around. We gotta admit, we didn’t even know BC had rice paddies before learning about Artisan SakeMaker.

And we thought a trailblazer of that calibre deserves a little bit of love, don’t you? To learn more about Artisan SakeMaker, and maybe even buy a bottle to try out, just click the link below!