Premium Japanese sake brand Hiro Sake captured a Double Gold Medal and a 98-point score at the 2026 San Francisco International Wine & Spirits Competition (SFIWSC)—a result competition organizers say is the highest ever awarded to a sake in the event's history. The blind-judged competition draws leading beverage professionals from around the world and reserves Double Gold for products that earn exceptional, near-unanimous praise from its judging panel.
What the Score Means
Scores at the 98-point level are exceedingly rare in major international beverage competitions, and the result positions Hiro Sake alongside top-tier wines and spirits in the eyes of the trade. For sommeliers, beverage directors, and on-premise buyers already watching the premium sake category expand, that independent validation carries weight. "A Double Gold is an achievement we are extremely proud of, but receiving 98 points makes this recognition particularly meaningful," said Carlos Arana, Hiro Sake co-founder and CEO. "It demonstrates that premium sake can compete at the highest level alongside the world's finest wines and spirits."
Operator Implications
The award arrives as Japanese sake continues to build momentum on beverage menus across the United States. American consumers and culinary professionals are growing more familiar with the category's nuance and versatility—pairing it not just with Japanese cuisine but with broader contemporary menus. Marketing VP Marco Destefanis credited the Fujininski Brewery team's sustained quality focus for the result. For restaurant and bar operators, a 98-point, Double Gold-awarded sake offers a credentialed anchor for premium beverage programming, whether on a curated sake list or as part of a broader beverage industry analysis conversation around emerging spirits categories.
Growing Category Momentum
The win reflects a larger trend in the premium imported beverage space. Sake's growth among U.S. sommeliers, chefs, and collectors has been building steadily, and awards from widely respected competitions like the SFIWSC help accelerate trial and shelf placement at both on-premise and retail accounts. Beverage professionals tracking restaurant beverage program trends will find that a score at this level provides a direct sales tool: third-party validation from a blind tasting carries more persuasive power with skeptical buyers than brand-generated marketing alone. For distributors and operators considering adding or expanding a sake offering, Hiro's 98-point benchmark now serves as a category reference point. Food & Beverage Magazine has tracked the rising profile of premium sake among U.S. hospitality professionals as the category moves beyond niche positioning into mainstream fine-dining consideration.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
