Exploring the Charms of Miyama Nishiki: A Journey from Origins to Sake Excellence

Miyama Nishiki and Its Origins

美山锦及其起源

Miyama Nishiki, developed in Nagano Prefecture, emerged with the ambitious goal of surpassing the renowned Takane Nishiki. Its adaptability to sake brewing and robust resistance to cold weather propelled its widespread cultivation in the Tohoku, Kanto, and Hokuriku regions. The name "Miyama" itself translates to "beautiful mountain brocade," a nod to its distinctive characteristics reminiscent of snowcapped mountain peaks.

长野县开发的美山锦，其雄心勃勃的目标是超越著名的高嶺錦。它适合清酒酿造和对寒冷天气的强大抵抗力推动了它在东北、关东和北陆地区的广泛种植。“锦”这个名字本身翻译为“美丽的高山锦缎”，这是对其独特特征的认可，让人联想到白雪皑皑的山峰。

Distinctive Traits of Miyama Nishiki

美山锦特征

One of Miyama Nishiki's standout features is its large grain size and an appealing shinpaku core, showcasing opaque starch. This unique visual aspect mirrors the picturesque mountain landscapes, adding to the rice's allure. Despite being the third most produced sake rice variety annually—trailing Yamadanishiki and Gohyakumangoku—Miyama Nishiki has faced a decline in recent years due to the emergence of original varieties in various prefectures.

美山锦的突出特点之一是它的大颗粒和大尺寸及和吸引人的核心芯白，展示了不透明的淀粉。这种独特的视觉反映了如画的山景，增加了大米的吸引力。其每年产量排在山田锦和五十万石之后，是第三大清酒米品种。但近年来由于各县出现了原产米品种，其产量略有下降。

The Essence of Sake from Miyama Nishiki

从美山锦看清酒的本质

Describing sake crafted from Miyama Nishiki requires just one word: 'simple.' It tends to be light, thin, and offers a refreshing, clean taste. The rice's modest aroma ensures a lack of distinctive flavors, making it an ideal choice even for those not particularly fond of the typical Japanese sake scent.

用一个词来形容美山锦酿造的清酒，就是“简单”。它的口感轻柔，淡薄，清爽，干净。这种大米的适度香气保证了单纯口感，即使对于那些不特别喜欢日本清酒香味的人来说，它也是一个理想的选择哟。

Early Harvest Advantage of Miyama Nishiki

美山锦优势成熟收获早

The key to Miyama Nishiki's distinct characteristics lies in its classification as an early rice variety. Being among the first rice harvested each year, it grows quickly and becomes firm, posing challenges in breaking it down during fermentation. This results in a sake that releases less flavor into the final product, contributing to its simplicity and lightness.

美山锦的独特特征之一是它被归类为早稻品种。作为每年最早收获的大米之一，它生长迅速，很快变得坚硬，给它在在发酵过程中的分解带来了不小挑战。这使得清酒在最终产品中释放的味道更少，使其干净清楚。

Tatenokawa's Sake Artistry with Miyama Nishiki

楯野川的美山锦清酒艺术

Founded in 1832, Tatenokawa has upheld the tradition of handcrafting authentic sake for almost 180 years. In a bold move towards a new vision in 2010, the brewery became one of the few to exclusively produce Junmai Daiginjo. Their signature brew, Tatenokawa UTSUKUSHIKI KEIRYU, showcases the excellence of Miyama Nishiki. Cultivated by their own sake rice research institute, this sake boasts a profound, sharp citrus-like acidity. Its slightly reserved nose leads to an expansive rustic flavor, offering a clean profile with a well-balanced acidity that complements a variety of cuisines.

楯野川酒造成立于1832年，在近180年的时间里一直坚持着手工制作正宗清酒的传统。2010年，这家酒厂大胆地朝着新的愿景迈进，成为少数几家专门生产纯米大吟酿酒厂之一。他们的招牌清酒楯野川美丽溪流展现了美山锦的卓越品质。这款清酒由日本自己的清酒大米研究所酿造，具有浓郁的柑橘般的酸味。其略带含蓄的芬芳带来了一种广阔的乡村风味，提供了一个干净的轮廓和平衡的酸度，可以搭配各种美食。