Who – Osake Artisan Sake Maker What – Junmai Sparkling Sake Where – Granville Island, Vancouver Why – Writing about Masa’s special Artisan Sake winemaker’s dinner coming up at The Mark reminded me about this sparkling sake I had stashed away for a special occasion. Well – happy September! This is about as far away as [...]

Masa Shiroki, owner and sake maker at Artisan SakeMaker on Granville Island has announced that his experimental crop of sake rice (sakamai), planted on a small plot in Ashcroft in May this year, will be ready for harvest on or around September 20.

NO wonder Vancouver is often heralded as one of the world’s most livable cities. It is blessed with a snowcapped mountain backdrop and crystal blue harbors. It is also a gateway to the Inside Passage — the marvelous maze of glacier-carved fjords and forested islands that are a cruise lover’s delight. But what really sets Vancouver apart is its urban density. With sprawl kept in check by geography, the city thinks vertically. Neighborhoods overlap, apartments rise. That seems to heighten the city’s international mix, and not just when the Olympic Games are in town.

When you raise a glass of champagne, sparkling wine or whatever fine bubbly at the end of the week, spare a thought for Masa Shiroki’s New Year plans.