The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Rihaku
No.55 · Brewery Profile
Rihaku李白 · Rihaku Shuzo 李白酒造
Founded in 1882 in the castle town of Matsue, Shimane, Rihaku is named after the Tang-dynasty poet Li Bai — a name bestowed by Matsue native and two-time Prime Minister Reijiro Wakatsuki. Its US-popular ‘Wandering Poet’ helped introduce many Americans to junmai ginjo.
Who makes Rihaku?
Rihaku Shuzo, founded in 1882 in the castle town of Matsue, Shimane. The brand is named after the Tang-dynasty poet Li Bai, a name bestowed by Matsue native and two-time Prime Minister Reijiro Wakatsuki.
What does Rihaku taste like?
Tagged Elegant & Refined and Aromatic & Fruity, the sole bottle, Wandering Poet Junmai Ginjo, is a kunshu (fragrant) style milled to 55% from Yamada Nishiki, at SMV +3 and acidity 1.6, with a 4/5 aromatic rating.
Which bottle should you try first?
With only one bottle on this page, Wandering Poet Junmai Ginjo is Rihaku’s offering — the US-favourite bottling credited with helping introduce many Americans to junmai ginjo.
How does Rihaku compare to other Shimane breweries?
Rihaku’s Elegant & Refined, Aromatic & Fruity profile contrasts with prefecture-mates Ouroku and Ten’on, both tagged Rich & Umami and Acidity-driven, while Izumo Fuji leans toward Dry & Crisp and Elegant & Refined — Rihaku sits at the more fragrant, fruit-forward end of Shimane’s range.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Rihaku refer to?
The Tang-dynasty poet Li Bai, a name bestowed on the brewery by Matsue native and two-time Prime Minister Reijiro Wakatsuki.
Why is Wandering Poet notable in the US?
It is a US-favourite bottling credited with helping introduce many Americans to junmai ginjo.
How many bottles does Rihaku make?
One on this page: the Wandering Poet Junmai Ginjo.
The bottles
Wandering Poet Junmai Ginjo李白 純米吟醸 WANDERING POET
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“A US-favourite named after the poet Li Bai.”
Reading the bars: an editorial flavor reading (0–5) of each bottle — Dry→Rich, Light→Full, Subtle→Aromatic, Low→High acidity — not laboratory values. The colored badge is the SSI four-type classification (薫酒 Kunshu · 爽酒 Soshu · 醇酒 Junshu · 熟酒 Jukushu). SMV and acidity appear only where the brewery publishes them.
Sources: rihaku.co.jp · vineconnections.com