Aoi Brewery, Nagaoka Niigata (Maison Aoi)

A New Chapter in a 160-Year Legacy

Brewing Culture, Rooted in History and Reimagined for the Future

Our brewery’s origins trace back to the Ansei era (1854–1860) of the Edo period. For over 160 years, sake has been brewed here in Nagaoka, Niigata, in a red-brick building constructed during the Taisho era—now registered as a Tangible Cultural Property of Japan.

The legacy brand Chō-ryō, meaning “long hills” and named after the region itself, has long served the local community. In 2024, this deep-rooted heritage was entrusted to a new team with a shared vision: to honor the past while crafting sake that resonates across Japan and around the world.

We aim to create sake that speaks to the heart—brewed with tradition, enriched with modern perspectives, and rooted in the local landscape. Through our work, we hope to make Nagaoka not just a place of history, but a place of dynamic cultural creation.

Team

Aoi brewery is led by a diverse team of professionals who bring a wide range of expertise—from agriculture and brewing to branding and global sake distribution:

• Risa Aoki – Owner and representative of the brewery, with a background in finance and sake business strategy. Took over the former Takahashi Shuzō in her 30s.

• Ryuya Abe – Head brewer with 14 years of brewing experience and 8 years in charge. A talented young craftsman with deep roots in traditional techniques.

• Masayuki Doi – Former ad industry professional turned sake marketer and planner. Brings international experience from his time in Germany as a sake and shochu importer.

• Kaito Aoki – Risa’s younger brother. With hands-on farming experience in Mie, Nagano, and the U.S. West Coast, he now oversees rice cultivation for the brewery.

• In addition, the brewery collaborates with architect and artist Fumihiko Sano, who contributes creative direction and design, bringing his award-winning experience and artistic perspective.

Brands

We currently offer three lines of sake:

• Domaine Aoi – Our flagship sake brewed in a domaine style using rice cultivated entirely in-house.

• Maison Aoi – A négoce style sake brewed with rice sourced from trusted partner farmers.

• Chō-ryō (長陵) – A local legacy line, continuing a brand that has been brewed in Nagaoka for over 160 years.

Flavor Profile

Our sake is characterized by a smooth, stress-free mouthfeel, a gentle harmony of sweetness and acidity, and a structured minerality that gives each bottle its backbone. It’s sake designed to be quietly compelling—both familiar and new.

aoi-brewery.jp

新潟県長岡市にある日本酒の酒蔵です。 160年以上続く蔵に、新しい風を吹き込み、文化を醸す 「長陵」の名と共に地域に寄り添ってきたこの煉瓦造りの蔵を、2024年に新しいチームが継承しました。