Red-fleshed apple rosé cider wins gold at a British competition

In Japan, the number of producers making cider, the sparkling drink made by fermenting apples, is growing steadily. One bottle among them has now won international recognition: the rosé cider Sadaharu Aoki SAYA2025, named after the pâtissier who runs confectionery shops in Paris and Japan. It won gold in the rosé cider category at the INTERNATIONAL CIDER CHALLENGE 2026, held in the UK, and also received the top rating of three stars at a competition in Japan.

A pâtissier who fell for red-fleshed apples

Sadaharu Aoki was born in Nagoya in 1968 and is based in Paris. He has five shops in Paris and eight in Japan, and has been awarded the highest rank for many years by the Club des Croqueurs de Chocolat (C.C.C.), the French association of chocolate lovers. This cider came about when Aoki took an interest in the flavour of apples that are red not only in the skin but right through the flesh. It was developed jointly by three companies, Kokubu Shutoken, SAJ and Tamba Wine, and the first vintage, SAYA2023, went on sale in April 2024. The name SAYA comes from the name of Aoki’s daughter. The latest 2025 vintage uses only red-fleshed varieties grown in Nagano Prefecture, in central Honshu, surrounded by the Japanese Alps: Nakano no Kirameki, Kiruto Pinku and Nakano Shinku.

Praise from two competitions, in Britain and Japan

The INTERNATIONAL CIDER CHALLENGE 2026 is a competition organised by Agile Media Ltd in the UK. In the rosé cider category, seven gold, 25 silver and 37 bronze medals were awarded. In addition to gold, SAYA2025 received a HIGHLY COMMENDED, which signals a rating just below the single best entry in the category. At the JAPAN CIDER AWARDS 2026, organised by the Japan Cider Masters Association, it earned three stars in the taste category for the second year running. Only two entries, including the grand prize winner, received three stars in the Japanese-made modern cider category. The judges praised its fruit-like colour and aroma, flavours reminiscent of ripe nectarine, apple and strawberry, a sorbet-like texture and a clean finish.

The 2025 vintage, and how to enjoy it in Europe

In 2025 the red-fleshed apples grew well, and the cider is said to have gained both sweetness and acidity compared with the 2023 and 2024 vintages, giving it an even better balance. It is 6% ABV, comes in a 500 ml bottle, and production is limited to 3,200 bottles. It went on sale in April 2026 at Japanese liquor specialists and department stores, with a reference price of 2,475 yen including tax. No European sales have been announced at present, but it is worth noting that Japanese ciders are starting to place highly in international competitions. Checking the results of such competitions for Japanese entries can help you spot brands that may be imported in future. If you come across a red-fleshed apple rosé cider, serve it well chilled and check the aroma in a wine glass. The producer says it pairs easily not only with fruit tarts and other sweets but also with Japanese, Western and Chinese dishes. As a bottle born from a pâtissier’s idea, it also makes a fine drink to accompany dessert.