Niigata Prefecture is one of the best regions in Japan for sake production. The key reason is its snowy terroir! Some areas of Niigata receives up to 30 feet of snow a year. Snow is important for Niigata sake because the snowy atmosphere acts as an air purifier, filtering out impurities for sake production. When the snow melts, it leaves pure water which is an essential ingredient in sake production. This is why Niigata water is highly prized. Lastly, the use of such pure water in the rice fields leads to some of the most pristine rice-growing environments in the world. That aside, there's many great master brewers (toji)!
