SAKE 101 SEMINAR
fEATURINg KIKUSUI SAKE BREWERY and YUME RAmEN SUSHI & BAR AT BLUE DOOR BAR
Join us at Blue Door for an immersive and lively Sake 101 Seminar—a deep dive into Japan’s most iconic beverage, designed for curious beginners and seasoned enthusiasts alike.
We’re honored to welcome Shunsuke Takasawa, President of Kikusui Sake Brewery, joining us all the way from Japan. With centuries of brewing heritage behind him, Takasawa-san will share firsthand insight into traditional craftsmanship, regional styles, and what truly sets premium sake apart. Joining him is Charlotte’s own Sara Guterbock—better known as “Sake Sara”—Japanese Beverage Specialist & Educator for NY Mutual Trading Co.. Sara will break down the essentials: how sake is made, how to taste it, how to serve it, and how to confidently select bottles like a pro.
The experience doesn’t stop at sipping. Blue Door’s award-winning mixologist Mike Guzmán will showcase specialty sake cocktails that highlight the spirit’s versatility—from bright and refreshing to rich and umami-forward. Guests will also enjoy thoughtfully paired bites from YUME Ramen Sushi & Bar, demonstrating how sake elevates everything from delicate seafood to bold, savory flavors.
Whether you’re sake-curious or already a fan, this seminar will leave you swirling, sipping, and pairing with confidence. Kanpai!
This special evening of sake, food, fun, and fundraising is held in support of four Charlotte-area children's charities - Beds for Kids, Digi-Bridge, Families Forward Charlotte, and Wayfinders. Collectively, these organizations serve more than 2,500 children, helping ensure access to stability, education, and opportunity - paving the way for brighter, more secure futures for these children and our community. Learn more here.
The educational seminar will also offer you an opportunity to give back by making a direct donation, purchasing raffle tickets for exciting prizes, and/or bidding in the Week's auctions.
ABOUT KIKUSUI
Kikusui is of the most famous craft breweries in Japan. They are located in Niigata, arguably the most celebrated sake producing prefecture, known for light, crisp, clean sakes produced from snowmelt. Niigata is one of the snowiest places in the world! Quality is of such importance to Kikusui, they utilize an optical sorter, like those used by the world’s most famous wineries, to quality check every grain of rice. Kikusui was the first brewery to introduce true NAMA, or wholly unpasteurized sake, to the masses, about 50 years ago. By choosing an innovative can, they were able to ensure the freshness of this product by protecting it from light.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026
Time: 6:30 PM Reception | 6:45 PM Dinner
Location: Blue Door | 1508 S Mint Street, Charlotte, NC 28203
Special Guests: Shunsuke Takasawa | President - Kikusui Sake Brewery
Sara Guterbock | Japanese Beverage Specialist & Educator
Tickets: $125/person
Tax and gratuity is included in the ticket price, and $25 of each ticket is tax-deductible.
Must be 21+
MENU + SAKE
Kikusui Junmai Ginjo | CHRYSANTHEMUM MIST | Niigata
Kikusui Sakamai Junmai Daiginjo | BORN AGAIN | Niigata
Kikusui Sakamai Junmai Daiginjo Genshu | ETERNAL LIFE | Niigata
Funaguchi Honjozo Nama Genshu | ORIGINAL GOLD CAN | Niigata
Kikusui Funaguchi Ginjo Nama Genshu 1 Year Aged | RUBY CAN | Niigata
Kikusui Perfect Snow Nigori | PERFECT SNOW | Niigata
Some of the featured sake will be incorporated into cocktails curated by Mike Guzman of Blue Door.
Paired with small bites from YUME Ramen Sushi & Bar
Dietary restrictions may be accommodated with advance notice. Please indicate any restrictions the event organizers should be aware of at time of your registration/ticket purchase. Alternatively, please email info@charlottewineandfood.org to notify us at minimum 5 days prior to the event.
CULINARY & BEVERAGE TALENT
MIKE GUZMÁN | BEVERAGE DIRECTOR & OPERATOR - BLUE DOOR
Mike Guzman is an accomplished hospitality professional with over 14 years of bartending and leadership experience across major cities including Las Vegas, San Diego, Denver, and Charlotte. Known for his creativity, precision, and dedication to world-class service, Mike has opened and led programs at high-profile venues such as Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen & Bar and Vanderpump Cocktail Garden for Caesars Entertainment.
As the Bar Manager and Creative Director at Blue Door Cocktail Bar in Charlotte, Mike blends classic technique with innovative concepts, drawing inspiration from American cities and cultures to craft immersive cocktail experiences. His accolades include being named a 2024 Global Finalist in the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge, one of the USBG Presents World Class Top 30 U.S. Bartenders in 2023, and a National Finalist in the Lucid Absinthe Cocktail Classique. He also holds certifications from BarSmarts, the WSET, and the Society of Wine Educators.
Mike is passionate about team development, thoughtful hospitality, and raising the bar for cocktail culture through education, sustainability, and storytelling.
SHUNSUKE TAKASAWA | PRESIDENT - KIKUSUI SAKE CO., LTD.
Shunsuke Takasawa is an Executive Officer of KIKUSUI SAKE CO., LTD., a sake brewery founded in 1881 in Niigata, Japan. He leads the company’s international business development and works to expand global appreciation of sake. A sixth-generation member of the founding family, he focuses on introducing the accessibility and diversity of sake to new audiences. Kikusui’s flagship products, Funaguchi and Kuramitsu, have each received two Gold Medals at the International Wine Challenge. At the event, he will introduce the distinctive character of Niigata sake and share the enjoyment of sake with guests.
SARA GUTERBOCK | JAPANESE BEVERAGE SPECIALIST & EDUCATOR
Sara E. Guterbock, CBS, ISS, ASP, JSA Sake Diploma, CS, CWE, DipWSET is a Sake Educator with Sake School of America. She is also the National Educator & Key Account Specialist for Mutual Trading Company, the United States’ most prestigious importer of fine Craft Sake, Spirits & Beer from Japan.
Sara is a Certified Sommelier (CS) through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) through the Society of Wine Educators, and received her Diploma in Wine & Spirits (DipWSET) through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust in London, England, in 2012. In January of 2017, Sara became a limited number of Level 3 Sake Educators for the WSET, worldwide, and in 2019 she completed the Advanced Sake Professional (ASP) course, in Japan, with John Gauntner!
In 2014, Sara was among the first groups of people in the United States to be qualified as a Kikisake-Shi, or International Sake Sommelier (ISS) through Sake School of America & The Sake Service Institute of Japan. In 2018, she became one of the first 4 people in the USA to earn her Diploma in Sake from the Japan Sommelier Association (JSA). These qualifications have been particularly meaningful to Sara, as she spent time living in Japan as a high school student and grew up in a family that placed great emphasis on learning and experiencing the Japanese language and culture. Becoming proficient in Sake has united Sara’s passion for the beverage industry with her life-long love of Japan, its people, traditions, and cuisine.
In 2016, Sara began teaching the Certified Sake Advisor and International Sake Sommelier courses with Sake School of America. She now facilitates these certifications as well as the WSET Sake Qualifications & Japan Sommelier Association’s International Sake Diploma Course in the Southeastern United States. Sara devotes a tremendous amount of energy to introducing people to the complexities and beauties of Sake and its unmatched ability to pair with food. She has developed a proven system to improve distribution, market-share, sales and understanding of the Sake category for distributors, on & off-premise accounts, their staff & consumers alike. Since 2018, she has promoted these techniques with the Japan External Trade Organization, JETRO, all over the USA. Sara is hopeful her ongoing efforts will continue to spread awareness and interest for Sake in the USA & beyond!!
THANK YOU TO OUR PRESENTING SPONSOR!
