Japan Sakura Awards - Lambert Winery Visit
The 11th Sakura Japan Women's Wine Awards 2024
Gold: Lambert Estate - The Family Tree 2019 Shiraz
Gold: Lambert Estate - Thoroughbred 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
The founder of Japan’s Sakura Awards, Yumi Tanabe, visited Lambert Winery.
Yumi Tanabe was born in Ikeda Town, Hokkaido (Tokachi wine region). Her father is the founder of Tokachi Wine. After graduating from Tsuda Gakuin with a major in mathematics, she accumulated knowledge and experience in wine at Cornell University in New York, USA. She established a wine and wine culture company in 1986 and founded the "Yumi Tanabe Wine School" in 1992.
In 1994, she published Yumi Tanabe’s Wine Book and Yumi Tanabe’s Wine Notes, specifically to prepare for the sommelier qualification exam. They were published once a year and became the “Bible for students preparing for the exam.” At the same time, as Japan's leading wine expert, she has visited wine-producing areas around the world and actively writes wine columns and wine-related books. In 2009, she was awarded the French Order of Merit in Agriculture by the French government in recognition of her long-term achievements.
In 2015, she was appointed as the honorary principal of the Hokkaido Wine Academy sponsored by the Hokkaido Prefectural Government. In 2018, she was appointed as the honorary principal of the Tokachi Branch of the Tokachi Comprehensive Promotion Bureau Wine Academy. In December 2015, she was awarded the title of "Honorary Sommelier" by the Japan Sommelier Association. This is the first time in two generations that a parent and child have received the award.
In 2014, she launched the Japan Women’s Wine Awards (referred to as the Sakura Awards) to judge wine from a female perspective and began a new promotional campaign.
Her activities are not limited to wine, she has a deep knowledge of cheese and food and is involved in a wide range of activities, including choosing dishes to pair with the wine.
She is the author of "Yumi Tanabe's Wine Book", "Yumi Tanabe's Wine Notebook", "Jewel of Tokachi - Yumi, Can You Make Wine?" ” (both published by Asuka Shuppan), “All About South African Wine” (Wine Kingdom) and many other books.
