Our team have spent most of their lives with some connection to the land where sake comes from: Japan. They have a passion to share their appreciation of not only Japan, but also the place that they call home, Queenstown, New Zealand. Our sake is an expression of the surroundings and the water sourced from the pristine mountains and lakes around our home.
David Joll, Zenkuro’s head brewer and a certified ‘Sake Professional’, first travelled to Japan as a 17-year old exchange student, many moons ago. He later studied Japanese at Auckland University, Shizuoka University, and completed a post-graduate course in Japanese Studies at Hitotsubashi University. He is also a black belt in Judo. After years of research drinking sake, he is now our master of the brewing process. Dave is married to Yasuko, from Fukuoka.