We’re excited to announce two exclusive add-on seminars at the upcoming Melbourne Sake Festival 2025 – offering attendees a deeper and more immersive experience into the world of sake, food, and culture.

These limited sessions are led by renowned experts and provide the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and enjoy premium tastings alongside thoughtful food pairings.

🍶 Marie Chiba Sake & Food Pairing Seminar – $100 (incl. GST)

Marie Chiba is one of Tokyo’s most respected and creative sake sommeliers and the owner of the acclaimed EUREKA! bar. This exclusive seminar brings her unique pairing philosophy to Melbourne.

She is a recognised Sake Samurai, and is known around the world for her bold and innovative style that has redefined how people experience sake.

In this special session, she will present a curated selection of sake matched with premium dishes, each chosen to enhance flavour in surprising and memorable ways.

The food will be overseen by Katsuji Yoshino, Executive Chef of Ishizuka – one of Melbourne’s most acclaimed Japanese fine dining restaurants, renowned for its seasonal omakase and exceptional presentation.

To elevate the experience even further, the session features:

• Tableware Supervisor: Mr. Takagi (Marumo Takagi)
  
• Chopsticks Supervisor: Mr. Uenaka (Hashitou Honten)
  

Attendees will also enjoy VIP entry, bypassing the general admission queue for a smooth and relaxed start to the session.

Available Sessions:

• Saturday, 5 July 2025 – 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
  
• Saturday, 5 July 2025 – 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
  
• Sunday, 6 July 2025 – 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
  
• Sunday, 6 July 2025 – 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  

🧀 Simone Maynard Sake & Cheese Pairing Seminar – $20 (incl. GST)

Hosted by Simone Maynard, Melbourne-based Sake Educator and recognised Sake Samurai, this session is a must for those looking to deepen their sake knowledge, and experience sake’s pairing potential, in a friendly and educational setting.

Simone will guide guests through sake selection & tasting, along with food pairing tips, with a special focus on sake and cheese.

Available Sessions:

• Saturday, 5 July 2025 – 1:10 PM to 1:50 PM
  
• Saturday, 5 July 2025 – 6:40 PM to 7:20 PM
  
• Sunday, 6 July 2025 – 1:10 PM to 1:50 PM
  
• Sunday, 6 July 2025 – 7:40 PM to 8:20 PM
  

Book Your Seminar Seat

Tickets for both seminars can be purchased via:

 👉 https://shop.sake-festival.com.au/
👉 https://sake-festival.com.au/tickets/

**Please ensure you book a session that matches the date and time of your general admission ticket.

Important Notes

• This is a paid add-on event. A general admission ticket to the Melbourne Sake Festival is also required.
• Please make sure to choose the session that corresponds to your general admission ticket’s date and time.
• The seminar will start on time. As it may take some time to enter the venue, we strongly recommend arriving well in advance to avoid missing the beginning of the session.
• Please bring your photo ID and the order confirmation email with you. These will be checked by staff at the seminar area entrance on the day of the event.
• Alcoholic beverages will be served. Only attendees aged 18 and over with valid tickets will be permitted entry to the seminar area. No minors allowed.
• Allergen warning: Food and beverages served during the seminar may contain common allergens such as gluten, dairy, nuts, soy, seafood, and others. No dietary alterations or substitutions are able to be catered for during this event. The Australian Sake Festival accepts no liability for any adverse reactions.
• Please read our Terms of Use and Refund Policy before purchasing. All ticket holders are deemed to have accepted these upon purchase.