Sake in Switzerland: Kitsune Trading’s Selection
Authentic Japanese sake, selected in Japan and distributed in Switzerland.
Kitsune Trading was founded with the aim of bringing to Switzerland a selection of high-quality Japanese sake, chosen not simply as products to import, but as expressions of places, traditions, brewing techniques and people.
Our research begins in Japan.
We meet the producers and explore fermentation methods, rice varieties, water, koji and brewing styles in order to build a selection that reflects the extraordinary diversity of Japanese sake.
From exceptional Junmai Daiginjo of remarkable purity to deeper, more gastronomic Kimoto and Yamahai styles; from fresh and elegant expressions to aged sake, sparkling sake and contemporary interpretations: the Kitsune portfolio is built around a precise philosophy of selection.
Not to choose many sake. To choose the right ones.
Importing and selecting Japanese sake in Switzerland
Kitsune Trading specialises in the import and distribution of sake in Switzerland, with a selection designed both for restaurants and hospitality professionals, and for enthusiasts looking to buy high-quality Japanese sake.
We are based in Ticino and distribute to both professional and private clients throughout Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
We work with restaurants, chefs, sommeliers, hotels and gastronomic businesses that want to build a sake offering in line with their cuisine and the quality of their beverage programme.
Alongside distribution, we place particular emphasis on sake education, correct presentation and food pairing.
Because sake should not simply be added to a beverage list. It should be understood, explained and served in the right way.
A selection built directly in Japan
The value of a selection does not depend on the number of references available.
It depends on the knowledge behind each choice.
Kitsune Trading selects sake from different regions of Japan and from producers with very different identities: some sakagura preserve techniques handed down through generations, while others are redefining the contemporary language of sake.
Our portfolio includes producers such as Tatenokawa, Kenbishi, Watarai (Dewanoyuki), Rokkasen, Ninki and Eau de Vie Shonai, alongside other breweries selected for their quality, personality and ability to express an authentic side of Japan.
Each sake is evaluated not only according to its classification and rice polishing ratio, but above all for its balance, structure, aromatic profile, umami, acidity, texture, serving temperature and gastronomic potential.
From Japan to Switzerland
Behind every bottle of sake lies a world that cannot easily be explained by an label alone.
The rice used.
The water of the region.
The koji.
The fermentation temperature.
The work of the toji and kurabito.
The climate.
The philosophy of the sakagura.
This is why our selection process also involves direct contact with Japan and with the producers themselves.
Understanding where and how a sake is made allows us to present it in Switzerland with respect for its identity and, above all, to identify the bottles that are truly interesting for contemporary gastronomy.
Premium sake for restaurants, hotels and professionals in Switzerland
An important part of Kitsune Trading’s work is dedicated to the Swiss HoReCa sector.
We help restaurants, hotels and hospitality professionals choose sake suited to their cuisine, creating selections that may include versatile by-the-glass options as well as bottles intended for pairings, tastings and premium beverage lists.
Sake has an extraordinary gastronomic versatility.
Its natural umami, absence of tannins and wide range of styles allow it to pair not only with sushi and Japanese cuisine, but also with fish, shellfish, meat, cheese, vegetables, Mediterranean cuisine and European fine dining.
It is precisely in this context that sake reveals one of its most fascinating qualities: it is deeply Japanese and, at the same time, surprisingly universal at the table.
Expertise and sake education
The Kitsune selection is supported by specialist knowledge of the product.
Cristina Volpi, co-founder of Kitsune Trading, is an Advanced Sake Sommelier and SSA Sake Educator.
Professional training, combined with direct experience in Japanese sakagura, allows Kitsune Trading to complement distribution with consultancy and education for restaurateurs, sommeliers and beverage professionals.
We organise tastings, presentations and training programmes to help those who serve sake understand its style, temperature, glassware, storage and pairing potential.
For us, selling sake also means creating the culture needed to appreciate it.
Buying sake in Switzerland
Our online shop offers a selection of Japanese sake available to buy in Switzerland, ranging from approachable styles for those discovering nihonshu for the first time to rare and prestigious bottles for enthusiasts and collectors, available on request.
The selection includes different categories and styles:
Junmai · Junmai Ginjo · Junmai Daiginjo · Ginjo · Daiginjo · Kimoto · Yamahai · Nigori · Sparkling Sake · Koshu (aged sake) · lower-alcohol sake and contemporary interpretations.
Every bottle is chosen to offer something distinctive and to make it possible to explore sake beyond the most internationally recognised names.
→ Discover the Kitsune Trading sake selection
Sake beyond sushi
One of Kitsune Trading’s goals is to help change the perception of sake in Switzerland.
Sake is not a spirit.
It is not necessarily high in alcohol.
It does not have to be served only warm.
And above all, it does not belong exclusively to Japanese cuisine.
It is an extremely complex fermented beverage, capable of expressing very different aromatic and structural profiles.
It can be floral and crystalline, creamy and rich in umami, dry and mineral, sweet and enveloping, or evolved and complex after years of maturation.
Discovering sake means entering one of Japan’s most refined gastronomic worlds.
Kitsune Trading: a bridge between Japanese sakagura and Switzerland
Kitsune means fox.
In Japanese culture, the kitsune is associated with intelligence, transformation and the ability to move between different worlds.
It is an image that represents well what we want to do.
To create a bridge between Japan’s sakagura and Swiss gastronomy, selecting authentic products and presenting them with respect, knowledge and curiosity.
Our goal is not simply to bring more sake to Switzerland.
It is to bring the right sake, to the right place, told in the right way.
Discover Japanese sake selected by Kitsune Trading
Explore our online collection or contact us for a professional selection dedicated to restaurants, hotels and events.