About

Simone is based in Melbourne, Australia. She has been traveling to various locations in Japan since 2003 and spent the best part of 2007 living in Osaka.

Her interest in, and passion for, sake has evolved from a very early fascination with Japanese culture, and 20 years experience in the food and beverage industry.

Simone holds the WSET Sake Level 3 Certification and in January 2018, travelled to Tokyo to participate in John Gauntner’s Sake Professional Course, receiving a Sake Professional Certification from the Sake Education Council. In March 2019, she returned to Tokyo to take John Gauntner’s Level 2 course, joining the Advanced Sake Professional alumni.

During COVID, whilst in Melbourne lockdown, Simone began the Taste with the Toji project (TWTT), an online series of events, in the attempt to keep the sake flag flying high during the pandemic. The TWTT program of online events is now a global project (and community) and continues to run to this day. You can read more about it here.

TWTT also now has a Podcast which you can read more about here.

In 2022, Simone was awarded the honorary title of Sake Samurai .

In 2023, Simone was invited to take part in the JSS Academy run by Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association.

More importantly, Simone simply loves sake along with it’s rich history and fine craftsmanship. Her mission is to share the joy of sake and help promote this unique and delicious beverage in Australia and beyond. 

Kanpai!

For more information, contact Sake Mistress.