What is sake often referred to as in English?

Sake is commonly referred to as "rice wine" in English, which reflects its production process involving fermentation, similar to that of wine made from grapes. The term "wine" is broadly used to categorize alcoholic beverages produced through fermentation, and since sake is derived from rice and involves a fermentation process, it falls within this definition. However, it is important to note that sake's production method is distinct from that of grape wine, utilizing a unique fermentation approach known as multiple parallel fermentation, where starch is converted to sugar and then to alcohol simultaneously.

Other choices such as "rice drink" and "sake beverage" do not capture the traditional classification and might lead to confusion regarding sake's unique characteristics. Similarly, "fermented rice" describes the base ingredient and the process but lacks the broader term of "wine," which conveys the alcoholic nature of the beverage and aligns better with common usage in the English language. Thus, the term "rice wine" has become an accepted and widely understood descriptor for sake in English-speaking contexts.