2026/04/27
A Quiet Assemblage of Art, Design, and Sake in the Alps
In the world of collectible art, true appreciation requires stillness, the clarity to perceive what makes an object irreplaceable, and the patience to let it speak. This February, HEAVENSAKE had the privilege of joining NOMAD for their ninth edition in St. Moritz, marking a defining moment in our ongoing dialogue between craft and culture.
Surrounded by the alpine stillness of the Engadine and a curation of the world’s most compelling contemporary design, HEAVENSAKE was woven into the rhythm of the fair. It was a harmony of Japanese craftsmanship, collectible art, and the sensory precision that defines a life well savoured.
The Setting: Design at Altitude
The atmosphere was intimate, defined by a distinct “Assemblage” of disciplines. Villa Beaulieu, a former clinic transformed into an immersive scenography, hosted 19 international galleries and 10 special projects, with Giorgio Armani as Official Partner. Over 6,000 visitors moved through rooms that unfolded like chapters: Murano glass by Eliane Fattal, collectible furniture by Nilufar, and Emirati craft from The House of Artisans.
The juxtaposition was intentional. Much like NOMAD’s philosophy of placing extraordinary objects in extraordinary settings, HEAVENSAKE exists where the vessel on the table carries the same weight as the sculpture on the pedestal. Our Junmai Daiginjo was selected specifically for this setting: its clean minerality and vibrant freshness echoing the crystalline alpine air at 1,800 metres above sea level.
The Experience: The Apéro as a Ritual of Pause
An exceptional liquid requires an exceptional context. During an intimate Conversation Piece at Mr. Armani’s private residence — HEAVENSAKE anchored the Apéro Hours: moments of unhurried exchange between collectors, gallerists, and cultural leaders.
Two sake-based serves defined the experience. The Glacier Fizz — Junmai Ginjo with lime, yuzu, and sparkling water — caught the alpine light in the glass, clean and mineral, a liquid echo of the snow-covered peaks visible from the terrace. The NOMAD Rosé — Junmai Ginjo layered with hibiscus syrup and tonic water — offered warmth and colour, a quiet counterpoint to the white landscape outside.
An invitation to pause before the next room, the next work, the next conversation.
The Synergy: Collectible Design Meets Liquid Art
The synergy between collectible design and a Champagne-inspired sake was no coincidence. NOMAD curates one-of-a-kind objects defined by material intelligence, limited production, and artisanal mastery. HEAVENSAKE composes unrepeatable expressions.
This collaboration with NOMAD confirms an evolution. The perception of premium sake is shifting — from the omakase counter to the centre stage of global art and design. At Villa Beaulieu, surrounded by work that refused to shout and design that trusted the viewer’s intelligence, HEAVENSAKE felt exactly where it belongs.
We thank NOMAD for their vision and trust in allowing us to share the beauty of the HEAVENSAKE project in the most rarefied setting in the Alps.
