Shaoxing Wine Culture I

Shaoxing has a long history in making wine. According to historical records, its origination can be traced back to the Spring & Autumn and Warring State Period. Till the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Shaoxing wine became well-known all over the nation. Thus, since ancient time, wine has been an important element of Shaoxing people’s life. Formerly, almost each family made wine. And you can find wine shops here and there in Shaoxing. Of course, Shaoxing wine refers to rice wine, which is called Shaoxing Old Wine. Shaoxing wine has an excellent reputation both at home and abroad. In Tang Dynasty, it was tribute for the emperor. In Qing Dynasty, it was recognized as one of the ten national famous products. In 1979, Jiafan wine was honored as National Renowned Wine. In 1985, Jiafan wine won the gold medal in the 12th World Expo.

Shaoxing wine has different varieties such as Shanniang, Jiafan, Huadiao, Xiangxue, and Zhuangyuanhong, etc. Among them, Shanniang wine is the best. A story goes that the wine was made by an immortal being to repay a kind-hearted old lady for her kindness. It was formerly called Shanliang wine. Shanliang means goodness. Jiafan Wine is yellow and a little bit red. It tastes fresh and sweet. Xiangxue wine is fairly intoxicating. It is mellow and much stronger than Jiafan wine. Huadiao wine has evolved from Nuerhong wine. In ancient Shaoxing, Nuerhong wine was often made by rich families who newly got baby girls. After it was made, the wine was stored in the cellar for many years. Then on the day when the girls got married, the wine was taken out and opened to feast the guests. There is an interesting story for this. Long time ago in Shaoxing, there was a tailor, who was dreaming of having a son. One day, he found that his wife conceived. He was very happy. He made several jars of wine and waited for the birth of his son. He intended to feast his relatives and friends with the wine. But to his great disappointment, his wife gave birth to a girl. At that time, most of people valued sons more. So was the tailor. He was so angry and gloomy that he buried the jars of wine deeply into the earth under a sweet osmanthus tree in his backyard. Time went by quickly. Soon, the girl grew into a beautiful lady. She was quite talented in sewing and embroidering. Her father’s tailor shop boomed because of her skillful hands, which made the tailor believed that it was not bad to have a daughter. He married his daughter to his own apprentice. On the wedding day, the deeply buried wine suddenly occurred to him. He then dug the jars out and opened them. Being stored for many years, the wine tasted extremely mellow. Thus, the wine was named Nuerhong wine. And people, far and near, began to make wine and bury it when they got daughters. It soon became a convention. And the wine was later called Huadiao wine because the wine-jars were often carved or painted with flowers, and birds, etc. Afterwards, Zhuangyuanhong wine came into being. But, it was made and buried for sons.