SHAOXING: As Old as the Wine

Text by Wang Yuanchang Photos by IC & Yuan Yun Translation by Sonia

SHAOXING: As Old as the Wine

Text by Wang Yuanchang Photos by IC & Yuan Yun Translation by Sonia

一批非物質文化遺產名錄。水質獨特、用料講究、技藝精湛的紹興黃酒，不僅傳達了﹃國粹﹄的真諦，更讓世界驚艷于這種流傳千年的中國味道。酒，源自一方之水土，再將時光糅進，方可日久醇香。在東方，有一種味道，來自亙古以先，滿載千年記憶。無論佐餐、調味、入藥……黃酒，早已融入炎黃人的血脈。與啤酒、葡萄酒不同，黃酒源于中國，且唯中國有之。因此黃酒在海外常被稱為﹃中國酒﹄。在紹興等地區，至今仍堅守著千年釀酒習俗，靠著又﹃慢﹄又﹃笨﹄的傳統古法釀制著祖先流傳下來的味道。紹興黃酒之所以被譽為酒之鼻祖、釀之精華，就是緣于它始終如一的手工慢釀傳統。

2006年，紹興黃酒釀制技藝被列入國家第

紹興千年酒香

Wine – the fruit of a region's water and earth – will ripen and thrive with the addition of time.

In the East, there's a taste of ancient times, engraving the memories of thousands of years. Whether it's accompanying meals, used as a seasoning or medication, yellow rice wine is a part of Chinese people's blood.

Different from beer and standard wine, yellow rice wine originated in China and is exclusive to the country. As a result, yellow rice wine is often called“Chinese wine” abroad.

In regions like Shaoxing, the brewing traditions of thousands of years are still a closely guarded secret. The ancestors' taste is passed down from generation to generation through the “slow” and“unwieldy” traditional brewing method. Shaoxing yellow rice wine maintains its reputation as the father of wine and the essence of brewing by retaining the manual, slow-brewing tradition.

In 2006, the craftsmanship of brewing Shaoxing yellow rice wine was named one of the flrst China's Intangible Cultural Heritages. Unique water, select ingredients, and exquisite craftsmanship all contribute to Shaoxing yellow rice wine, which not only conveys the true meaning of a national treasure but also amazes the world with the Chinese taste of thousands of years.