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

一批非物质文化遗产名录。水质独特、用料讲究、技艺精湛的绍兴黄酒，不仅传达了﹃国粹﹄的真谛，更让世界惊艳于这种流传千年的中国味道。酒，源自一方之水土，再将时光糅进，方可日久醇香。在东方，有一种味道，来自亘古以先，满载千年记忆。无论佐餐、调味、入药……黄酒，早已融入炎黄人的血脉。与啤酒、葡萄酒不同，黄酒源于中国，且唯中国有之。因此黄酒在海外常被称为﹃中国酒﹄。在绍兴等地区，至今仍坚守着千年酿酒习俗，靠着又﹃慢﹄又﹃笨﹄的传统古法酿制着祖先流传下来的味道。绍兴黄酒之所以被誉为酒之鼻祖、酿之精华，就是缘于它始终如一的手工慢酿传统。

2006年，绍兴黄酒酿制技艺被列入国家第

绍兴千年酒香

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.