• "Zhejiang Cultural Imprints" is a series of introductory articles introducing some of the most influential cultural heritages and cultural imprints in Zhejiang province. Today, we will introduce you to the Shaoxing Yellow Wine, a kind of famous Chinese Liquor that has enjoyed worldwide fame. 

(Shaoxing Yellow Wine)

With a history of more than 2,500 years, Shaoxing yellow wine is one of the most famous varieties of Huangjiu, or Chinese yellow wine, fermented from rice. Shaoxing wine is still produced by locals nowadays with the traditional method of brewing, which was included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2006. 

Amber-colored, aromatic, and pleasantly nutty-tasting, the Shaoxing wine is perhaps the most common homemade Chinese liquor for most Westerners and big fans of wine.

The wine is a type of Chinese rice wine that hails from Shaoxing, a city in eastern China's Zhejiang Province famous for rice wine production. With early records mentioning it over 2000 years ago, Shaoxing Yellow Wine is one of the oldest forms of rice wine in China. The production process involves fermenting rice, water, and a small amount of wheat. Clear rather than cloudy, it has a dark amber color, with a mildly sweet, fragrant aroma.