Rice wine style
Shanniang
善酿酒shànniàng jiǔ
Wine brewed with wine: Shaoxing's semi-sweet speciality
- Category
- The third of the four Shaoxing styles
- Home region
- Zhejiang
- Classification
- Semi-sweet huangjiu: 40.1–100 g/L of sugar (national standard GB/T 13662)
- Sweetness
- Semi-sweet (40.1–100 g/L)
- Literal meaning
- Well brewed
Taste profile
Sweetness
DrySweetSweetness: 4 out of 5Acidity
LowHighAcidity: 3 out of 5Body
LightFullBody: 4 out of 5Savouriness
LowHighSavouriness: 3 out of 5
Aromas
- honey
- dried fruit
- caramel
- rice
Shanniang is a speciality of Shaoxing with a unique method: instead of starting with water, part of the water is replaced with aged yuanhong, the dry Shaoxing wine. The result is a rich, semi-sweet wine.
Adding finished wine to the fermenting mash raises the alcohol level early, which slows down the yeast. Only part of the sugar is turned into alcohol, so the wine keeps a natural sweetness of between 40.1 and 100 grams per litre, the range of semi-sweet huangjiu in China's national standard. It is full-bodied, mellow and fresh.
Wine made with wine
Shanniang is one of the cleverest ideas in the world of wine. By using aged yuanhong in place of part of the water, the brewer starts the fermentation with alcohol already present. The yeasts work more slowly and stop earlier, leaving more sugar and a deeper, silkier texture.
How to recognise it
On the label look for 善酿 (shànniàng). The wine is deep amber to brown, with aromas of caramel, dried fruit and honey, and a soft, full sweetness balanced by fresh acidity.
How to taste it
Serve it at room temperature or slightly cool, in small glasses. It is less sweet than a dessert wine but rounder than jiafan, so it works both with savoury dishes and at the end of a meal.
For European palates
Think of an oloroso or a medium sherry: rich, nutty and gently sweet. Shanniang is a beautiful surprise for anyone who enjoys those wines.
How to serve
Serve slightly chilled or at room temperature.
Pairs with
Food pairings
- Good with sweet-savoury dishes such as red-braised pork and Dongpo pork, and with desserts. In Europe, try it with blue cheese, roasted nuts or a fruit tart.
Sources
- A guide to huangjiu types — SMZDM
- Physical and chemical standards for rice wine (GB/T 13662-2018) — Wuhan University
Other styles
Yuanhong
元红酒
The classic dry Shaoxing wine
Jiafan
加饭酒
'Added rice': the rich, semi-dry Shaoxing wine most people know
Xiangxue
香雪酒
'Fragrant snow': the sweetest Shaoxing wine
Huadiao
花雕酒
'Carved flowers': aged Shaoxing wine, named after its decorated jars
Nü'er hong
女儿红
'Daughter red': the Shaoxing wine buried at a daughter's birth
Fujian Red Qu Wine
红曲酒
Ruby-red rice wine made with red yeast rice, the 'grandfather of Chinese wines'