Question 1

What is huangjiu, or Chinese rice wine?

Accepted Answer

Huangjiu (黄酒), literally 'yellow wine', is China's traditional rice wine, brewed rather than distilled. It is made by fermenting grains, usually glutinous rice, with a starter called qu. It is not the same as baijiu, which is a distilled spirit. Huangjiu is most popular in the Jiangnan area of eastern China, and its most famous version is Shaoxing wine, from Zhejiang Province.

Question 2

Is Shaoxing wine only for cooking?

Accepted Answer

No. The Shaoxing wine most people know abroad is cooking wine (料酒), a lower grade used in Chinese kitchens. But Shaoxing also makes fine wines for drinking, especially aged styles such as huadiao, which are sipped from small cups like a fine sherry. Only a small part of Shaoxing's production is meant for drinking, and a new generation of boutique producers is working to bring it back to the table.

Question 3

Is Chinese rice wine dry or sweet?

Accepted Answer

Both. China's national standard divides traditional huangjiu into four types by sugar content: dry (up to 15 g/L), semi-dry (15.1–40 g/L), semi-sweet (40.1–100 g/L) and sweet (over 100 g/L). In Shaoxing these correspond to four classic styles: yuanhong (dry), jiafan (semi-dry), shanniang (semi-sweet) and xiangxue (sweet). Most Chinese rice wine is semi-dry.

Question 4

How is Shaoxing wine made?

Accepted Answer

Shaoxing wine is made from glutinous rice, a wheat-based qu and the water of Jianhu Lake. Traditional brewing follows the seasons: the starters are prepared in late summer and early autumn, and brewing begins at the start of winter, with a fermentation of more than ninety days. The following winter the wine is pressed, heated, sealed in clay jars and aged for years, sometimes decades.

Question 5

How should I serve Chinese rice wine?

Accepted Answer

Most Shaoxing wine is served at room temperature or gently warmed, which softens it and brings out its aromas; in Shaoxing it is traditionally drunk from small bowls. Sweeter styles such as xiangxue are better slightly chilled, as dessert wines. Aged huadiao deserves to be sipped slowly.

Question 6

What is nü'er hong, 'daughter red'?

Accepted Answer

Nü'er hong (女儿红), 'daughter red', is an aged Shaoxing wine linked to a local tradition: when a daughter was born, the family would bury jars of wine and open them on her wedding day. Today the name is used for aged Shaoxing wines, usually made from the semi-dry jiafan style.

Question 7

How strong is Chinese rice wine?

Accepted Answer

Usually between 8% and 20% alcohol, often around 15%: much lower than baijiu.

Question 8

Is huangjiu the same as sake?

Accepted Answer

They are cousins, both brewed from rice with a mould-based starter, but huangjiu is usually aged longer, darker and more savoury.

Question 9

What is Shaoxing wine?

Accepted Answer

The most famous huangjiu, from the city of Shaoxing in Zhejiang, brewed with glutinous rice, wheat qu and the water of Jianhu Lake.

Question 10

Should huangjiu be served warm?

Accepted Answer

Traditionally yes, especially in winter. Dry and semi-dry styles are also good slightly cool, and sweet styles chilled or on ice.

Question 11

Can I drink cooking wine?

Accepted Answer

Many bottles labelled "cooking wine" (料酒) contain added salt or spices and are not meant for drinking. Look for a real drinking huangjiu.

Question 12

Is rice wine the same as baijiu?

Accepted Answer

No. Baijiu is a distilled spirit, usually from sorghum and often above 50%. Rice wine is brewed and much lighter.

Styles

Production

Culture

Rice Wine

Styles

What is huangjiu, or Chinese rice wine?+

Is Shaoxing wine only for cooking?+

Is Chinese rice wine dry or sweet?+

Production

How is Shaoxing wine made?+

Culture

How should I serve Chinese rice wine?+

What is nü'er hong, 'daughter red'?+

Rice Wine

How strong is Chinese rice wine?+

Is huangjiu the same as sake?+

What is Shaoxing wine?+

Should huangjiu be served warm?+

Can I drink cooking wine?+

Is rice wine the same as baijiu?+