桂花酒
A fragrant, sweet wine infused with osmanthus flowers, traditionally associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival. This delicate golden wine has a floral aroma and gentle sweetness that makes it approachable for those unaccustomed to Chinese spirits. Popular in the Guilin and Suzhou regions where osmanthus trees bloom abundantly, it is often enjoyed chilled as a dessert wine or aperitif.
Chinese wine-making stretches back over 4,000 years to the Shang Dynasty, when rice and fruit wines were offered to ancestors. Shaoxing rice wine from Zhejiang has been produced for 2,500 years. More recently, China has become one of the world's largest grape wine producers, with the Ningxia region earning international acclaim for its Cabernet Sauvignon.
Traditional Chinese rice wine is brewed through a unique parallel fermentation process where saccharification and alcohol fermentation happen simultaneously. Shaoxing wine is aged in sealed clay jars for years, developing its signature amber colour and complex umami-sweet character. Modern Chinese grape wines follow French winemaking methods, with some estates employing Bordeaux-trained viticulturists.
East ChinaFamous for the breathtaking West Lake, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hangzhou has inspired poets and artists for over a thousand years. Marco Polo reportedly called it the finest and most splendid city in the world. Today it is also a tech hub, serving as the headquarters of Alibaba, while maintaining its reputation for tea plantations and silk production.
East ChinaKnown as the Venice of the East, Suzhou is celebrated for its exquisite classical gardens, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and its ancient canal system. For centuries, this city has been famous for its silk production, refined cuisine, and the soft beauty of its waterways. Suzhou perfectly embodies the elegance and artistry of traditional Chinese culture.
South ChinaGuilin's landscape of karst limestone peaks rising from emerald-green rice paddies is among the most iconic scenery in all of China, famously depicted on the 20 yuan banknote. A cruise along the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo reveals some of the most breathtaking natural beauty on earth, making it a must-visit destination for nature lovers.
Shaoxing rice wine is frequently used in Chinese cooking and TCM preparations, believed to improve blood circulation and warm the body's meridians. It is a common base for medicinal herbal wines. Modern grape wines from China share the resveratrol and polyphenol benefits associated with red wine consumption in moderation.
winealcoholicOne of the oldest alcoholic beverages in the world, Chinese rice wine is brewed from glutinous rice and wheat-based yeast. Shaoxing wine from Zhejiang Province is the most famous variety, with a rich amber color and complex umami-sweet flavor. Rice wine is both enjoyed as a drink, often warmed, and used extensively as a cooking ingredient in Chinese cuisine. It typically has an alcohol content of 14-20%.