Product Details

Yellow wine, such as Shaoxing rice wine, pairs beautifully with cheese due to the complementary interplay of umami and saltiness. The umami in yellow wine, a savoury and rich flavour resulting from fermentation, enhances the creamy and earthy notes of cheese. Meanwhile, the saltiness inherent in cheese, a byproduct of the ageing process, serves to highlight the subtle flavours in the wine. This combination of umami from the wine and salt from the cheese creates a delightful balance, intensifying the flavours of both, and providing a unique and satisfying tasting experience where East meets West to create magical culinary fusion

Shaoxing Rice Wine, a product with a designated Geographical Indication, adheres to the stringent standards set by the Chinese government in GB/T 17946-2008. This exquisite wine, which can only be legitimately labeled as Shaoxing Rice Wine if produced with glutinous rice, wheat, and the unique water of Jianhu Lake in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China, is a staple of Pagoda Brand Winery, located on the lake’s shores.

At the heart of Pagoda Brand Rice Wine’s appeal is its flavour profile, which captivates with a delicate blend of almond, vanilla, and honey. Its resemblance to sherry is evident in both its amber colour and its sophisticated, subtly powerful taste. This sensory experience is a significant reason why it is often chosen as a celebratory drink during Chinese New Year. The festival, symbolising new beginnings and the ushering in of good fortune, finds a perfect match in the wine’s rich and auspicious flavours.

Crafted by hand, Pagoda Brand Rice Wine’s production eschews modern mass-production techniques, favouring traditional methods that imbue each bottle with a unique character. The wine reaches its zenith when made during Dongzhi, a period signifying the arrival of winter, following a natural fermentation process of no less than 11 months.

Unlike many competitors using Caramel E150C for colouring, Pagoda Brand’s Shaoxing rice wine Ben Mei prides itself on being composed of natural ingredients, free from any artificial colours.

The wine’s presentation is as exceptional as its taste. Each bottle of Pagoda Brand Ben Mei is encased in fine Longquan celadon, a renowned type of willow-green glazed Chinese ceramic dating back to around AD 950. This exquisite ceramic, often compared to a radiant pearl in the crown of ceramics, was recognised in September 2009 by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, further elevating the prestige of the wine it houses.

– Country: China
– Rice Wine
– Colour: Yellow
– Alcohol: Yes