Jintan Sealed Jar Wine

Jintan Sealed Jar Wine

Jintan Sealed Jar Wine is a national intangible cultural heritage.

　　Produced in Jintan, Jiangsu. It is also known as Zhu Wine because Emperor Taizu of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang, once stayed at Wolong Mountain in Jintan, tasted the wine, named it himself, and listed it as an imperial tribute. The wine is mainly made from high-quality glutinous rice produced around Tao Lake—the rice is white, glossy, sticky in texture, and richly fragrant. The wine is made by washing, steaming, and rinsing the rice, then adding sweet wine yeast as a saccharifying and fermenting agent. When the sugar content reaches a certain level, 50-proof xiaoqu liquor is added, and the mixture is immediately sealed in jars. After a long period of fermentation, it is pressed and aged to become the final product. The wine has a natural color, free from artificial coloring, clear and bright, and remains limpid even after prolonged storage. It is mellow and thick like honey, with a rich and fragrant aroma. The wine contains various types of sugars, amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients, making it highly nutritious. Regular consumption is believed to nourish the body, strengthen health, and support the body’s resistance against illness.

　　Jintan Sealed Jar Wine is carefully brewed using high-quality “Biao Rice” from the local Tao Lake area and water from Maoshan Mountain, following a traditional folk recipe. The Biao Rice is white, glossy, sticky in texture, and richly fragrant. After being steamed and rinsed, herbal medicine is added as a saccharifying and fermenting agent. When the sugar content reaches a certain level, 50-proof xiaoqu liquor is added, and the mixture is immediately divided into jars and sealed. After a long period of fermentation, it is pressed and aged to become the final product.

　　The main production steps include: rice inspection, soaking, washing, steaming, cooling, rinsing, adding wine yeast, placing in jars, mixing, fermenting, sealing the jars, blending the wine, adding wine starter, resealing for further fermentation, pressing the wine, and bottling.

　　Jintan Sealed Jar Wine has a naturally golden and clear appearance, a mild taste, and is mellow and thick like honey, with a rich and fragrant aroma. It contains various types of sugars, amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients. Regular drinking is believed to nourish the body, strengthen health, and support the body’s resistance against illness. As a result, it has been widely loved by the public and enjoys enduring popularity. In 1984, Jintan Sealed Jar Wine won a silver cup award at the National Light Industry Ministry's Liquor Competition. In 1986, it received the Special Prize at the First China Huangjiu (Yellow Wine) Festival. The famous mathematician Hua Luogeng, a native of Jintan, always carried the hometown Sealed Jar Wine as a gift when traveling abroad for lectures. During the 35th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, 2,000 bottles of Sealed Jar Wine were specially provided for the National Day reception. At that time, the love of Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk for Jintan Sealed Jar Wine also became a well-known story.

　　Jintan Sealed Jar Wine originates from folk traditions and has a long history. It was once an imperial court wine, boasting profound cultural heritage. Its development history serves as a “living dictionary” for studying the folk brewing history and the culture of huangjiu (yellow wine), offering significant historical research value. The brewing materials are all locally sourced, and the production techniques are exquisitely unique, giving the wine distinct regional advantages and a deep folk foundation.