DIY Plum Wine | Quhe Winery Teaches You in 5 Steps

Photos & Text /Ailishi

Located in the Chulu Leisure Agriculture Area in Beinan Township, Quhe Winery specializes in organic processing such as wines and vinegars. The name “Qu” represents the murmuring sound of the Luming Stream, while “He” stands for the harvest season. Quhe Winery crafts a variety of local fruit-based beverages using organically grown produce, including loquat wine, rouge wine, plum wine, plum vinegar, sugar apple wine, and cinnamon wine.

Today’s experience isDIY Plum Vinegar,with tastings of various wines available on-site. Everyone can take home the plum vinegar they make to enjoy next year. Before starting, the table is set with a bowl of plums and jars—one glass jar per person. Then comes the explanation as you follow the steps to complete your own plum vinegar.

Ingredients: frozen plums, one bottle of Quhe Winery’s homemade organic glutinous rice vinegar, sugar, glass jar, tissue paper, sticker, and marker pen.

▲Equipment and ingredients prepared on the table. (Photo / Ailishi)

Steps:
1. Wipe the inside of the glass jar clean with tissue paper.
2. Gently wipe the surface frost off the frozen plums with a tissue using “dots”—do not break the skin, keep them as intact as possible, and remove the stems.
3. Carefully place the plums into the glass jar.
4. Add about six red rock sugar cubes into the jar.
5. Pour in the organic glutinous rice vinegar.

▲DIY steps. (Photo / Ailishi)

Finally, seal the jar, attach a label, and write the current date on the lid to complete your homemade plum vinegar.The finished plum vinegar must be stored for one year before it can be consumed.The color of the vinegar will deepen over time. Remember to keep it in a cool, shaded place away from direct sunlight—after a year, it’s ready to drink.

▲The one on the right is plum vinegar stored for about five months, the one on the left was made just now. (Photo / Ailishi)

▲There were also many other wine experiences available on-site. (Photo / Ailishi)

Liao Kunlang, the owner of Quhe Winery, originally hails from Yunlin. Growing up, he worked in agriculture with his father in Beinan, Taitung, before later establishing Quhe Winery. The winery processescrisp plums, soft plums, organic rice liquor, and plum vinegar, all made organically.In addition to guided tours of the tea facility, visitors to Quhe Winery can also try making plum vinegar, with Owner Liao providing guidance.

▲Owner Liao Kunlang giving a tour and explanation at the estate. (Photo / Ailishi)

Liao Kunlang also serves asthe team leader of the Mingfeng Plum Production and Sales Group.In the course of his work, he noticed that many farmers only knew how to grow crops but lacked marketing skills—an unfortunate waste. To help farmers enhance their expertise, he takes group members to other counties and cities to attend courses on sales, purchasing, and related knowledge. The extensive plum orchards herehave all been certified under CAS pesticide regulations, holding not only GAP certification but also production and sales traceability records..

▲ In the organic orchard, you can see live big spiders, sweet cinnamon that’s ready to be picked and eaten, and thick aerial roots covered in dense rootlets. (Photo by Ailishi)

In the orchard, you’ll notice that the plum trees aren’t very tall. These are all dwarfed plum trees, which makes manual harvesting easier. Plums harvested by hand are of higher quality.

For those who enjoy drinking alcohol, organic beverages are also available here. Orchard owner Liao explained:All our raw materials are organically sourced.The rice used to make our rice wine also comes from local sources, and it has been certified by National Chung Cheng University, which offers additional assurance. Some of the alcoholic beverages are even available at convenience stores. To ensure that everyone can enjoy safe plum vinegar and alcoholic drinks, every step of the production process is carefully monitored.

▲ Liao Kun-lang has also put a lot of effort into green tourism in the Huadong Valley. (Photo by Ailishi)

Quhe Winery produces a variety of products, and there is also a product display area next to the experience classroom. If you find something you like, you can take it home on the spot at more affordable prices than elsewhere. All products are available for sampling, so you can decide what to buy after trying them. In addition to beverages, there are also processed products such asloquat flower-based items that can be brewed into tea to soothe the respiratory tract,as well as other tea-like products including coffee for sale.

▲ Product display. (Photo by Ailishi)

Currently, Quhe Winery offers not only orchard tours but alsoDIY plum vinegar experiences, as well as plum blossom viewing and plum picking activities.Over the years, as the plum orchard has transformed from a traditional industry into an agri-leisure destination, Liao Kun-lang has consistently worked hard to pioneer an innovative path through agricultural products. If you have the chance to visit Luye in Taitung, besides going up to the plateau to watch hot air balloons, you might also want to stop by Quhe Winery near Luming Bridge—you might just find some unexpected treasures!

Quhe Winery
Address: No. 29-3, Lane 2, Luming Bridge, Mingfeng Village, Beitun Township, Taitung County
Phone: (08)957-0561
FB:https://www.facebook.com/QuHeLiquorVillage/