A cup of coffee blends Wenqiao yellow rice wine from Taizhou. [Photo/WeChat account: wenlingfabu]

As the annual winter brewing season for yellow rice wine begins, the factory of the Dingfeng Company in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, is filled with the fragrant blend of rice, wheat, and wine while crafting the renowned Wenqiao yellow wine.

The wine originates from the ancient town of Wenqiao — renowned for its brewing culture dating back to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) when yellow rice wine brewing spread from Shaoxing.

"After years of development, our techniques have become different from Shaoxing's," explained Lin Gaojie, the company's general manager.

The main ingredients are japonica rice and glutinous rice, and requires multiple processes including soaking, steaming, fermenting in jars, pressing and filtering, and aging in sealed jars to brew the refreshing and mellow Wenqiao wine.

The winter brewing period spans about 100 days from the Start of Winter to the Start of Spring next year and is the busiest time for the distillery. "The cold temperatures offer ideal conditions for natural fermentation, ensuring superior product quality, and the pristine winter water enhances the wine's taste," said Lin.

Still using traditional methods, Wenqiao wine embraces innovation. Investments in modern equipment and standardized production processes in 2018 have elevated the quality of offerings.

To cater to evolving consumer preferences, the company has developed a range of yellow wine products, blending various yellow wines in certain proportions to create contemporary flavors.

In a bid to attract a younger demographic, the company has introduced innovative products like yellow wine coffee and wedding wines, tapping into new markets.

Production has scaled up significantly with a surge in demand and shows the brand's growing popularity and commitment to heritage with a modern twist.