Is Chinese Rice Wine like Sake?
When most American’s hear the term “rice wine” they immediately think of Sake, the rice wine based alcoholic beverage from Japan. However while the ingredients and brewing processes are similar, the taste, color and complexities of the two rice wines are as different as Champagne is to Cognac. Chinese rice wine, also known as “yellow wine” or “Shaoxing rice wine” is beige or reddish-brown, like whiskey or cognac. Most Sakes are meant to be consumed soon after they’ve been bottled (6 to 18 months). However Chinese rice wine, like grape wine, improves with age. Chinese rice wine aged 50, even 100 years can be purchased in liquor stores throughout China.
