Shao Xing Rice Wine
Aged huangjiu from Shaoxing, poured warm for thirty years here.
The story behind Shao Xing
Shao Xing is not one company but a protected place. The wine comes from Shaoxing in Zhejiang Province, China, a geographical indication regulated much like Champagne, and the historic houses there have brewed huangjiu for centuries. Kuaijishan traces to 1743, when Zhou Jiamu opened the Yunji Wine Workshop near Jianhu Lake. Pagoda Brand grew into the export marque backed by the Zhejiang Grain and Oil Import and Export Corporation in the 1950s and earned China Time-Honored Brand status.
Every drop starts with Jiangnan glutinous rice, wheat and soft Jianhu Lake water, fermented in winter with a wheat Qu starter and aged in porous clay urns for years. That is where the amber color and nutty caramel depth come from. We have carried Shao Xing for decades because cooks and sippers both keep coming back.
Explore the Shao Xing range
Six expressions cross our shelves, from a salted cooking wine to a 20 year ceramic. Stock shifts, so call ahead on the aged ones.
| Expression | Type | Proof / ABV | Tasting notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shao Xing Hua Tiao Rice Wine 750mL | Hua Tiao, unsalted | About 30 to 36 proof | Floral, lightly nutty, all purpose cooking and sipping |
| Shao Xing 10yrs Ceramic 500mL | Aged 10 years, ceramic | About 32 to 38 proof | Amber, caramel, dried fruit, warm neat |
| Shao Xing 20yrs Rice Wine 500mL | Aged 20 years | About 34 to 40 proof | Deep caramel, toasted nuts, long finish |
| Shao Xing Rice Wine 750mL | Standard, cooking | About 24 to 31 proof | Salted, built for marinades and braises |
| Shao Xing 8 Yr Rice Wine 750mL | Aged 8 years | About 30 to 36 proof | Rounder body, mushroom and soy notes |
| Shao Xing Chen Ning 5yrs Rice 500mL | Aged 5 years | About 28 to 36 proof | Soft amber, gentle sweetness, easy sipping |
Rice WineShao Xing - 8 Yr Rice Wine 750mL$9.99Out of stock
Rice WineShao Xing - Rice Wine 750mL$6.99
Rice WineShao Xing - Hua Tiao Rice Wine 750mL$10.98Out of stock
Rice WineShao Xing - Chen Ning 5yrs Rice 500mL$10.98
Rice WineShao Xing - 20yrs Rice Wine 500mL$39.99
Rice WineShao Xing - 10yrs Ceramic 500mL$14.99Which Shao Xing is right for you?
You can buy Shao Xing online here at prices that make sense for both the wok and the glass. The Hua Tiao 750mL runs $10.98, and the 10 year ceramic 500mL is $14.99, a quiet steal for aged huangjiu. Step up to the 20 year 500mL at $39.99 when you want something to pour neat for guests. The standard 750mL at $6.99, the 8 year at $9.99 and the Chen Ning 5 year at $10.98 are listed but currently out of stock, so ask us to flag the next drop.
Unsalted and versatile, it deglazes, marinates and finishes braises without extra salt.
Aged amber depth at an easy price, warm it gently and taste the caramel.
Two decades in clay urns, a serious bottle for a host who knows huangjiu.