Home> News> Differences between Shaoxing Yellow rice wine and Japanese rice wine (4)
July 10, 2020

Differences between Shaoxing Yellow rice wine and Japanese rice wine (4)

IV. Water

The quality of water receives much attention in the brewing of both Shaoxing Yellow Rice Wine and Japanese Rice Wine. The best water used for wine production is oligohaline, low in hardness, neutral to slightly acid (pH6.8 ~7.2), and without sediments or such impurities as suspended matter, as well as free from organic impurities, toxic substances or pathogen. In addition, it should be colorless, smell-less,tasteless, clear and transparent.

The limpid water from the Mirror Lake is used for the production of Shaoxing yellow rice wine. It comes from all the streams of the Kuaiji Mountain, whose geological structure indicates that in the bottom of bedrock and weathering crust, the content of heavy metals which are harmful to human health is very low and inactive. Therefore,the content of heavy metals is very low in the water. Instead, it contains a proper amount of minerals and healthy trace elements, such as molybdenum, and the hardness of the water is moderate. Besides, these areas are usually well vegetated. Accordingly,after filtering by sand and rocks, the water is clear and sweet, free from pollution.More importantly, the large rain gathering area of Kuaiji Mountain covers about 14,500 square kilometers. Shaoxing is in the subtropical rainy climate, with an annual rainfall averaging 1450 mm. With adequate rainfall and mountain water recharge, the water undergoes frequent renewal. As estimated, it is renewed 47.5 times on average every year, which means one complete renewal every 7.5 days, so it is always fresh. The use of such high-quality water has helped Shaoxing yellow rice wine form its own unique style and character.

The Japanese also pay special attention to the quality and ingredients of the water.Based on the water's function in brewing, the water that can facilitate the growth of microorganisms and the fermentation, and contains such ingredients as kalium, magnesium, ammonia and phosphoric acid is called strong water, and is used to brew hot wine. Otherwise, it will be called soft water, and is used to brew sweet wine. Water in the wells 56 meters deep that are located in the area ranging from Nishinomiya to the boundary one kilometer from the coast of Kobe is the well-known Miya Water which is also strong water. Almost all the famous yellow rice wine breweries are concentrated in this area. Nihioniya is known as the "capital city of wine' ,and is the sister city of Shaoxing, the Chinese capital of yellow rice wine. Seminars are often held between the two cities to promote the development of the two types of wine.



Share to:

LET'S GET IN TOUCH

We will contact you immediately

Fill in more information so that we can get in touch with you faster

Privacy statement: Your privacy is very important to Us. Our company promises not to disclose your personal information to any external company with out your explicit permission.

Send