Wine making and alcohol production in China has a long history dating back to ancient times. These wines are generally made from either grapes or rice, with the popularity of each depending on the era. The record of wine making throughout Chinese history is defined mostly by unearthed documents from archaeological excavations as well as physical containers dated from antiquity.
Early Evidence of Wine
An excavation of the Yuchi temple in Mengcheng county located a number of drinking vessels for wine, dating to approximately 3000 BC. This identifies China as one of the oldest civilizations in the world to produce wine, a full thousand years before previously believed. It is believed that this method for wine making came across early trade and travel routes from Egypt and the Middle East.
Han Dynasty and Wine
The first recorded history of wine making in China comes from a historical record written from the Western Han Dynasty written by Si Maqian. The document dates from 138 BC and details the production of wine from grapes. A diplomat was sent to the western region by Emperor Han Wu Dia. He found that wine produced by grapes was the most popular alcoholic drink. He recorded the process and returned to the emperor.
Wine in the Tang Dynasty
Following the Han Dynasty, wine making was principally conducted using rice rather than grapes. During the Tang Dynasty, the emperor organized wine making facilities within the palace, which spread knowledge of the process to the people. However, this process was highly influenced by the lack of grapes throughout the plains area. Soon, wine began to be replaced by other alcoholic beverages.
Wine During the Yuan Dynasty
During the Yuan Dynasty, wine production is estimated to be the largest of ancient times. Grape production and the business was highly popular during the 4th to 8th centuries according to the unearthed document of TuLuFan. Religious processes became highly associated with the beverage throughout the period. The emperor and religious leaders mandated that wine be offered as a sacrifice in temples.
Chinese Wine in the Modern Era
Following colonization and trade from Europe, wine garnered a new success. During the late 1800s, wealthy Chinese citizens imported large volumes of fine French and Italian wines. Despite political unrest for the next decades, wine continued to have a prominent influence in the culture. Even after the establishment of the People's Republic of China, wine production continued unabated. Wine-producing facilities during the 1950s and 1960s. The industry ultimately was able to produce 200,000 to 400,000 tons of wine per year.
