Suzhou osmanthus winter brewing wine is a traditional seasonal wine of the winter solstice season in the Jiangnan region

Suzhou osmanthus winter brewing wine is a traditional seasonal wine brewed and sold around the winter solstice in the Suzhou area of Jiangsu, made with fermented glutinous rice wine as the base and infused with the fragrance of osmanthus. It goes on sale only for a short period around the winter solstice each year, and it is an indispensable cup on the winter solstice night for Suzhou locals. A local saying also circulates that if you do not drink winter brewing wine at the winter solstice, you will freeze all night; though said in jest, it shows just how much weight it carries in the festive customs.

In terms of flavor, winter brewing wine is a low-alcohol brewed wine, not high in alcohol content, mainly sweet on the palate, with the soft wine aroma of fermented glutinous rice and the light sweetness of osmanthus. The liquor color is mostly pale yellow or light gold, and a few grains of osmanthus often float in the cup; both its look and taste feel very seasonal, and it drinks mild and smooth.

The traditional method uses glutinous rice as the raw material; after soaking, steaming, and spreading to cool, it is mixed with wine starter and fermented into a base rice wine, then dried osmanthus harvested in autumn or sweet osmanthus paste is added to boost the fragrance, and after standing to clarify it becomes the finished product. Recipes and techniques vary slightly from maker to maker, some sweeter, some with a slightly stronger wine taste, but the rice aroma and osmanthus fragrance are always the shared foundation.

Because it is brewed in season and the sales period is very short, citizens often line up to buy it before the winter solstice each year; besides drinking it at home, it is also often used as a gift for relatives and friends. On winter solstice night, serving it at the table together with seasonal dishes such as braised meats and mutton is the sense of ritual by which many Suzhou families get through the winter.

One thing to note is that winter brewing wine is low in alcohol and relatively high in sugar; after opening it is best drunk as soon as possible, and unopened bottles should also be kept in a cool place or refrigerated to avoid turning sour after long storage. When buying, pay attention to the brewing date and choose a fresh batch for better flavor.