Hang Chu Wine - a specialty of the highlands of Bac Yen

At the end of the year, we had the opportunity to visit Hang Chu, a peaceful and unique highland commune of Bac Yen district (Son La). This place is not only attractive because of its majestic mountain scenery and fresh air, but also because of a special product with its own unique flavor of the Bac Yen highlands. That is Hang Chu wine, a type of wine produced by the Mong people in Hang Chu commune and this wine is completely handmade.

Hang Chu wine - a specialty of the highlands of Bac Yen district, Son La province.
Photo: Nguyen Vinh

Confiding in us, Mr. Giang A Tua, Standing Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Hang Chu Commune, Bac Yen District (Son La), said: "In the past, Hang Chu wine was only distilled on special occasions such as holidays, Tet, ... to worship ancestors as well as to welcome distinguished guests. And this wine is also combined with some herbs to be used as medicine to treat bone and joint diseases, insomnia, neck and shoulder pain...".

Hang Chu wine is distilled according to the traditional method of the Mong people. The raw material used is a type of upland rice called "Mo rice", grown by the people in Hang Chu commune. Before distilling, people clean the rice, incubate the rice to sprout, then cook it in a double boiler for 4-5 hours until the rice is evenly cooked. After that, it is cooled and fermented with forest leaf yeast according to a traditional recipe for at least 20 days before being distilled. Hang Chu wine is used after 1 year, put into jars and buried underground. The spicy, slightly sweet taste of the wine blends with the faint aroma to create an unforgettable experience for the drinker. On chilly afternoons, sitting around the fire, enjoying Hang Chu wine and listening to the people share about life and customs, we can feel more deeply the warmth of human love in the highlands.

Hang Chu wine is produced from upland rice grains of the people in the Hang Chu highlands, Bac Yen district (Son La). Photo: Nguyen Vinh

Mr. Tua added: "Hang Chu wine has a very long tradition. To preserve the beauty of traditional wine, the commune has also promoted to the people and wine distilleries to select quality input materials, and to do a good job of making wine to ensure quality before supplying it to the market and consumers. From there, we will preserve and develop the traditional craft of Hang Chu wine, creating a stable source of income for the people, contributing to hunger eradication and poverty reduction."

The development of Hang Chu wine production not only creates a stable source of income for local people but also contributes to creating jobs in the locality. Households can take advantage of available raw materials, combined with traditional production techniques to create high-quality products, meeting market demand. In addition, building a brand for Hang Chu wine, registering geographical indications and connecting with consumption channels inside and outside the district will expand economic development opportunities.

People in Hang Chu commune, Bac Yen district (Son La) distill wine using traditional methods. Photo: Nguyen Vinh

Identifying tourism development as one of the key tasks, the Party Committee of Bac Yen district has issued a Project on tourism development in Bac Yen district for the period 2021 - 2025 with the goal of creating a destination image and tourism brand with its own characteristics of Bac Yen district; developing Bac Yen tourism in the direction of green and sustainable tourism associated with preserving and promoting traditional cultural values. Bac Yen district has directed Hang Chu commune to develop a plan, create a brand and label for Hang Chu wine.

"Hang Chu Wine has also built members to form wine-making teams and groups. Recently, with the attention of the province and the district, training classes have been opened to create the Hang Chu wine brand, to be recognized, to avoid the situation of fake and poor quality wine being sold on the market. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the District Party Committee and the 60th anniversary of the founding of Bac Yen district, Hang Chu wine was announced by the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Science and Technology and awarded the Certificate of Trademark Registration", Mr. Tua added.

At the end of the year, people in Hang Chu commune, Bac Yen district (Son La) make wine to celebrate the traditional Mong New Year. Photo: M.Lau

In the coming time, to increase the added value of Hang Chu wine products, Bac Yen district will continue to promote support measures to develop the Hang Chu wine production profession in a sustainable manner, associated with the goals of economic development and poverty reduction. To do that, Bac Yen district needs to encourage people to participate in cooperatives, in order to focus on production, control quality, and increase product competitiveness; support people to access new technology, helping to improve production efficiency, ensure food hygiene and safety, and minimize environmental impacts; organize seminars, specialty fairs, or build e-commerce platforms to introduce and bring Hang Chu wine products to markets inside and outside the province; invest in building tours to explore the Hang Chu wine village, allowing visitors to experience the wine-making process, thereby creating added value from tourism.

According to: trangtraiviet.danviet.vn