Nuoyan Wine Bar

Top choice in Beijing


Move aside, Merlot, it's mǐjiǔ time! Try something new at this rustic tavern specialising in Chinese wine made from glutinous rice (米酒; mǐjiǔ), a delicately sweet tipple that's the same potency as sherry. There's no English menu, but you'll be given a tot of several types (rose, plum, osmanthus, aged etc) from which to choose a bottle (380ml, ¥150 to ¥220).

Wine is served with complimentary tea to cleanse the palate, and you can nibble on Chinese-style bar snacks such as addictively salty fried lima beans (蚕豆; cándòu).

Nuoyan is actually a brand of rice wine, founded in Beijing in 2014. Unlike traditional wine-making, the process of making rice wine is more akin to brewing beer. The bar is inside the People's Art Printing House compound (人民美术印刷厂; rénmín měishù yìnshuā chǎng), up in the northwest corner.

You can also book rice-wine tastings in advance (with or without lunch/dinner ¥300/200) using a form on the website.


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