In Shaoxing of Zhejiang Province, after a daughter was born, her parents would brew wine with polished glutinous rice and refined malt. After the wine was made, they would store the wine in several jars and ask skillful painters to paint or carve on the jars designs of hills, waters, flowers, birds, pavilions, towers, buildings or the “Immortal of Longevity” and white cranes. After that, the jars would be stored in the cellar.
When the daughter’s wedding came, the wine would be used as a special dowry gift. At the wedding banquet, the bridegroom’s family would use the wine, which was especially fragrant and mellow once unsealed, to entertain the guests. This custom can also be found in the Daba Mountain area in the south of Shanxi Province. There is a very unique Chinese wine called “Nu’er Hong” (literally red girl’s wine—女儿红nǚ ér hón?) is famous for the emotion it contains. It is just the wine brewed for the daughters in the ancient time.