When asked about the most famous delicacies in Longyou, a county in Quzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, natives would most likely say Lingshan's tofu or Miaoxia's wine.

Rice wine made in Miaoxia village is quite popular among surrounding villagers, who often present the wine as a gift to friends and family.

Every household in the village makes rice wine, and all villagers have mastered the art of winemaking.

Xu Xielan, aged 72, is one of the best winemakers in Miaoxia. She manages the Xu Family Rice Wine Store.

Xu said that although she has run the store for only 10 years, she has been making rice wine for more than 50 years.

Miaoxia wine is also known as "New Year wine", as the New Year arrives just when the wine is ready for drinking, as local villagers usually make it around the 10th day of the 10th lunar month.

At eight o'clock, Xu starts washing her soaked glutinous rice, then steams and sprays it, puts a lid on it, and covers the lid with straw to keep it warm. She will then wait for seven or eight days, after which she will have a vat of clear, fragrant rice wine.

Xu said that although high quality glutinous rice is the most essential ingredient of rice wine, water is also very important.

Miaoxia natives believe that authentic Miaoxia wine can only be made with spring water flowing from the local Houbei Mountain.

"People can savor the sweet taste of high quality rice wine and not feel even remotely thirsty after drinking it," said Xu, adding that spring water is what creates the sweet taste.

There is a saying in China that good wine needs no bush. Although Miaoxia is a remote village, many tourists from Hangzhou and Shanghai visit the village every year during winemaking season.