Of course it’s Moutai
We say that Moutai is China’s well-deserved national liquor, not just because of its long history, unique craftsmanship, and outstanding quality. At the same time, Maotai's special contribution to the Chinese revolution cannot be compared with any other product. Based on this, Moutai was named the national liquor as soon as New China was founded. Like Jinggangshan, Zunyi, and Yan'an, they nurtured the Chinese revolution. They are the cradle, famous cities, and holy places of the Chinese revolution. China, led by the Communist Party of China, will give them special honors and will forever cherish their contribution to the revolution. Contributions are engraved on the monuments of history.
Moutai, the history of red highlights began with the arduous 25,000-mile Long March of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army. On March 16, 1935, the Red Army captured Maotai. In order to protect the famous Maotai liquor production workshops from losses, the Political Department of the Military Commission posted notices on the doors of Chengyi, Ronghe and Hengxing distilleries, which produce the most Maotai liquor in Maotai Town: "National industry and commerce should be encouraged to develop. The scope of our military protection. The Moutai wine produced by private enterprises is of good quality and won the gold medal in the International Panama Competition in one fell swoop. All equipment such as altars, wine pots, wine bottles, etc. must be protected and not damaged. We hope that all officers and soldiers of our army will strictly follow this notice.” From this notice, we can see that the Red Army attaches great importance to national industry and well-known products.
In order to welcome the Red Army, local people poured out Maotai liquor. Many senior leaders of the Red Army at that time knew that Moutai was good. Red Army engineer company commander Wang Yuenan recalled that he and Mao Zedong's guard Chen Fengchang came back from buying wine from a wine shop and happened to run into Comrade Mao Zedong. Mao Zedong asked, what did you mention? Chen Fengchang replied that he bought wine to drive away fatigue and wipe his legs. Mao Zedong said with a smile: "Maotai is a place famous for its wine, but it would be a pity to wipe your feet with this wine!" Zhou Enlai also introduced to many comrades, "This is Maotai, which won the gold medal at the Panama International Exposition"!
However, for the Red Army at that time, Moutai’s ability to restore fatigue and heal diseases was unforgettable. According to Li Zhen, the first female general of our army who participated in the Long March, later recalled: "In March 1935, we went on the Long March to Maotai Town, Renhuai County, Guizhou Province. Due to the long distance and fatigue and the temporary escape from the pursuit and interception of Chiang Kai-shek's army, everyone hoped to relax At that time, I heard that the local wine was good and fragrant, and everyone was very happy. Some people used the wine to rub their hands and feet, and after wiping it, it really had the effect of relaxing the muscles and activating the blood. The fatigue of the long march has completely disappeared, and the comrades who suffered from diarrhea due to the wind and cold have recovered after drinking wine."
The famous writer Cheng Fangwu wrote in his "Memoirs of the Long March": "Due to the emergency of the military situation. , I didn’t dare to drink too much, and it was mainly used to wipe my feet and recover from the fatigue of walking. Everyone praised Moutai for its miraculous effect.”
At the end of the Anti-Japanese War, Zhou Enlai once treated the writer Yao Xueyin in Chongqing. Said: "In 1935, when we arrived at Maotai during the Long March, the local people brought Maotai wine to welcome us. The soldiers used Maotai wine to clean the wounds on their feet and legs. It relieves pain and reduces inflammation. Drinking it can treat diarrhea, which temporarily solved our lack of medical care at that time. The victory of the Red Army’s Long March was also due to Maotai liquor.” As soon as Guizhou was liberated at the end of 1949, the central government called and demanded that the Guizhou Provincial Committee and Renhuai County Committee implement the party correctly. Industrial and commercial policies, protect the production equipment of Moutai Distillery, and continue production. In accordance with the instructions of the central government, Guizhou Province has provided strong economic support to Chengyi, Ronghe, and Hengxing houses to help them develop. His bosses were also given political treatment and were given positions in the people's government. In 1951, Guizhou Province acquired the largest Shaofang in Chengyi and merged the other two Shaofangs to establish the state-owned Maotai Distillery. The government immediately transferred capable cadres and invested a lot of money to expand the scale of production. Maotai liquor began a prosperous history.
In October 1949, on the eve of the founding ceremony of the People’s Republic of China, Maotai liquor entered Huairen Hall in Zhongnanhai, and the founding fathers of the Republic of China congratulated each other.
According to China News Service: The first banquet of the founding of the People's Republic of China was held at the Beijing Hotel on the night of the founding ceremony. From the selection of chefs to the menu and wine products, all were personally approved by Zhou Enlai. The main wine was Maotai. As the country's fortunes flourished, so did its national wine. Moutai, which healed the wounds of the Red Army, finally became the "founding wine" of the Republic of China.
Although Moutai made a special contribution to the Chinese revolution, its transformation from being revered as the "first wine of the founding of the country" to China's "national wine" two years later was only in the national wine evaluation meeting. Commented on it.
In September 1952, the first national wine tasting meeting in China’s history was held in Beijing. Premier Zhou Enlai not only approved the holding of wine tasting meetings, but also repeatedly warned that they should be carefully organized and strictly controlled to evaluate good wines. The wine tasting event was hosted by the China Monopoly Industry Corporation. Tens of thousands of wine samples were sent from all over the country. Before the official wine tasting meeting, 103 wine samples had been selected for tasting. After careful evaluation by brewing experts, wine evaluation experts and scholars from all over the country, China's eight famous wines were finally selected and named. Moutai ranked first and has naturally become China's national wine. In a sense, this selection is not only a recognition of history, but also a recognition of the people. Moutai is well-deserved to be named the national liquor!
Since then, Moutai, as the national wine, has not only become the highest-standard, noble state banquet wine and diplomatic etiquette wine, but also a precious and high-quality product among Chinese people. At the same time, the party and the state also attach great importance to the production and quality assurance of Moutai. Even during the Cultural Revolution, Premier Zhou Enlai, who was seriously ill, still emphasized that "the water of the Maotai River is not allowed to be polluted."
In October 1999, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China, the Chinese History Museum collected a bottle of 50-year-old Moutai and issued a collection certificate to the Moutai Distillery: "Hereby Maotai liquor is respected as the national liquor due to its century-old relationship and excellent quality with the Republic of China. It is also known as the "No. 1 liquor of the founding of the People's Republic of China" that has been stored in the cellar for 50 years as a gift to Beijing on the 50th anniversary of the Republic of China. Historical testimony and cultural symbol. Now our museum accepts the donation of Kweichow Moutai 50-year-old liquor and keeps it in its permanent collection.”
This collection certificate clearly affirms the red color of Moutai liquor and the Chinese revolution. Love, special contribution, outstanding quality, and the noble and lofty status of Moutai as the national liquor.