Pingtung Distillery Introduction
The Pingtung Distillery, originally established in the city of Pingtung, relocated to its current site in the Neipu Industrial Zone in 1988. The distillery's history can be traced back to 1898 during the Japanese colonial period with the establishment of the Taiwan Governor-General’s Monopoly Bureau, which marked the beginning of the monopoly system for tobacco and alcohol in Taiwan. After various mergers and changes over the years, it became officially independent as the Pingtung Distillery in 1946. The distillery specializes in the production of rice wine and is the highest producer of rice wine among all units of the Monopoly Bureau. Notably, the distillery's Da Wu Chun has won the Gold Medal at the International Wine and Spirit Competition for three consecutive years from 1998 to 2000, thanks to its carefully selected ingredients and water quality, produced using a liquid fermentation process. As a distillery that focuses on alcohol production and has received numerous accolades for its quality, the Pingtung Distillery has gradually transformed into a tourism-oriented distillery under government initiatives promoting industrial tourism, showcasing a new appearance inside and out. Starting from the A-Hou Plaza, the area is lush with greenery and fragrant flowers, resembling a small park. The landscape design utilizing wine jars is the most striking highlight. At the exhibition and sales building, there is a special welcoming wall made entirely of stacked wine jars, with a few painted wine jars cleverly hidden within, providing a delightful design element. The sales center features several exhibition areas, including a display area for award-winning products from the Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation, a product sales area, and a craft exhibition area that frequently showcases various ceramic artworks and photographic pieces. Additionally, there is a Rice Wine Museum, which allows visitors to learn about the rice wine production process and discover various practical cooking methods for rice wine.
