Taking Baijiu Home for the Holidays: Locally-Made Beverages Worth Stashing in Your Suitcase

So, you're heading home for the holidays this month and want some local intoxicants for family and friends to try. Sharing is caring, they say, so here are three wine, beer, and baijiu options to help ensure your loved ones have a fun experience.

When it comes to wine, China has gone from laughingstock to contender over the past few years. Veteran Grace Vineyard in Shanxi has helped lead the charge and this year took bold steps by releasing its first wines made from Aglianico, Marselan, and Syrah grapes, a welcome move in a market overly focused on Cabernet. Even better, Grace released four kinds of sparkling wines, ones that would serve you well on New Year's Eve. The three entry-level bubblies are RMB 158 and include Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, and Chardonnay, with the latter a good bet. Spend a bit more – RMB 288 – and get the tasty reserve Chardonnay. These are available from Grace's Tmall store.

Shandong hasn't exactly wowed the wine world in recent years but Chateau Nine Peaks in Laixi is among the operations worthy of attention. The team there put its initial energy into carefully crafting vineyards rather than building an all-too-common Disney-esque chateau and it shows. The fruity, entry-level Cabernet is RMB 198, while those preferring more oak can grab a bottle of reserve at RMB 298. It’s available via Temple Restaurant Beijing's wine shop. TRB also stocks 1421, Helan Qing Xue, and several other Chinese brands.

Finally, this column recently covered seven better wineries in Ningxia, China's most promising region. If you only have space in your bags for one of those bottles, go with Kanaan, a small operation that makes a crisp, dry Riesling and a semi-sweet white blend, both priced from RMB 150. If red is your style, the “Pretty Pony” Cabernet-Merlot has earned praise at home and abroad, and ranks as one of China's must-try wines. Priced around RMB 288 at TRB and Pudao Wines.

While the local craft beer scene has grown by hops and bounds in recent years, bottled options by Beijing-based breweries are rare. Panda Brew is among the exceptions with products like its red honey ale, with a mild slightly sweet profile aimed at budding local tastes, and the stronger Kuding Pale Ale. Check NBeer Pub or Passby Bar for these.

Yunnan operation Shangri-la Brewing also started selling its bottled beers in Beijing this year via the CHEERS wine shop chain. The beers, with beautiful labels that serve as colorful tributes to the local culture, include Yalaso Lager, Tibetan Pale Ale, and a dark brew, and cost RMB 15 to RMB 22 per bottle.

And there is always the option of hauling a growler of your favorite local craft brew home. Jing-A is among the leading options in Beijing and will have a pair of imperial stouts out in December, including a collaboration with fellow local brewery Arrow Factory, a beverage that might be especially travel-worthy given it is likely to be flatter than most styles.

Then there is baijiu, long a favorite gift if only because one can subject friends to the hilarity of 58 percent alcohol firewater shots. If you want to go a bit further and actually provide a crash course in China's national spirit, grab a bottle each from these three key baijiu categories.

Sauce aroma baijius tend to be the stinkiest, with soy, yeast, and funky aromas, and are most typically associated with Moutai. While this brand can be pricey, a 500 ml bottle of the Prince" label is only RMB 89 on yesmywine.com. Strong aroma baijius tend to be fruitier and spicier, with Wuliangye, made with five grains, ranking among the country's most famous brands. Again, unless you want to drop some serious coin, check yesmywine.com for your options. Completing the trio are light aroma baijius, including the style known as erguotou, which is typically consumed in large quantities ganbei-style and has led many of us to loathe baijiu. Keep it local and grab a Beijing brand like Niulanshan – the green label with the bull – or Red Star, found almost anywhere.

Those three give you a who's who of baijiu and will allow your guests to compare and contrast. Better stick to sipping these spirits rather than slamming them as shots – your friends and family will thank you.

Jim Boyce is the founder of the nightlife blog beijingboyce.com and China wine blog grapewallofchina.com.

Photos: Jim Boyce