Yilan Winery Museum

Upon entering the Yilan Winery Museum, you will find yourself immersed in a nostalgic setting with a red brick wall stacked with large clay urns that are used to store wine. The distillery is Taiwan’s oldest winemaking facility and began to produce its famous line of rice wines in 1909.

As the years go by, the distillery now blends touches of old-age charm in a modern building, where many Japanese structures have been preserved and a significant number of historical materials for winemaking are being exhibited. When you step out of the distillery, expect to be impress by a myriad of art installations on the square such as the urn-shaped fountain as well as a chessboard with urns as the pieces. Local produce can also be found at the food market here, where products made with red yeast rice such as dried tofu, sausages and chicken feet are definitely not to be missed.

Instead of ordering your favorite pour from a bartender, why not taste beer straight from the source? Yilan Winery Museum offer visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the distilling process, as well as a chance to sample their thirst-quenching wares (free admission!). If you are looking to dodge the heat in the sweltering hot summer and are ready to crack open a cold one (or two, or three…), Yilan Winery Museum well merits a visit.