TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese rum won two gold medals at a prestigious international wine competition last week.
The 31st edition of the Vinalies Internationales concluded on Mar. 4, with 37 countries and over 2,600 alcoholic beverages participating, per CNA. On Mar. 6, the competition announced its winners, with Taiwan’s agricultural rums making history by securing two grand gold medals.
The Vinalies Internationales is organized by the French Union of Oenologists and is held in Cannes, France. It is one of the oldest and most prestigious wine competitions globally.
The two award-winning agricultural rums were developed and brewed jointly by Taiwan Sugar Research Institute (TSRI) and National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT).
In 2021, the TSRI signed a research project with NKUHT to develop rum from pure sugarcane juice. TSRI and university faculty and students cultivated the ROC24 sugarcane variety, renowned for its native wild cane DNA, on farmland of Taiwan Sugar Corporation's (Taisugar) Shanhua Sugar Factory in Tainan's Liuying District.
The two award-winning rums underwent a four-year aging process, resulting in a fresh sweetness and aromatic complexity from the sugarcane, with a refined and elegant taste. Taisugar Chairman Wu Ming-chang (吳明昌) said the awards mark a significant milestone in establishing Taiwan’s agricultural spirits industry on the global rum market.
Chen Chien-hao (陳千浩), an NKUHT professor, graduated from the University of Burgundy Department of Oenology in 1997. He was the first Taiwanese to obtain a French professional winemaking certification.
Chen told CNA that sugarcane was first introduced to Taiwan 400 years ago by the Dutch, who aimed to establish the island as an Asia-Pacific operations hub. Over time, Taiwan’s sugar industry faced pricing challenges due to global competition, but by producing agricultural rum, Chen said Taiwan has created a rum that truly embodies the island’s unique terroir.
After sealing the double gold medal victory, Chen said, “Taking a path that no one has walked before is incredibly challenging and lonely." But after reflecting on this achievement, Chen said he realized that his team has paved a bright future for Taiwan’s agricultural rum.
Chen said that Taiwan, often called the "Kingdom of Fruit," has greatly benefited from the liberalization of the brewing industry 20 years ago. With strong government support and active participation from the private sector, local producers have gradually developed island-inspired local spirits using brewing techniques that meet international standards, giving Taiwan a significant advantage, said Chen.
