Gyeongnam's First 'Eutteum Sul' Contest Held, Sweet Persimmon Wine Wins Inaugural Title

The 1st Gyeongnam Suldoga Traditional Euddeumju Selection Contest

A fruit wine brewed with dan-gam was selected as the first-place winner at Gyeongnam’s inaugural ‘Eutteum Ju’ competition.

Gyeongsangnam-do announced on the 19th that ‘Malgeunnaeil WINERY Dan-gam Myeongjak,’ submitted by the agricultural corporation Upo-ui Achim, was selected as the ‘Best Eutteum Ju’ in all categories at the ‘2023 1st Gyeongnam Sul-doga Traditional Eutteum Ju Selection Competition.’

Gyeongnam Province launched this competition for the first time this year to boost the production motivation of local traditional liquor producers, discover and nurture local traditional liquors to improve quality, and activate traditional liquor consumption.

The competition selected the top Eutteum Ju and the best Eutteum Ju in four categories: Takju, Yakju/Cheongju, fruit wine, and distilled liquor, all produced and sold within the province using domestic ingredients as the main raw materials.

The award-winning works selected as the top traditional liquors at the 1st Gyeongnam Suldoga Traditional Eutteumju Selection Contest in 2023 are on display.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

According to the province, Dan-gam Myeongjak, chosen as the best in the fruit wine category and overall best Eutteum Ju, is a white wine-style fruit wine made by crushing and fermenting dan-gam produced in Changnyeong in its whole form.

Judges, including experts and the general public, evaluated Dan-gam Myeongjak by saying, “It was made by crushing dan-gam whose sugar content was increased through freezing and thawing processes, maximizing the aroma and taste of dan-gam.”

▲ In the Takju category, the top Eutteum Ju was ‘Miryang Takju’ by Miryang Classic Sul-doga ▲ In the Yakju/Cheongju category, ‘Daedam 15’ by the Agricultural Cooperative Daebatgoeul ▲ In the distilled liquor category, ‘Miryang 40’ by the agricultural corporation Red Apple Farm were selected.

Miryang Takju received certification for liquor quality from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and was evaluated as hygienically and systematically produced with excellent aroma and taste.

Daedam 15 was praised for its excellent balance of color, aroma, and taste by adding bamboo leaves rich in flavonoids and aging for 90 days.

Miryang 40 was fermented from Miryang Eoreumgol apples, distilled using a low-pressure pot still, and aged in oak barrels, receiving high marks for balance and maturity.

A total of 28 traditional liquors were submitted to this competition, including 7 Takju products, 8 Yakju/Cheongju products, 4 fruit wines, 6 distilled liquors, and 3 liqueurs, undergoing document screening, expert evaluation, and public assessment.

The selection of Eutteum Ju was conducted by combining 60% expert evaluation and 40% public evaluation scores, adding a 10% bonus for liquor quality certification, selecting the highest-scoring product in each category, and then choosing the overall best Eutteum Ju among them.

The province plans to award plaques to the Eutteum Ju winners and exhibit the winning products at the Gyeongnam Farmers’ Day event on November 13.

Products selected as Eutteum Ju will be used as toast drinks at official provincial events and promoted through sales events and consumer campaigns.

Jung Yeon-sang, Director of the Agricultural Policy Bureau, said, “Through this competition, various excellent traditional liquors brewed mainly from agricultural products produced locally, which are safe and have good taste and flavor, were discovered. We will continue to promote and nurture Gyeongnam’s high-quality traditional liquors so that they can be competitive in the market.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.