TTWC credits lichee trees for medal-winning wine

The three 300-year-old lichee trees in Nantou City have been credited for helping the government-owned Taiwan Tobacco and Wine Co (TTWC) win a gold medal in a recent world wine contest in Geneva.

Wang Wu-hsien (王武憲), director of TTWC's Nantou Brewery, said yesterday that the brewery's lichee wine has won the top honor in the fruit wine competition at the Geneva World Wine Festival.

"It was the third consecutive year that our lichee wine has captured the title in the event," Wang said, adding that the honor recognizes the brewery's technology and product quality.

Nantou Brewery is the TTWC's only facility producing fruit wine. Its brandy and red wine have commanded decent shares on the world market. Its lichee wines have also been well received. The brewery's lichee wine exports are more than 10 times greater than domestic sales.

Wang also attributed the honor, in part, to the fine quality of Nantou's lichee crops.

Wang said three 300-year-old lichee trees in Nantou City's Fushan borough are the source of the species planted in the area.

The three trees, nicknamed "Kings of Lichees," stand about 15m tall.

Nantou City Mayor Lee Chao-ching (李朝卿) said Chinese immigrants brought 13 lichee seedlings to Nantou more than 300 years ago, but only three of the seedlings have survived.

Lee said the city and the Nantou Brewery will co-sponsor a "Salute to the Old Lichee Trees" road race in the near future.