Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Shaoxing wine trips people up because it is alcoholic, which means some stores shelve it well away from the rest of the Chinese ingredients.
Which aisle is Shaoxing wine in?
Shaoxing wine is usually in the world food aisle, in the Chinese cooking section near the soy sauce and oyster sauce. Because it contains alcohol, some supermarkets instead keep it in the beer, wine and spirits aisle, shelved with the cooking sherry, due to licensing rules on where alcohol can sit.
Where to look, supermarket by supermarket
Work through these in order, since the split between the two aisles varies by chain and even by branch.
- World food aisle, Chinese section. Bottled next to soy sauce, oyster sauce and rice vinegar. This is the more common spot.
- Alcohol aisle, with cooking wines and sherry. Some chains file it here instead, since it is classed as an alcoholic product.
- Behind the counter or age restricted till. A small number of stores keep it near the checkout with other alcohol due to age verification rules.
If the world food aisle draws a blank, the alcohol aisle is the next place to look before assuming the store does not stock it.
Where Shaoxing wine is in Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s stocks Shaoxing wine, usually under the Pagoda brand, in the world food aisle alongside the other Chinese cooking sauces in larger stores. Smaller Local branches are less likely to carry it at all, since it needs an alcohol licence to sell.
How to find the exact aisle in your store
Use the supermarket’s app to check whether a specific branch stocks it before travelling, since not every store carries an alcoholic cooking wine, and the aisle it sits in varies more than most ingredients.
Shaoxing wine vs dry sherry vs rice vinegar
| Ingredient | What it is | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Shaoxing wine | Fermented Chinese rice wine, alcoholic | Marinades, stir fries, braises |
| Dry sherry | Fortified Spanish wine, alcoholic | The closest common substitute |
| Rice vinegar | Non alcoholic, acidic | A different ingredient entirely, not a swap |
Do not confuse Shaoxing wine with rice vinegar. The names sound similar but one is alcoholic wine and the other is a sharp, non alcoholic vinegar, and they are not interchangeable.
What to ask a member of staff
Say Shaoxing wine or Chinese cooking wine, and mention it is alcoholic if they are checking the drinks aisle. Staff not familiar with the ingredient sometimes assume you mean rice vinegar, so being specific helps.
Asian supermarkets
A Chinese grocer carries a wider range of Shaoxing wine, often at a lower price than the single supermarket brand, and staff are used to the request.
Buying Shaoxing wine online
Shaoxing wine keeps for a long time once opened, so a bottle bought online is a reasonable option if your local stores do not stock it. Check the seller has an alcohol licence, since some online grocers cannot ship alcoholic products to every postcode.
Storing it
Keep the bottle in a cool cupboard, tightly capped. Like other cooking wines, it keeps for a long time once opened, since the alcohol and salt content help preserve it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shaoxing wine the same as rice wine?
Shaoxing wine is a specific style of Chinese rice wine, named after the city it comes from. Other rice wines exist, but Shaoxing is the one most UK recipes mean by default.
Do I need ID to buy Shaoxing wine?
You may be asked for ID at the till if you look under 25, the same as buying any other alcoholic product in the UK, since Shaoxing wine is classed as an alcoholic drink.
Can I use dry sherry instead?
Yes, dry sherry is the standard substitute and works well in most marinades and stir fries. It is not identical, but it gets close enough for everyday cooking.
Is there a non alcoholic Shaoxing wine?
A small amount of alcohol usually remains even in products labelled cooking wine, since it is not fully removed. If you need to avoid alcohol entirely, use the substitute options rather than an alcohol free version.
Shop this
Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
- Shaoxing wine. A store cupboard bottle for marinades and stir fries.
