“离开15.03平方公里核心产区就产不出茅台酒。”
流经茅台镇的赤水河，正是赋予茅台酒独特风味的关键密码。
赤水河——“美酒河”
赤水河发源于云南乌蒙山北麓，蜿蜒流经436公里后汇入长江。因其独特的生态环境，这条河被誉为“美酒河”。
The Chishui River originates from the northern part of the Wumeng Mountains in Yunnan province, meandering for 436 kilometers before flowing into the Yangtze River. Due to its unique ecological environment, the river is often referred to as the "River of Fine Liquor".
赤水河两岸层峦叠嶂，茅台镇位于两岸山脉交汇的河谷地带。独特的地理条件使这里年均气温保持在18℃以上，湿度维持在70%-75%，为微生物的繁衍生长提供了得天独厚的环境。
The riverbanks of Chishui are lined with steep, rugged mountains, and Maotai Town is located in a valley at the junction of these mountain ranges. The area's distinctive geographic features ensure an average annual temperature above 18 degrees Celsius and humidity levels between 70 and 75 percent, creating an ideal environment for microorganisms.
赤水河的水质微甜爽口、酸碱适度，河谷沿岸土壤多为黄壤类型，生长于此的红缨子糯高粱颗粒小、耐蒸煮、糯性高，能够承受“九次蒸煮、八次发酵、七次取酒”的复杂酿造工艺，是茅台酒醇香细腻的根源。
The water of the Chishui River is slightly sweet, refreshing, and balanced in acidity and alkalinity, while the soil along its banks is mainly yellow. The locally grown red sorghum is fine-grained, highly glutinous, and resistant to boiling, making it well-suited to endure the intricate brewing process of "nine rounds of steaming, eight rounds of fermentation, and seven rounds of distillation". This complex process is the foundation of Moutai liquor's smooth and delicate flavor.
茅台酒的独特风味和卓越品质，离不开赤水河这片青山绿水。
“中国茅台·国之栋梁”生态守护公益行动
2025年2月17日至18日，主题为“水润万物生，生态守护行”的2025“中国茅台·国之栋梁”生态守护公益行动拉开帷幕。
作为赤水河流域最大的白酒生产企业，茅台秉承“水更清、山更绿、天更蓝，也使酒更香”的理念，将生态保护视为企业责任的重要部分。茅台每年捐赠5000万元设立赤水河流域生态保护基金，累计投入超4亿元，支持生态修复、植树造林和水资源保护等项目，推动赤水河全链条生态保护。
As the largest liquor producer in the Chishui River basin, Moutai considering ecological protection as an important part of its corporate social responsibility. Moutai donates 50 million yuan ($6.86 million) annually to the Chishui River Ecological Protection Fund. Its total investment exceeds 400 million yuan and supports projects such as ecological restoration, reforestation, and water resource conservation, promoting comprehensive ecological protection across the Chishui River.
此次为期两天的系列活动汇聚了政府部门、专家学者、公益组织及社会各界力量，共同探讨赤水河的生态保护与可持续发展路径，展示了茅台在推动环境保护和绿色发展方面的实际行动与显著成果。
水润万物生，生态守护行
17日，来自环境生态、社会经济等领域的专家学者围绕“赤水河的生态保护与可持续发展”展开深入讨论，探讨如何提升生态环境质量和资源利用效率。
活动伊始，与会嘉宾参观了“守护赤水河”主题展览，以“一条河的生态之路”和一个企业的厚德担当为核心，生动展现了茅台在水资源保护、绿色产业链建设等方面的努力与成效。
茅台集团党委书记、董事长张德芹表示：“茅台的根在赤水河，得益于这片得天独厚、资源禀赋的自然生态，茅台从几十人的酿酒作坊，发展成为今天‘世界蒸馏酒第一品牌’。茅台人不忘来时之路，常怀感恩之心，始终坚守‘顺天敬人、明理厚德’的企业核心价值观，持续践行守护‘母亲河’的使命与责任，以实际行动诠释茅台人对赤水河‘母亲河’的感恩和深情。”
Zhang Deqin, secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of Moutai Group, delivered a speech in which he said: "Moutai's roots are deeply tied to the Chishui River. Thanks to the unique and resource-rich natural environment of this region, Moutai has evolved from a small distillery with just a few people to become the 'world's leading distilled liquor brand' today. The people of Moutai never forget their origins and always maintain a heart of gratitude. We remain committed to our core corporate values of 'Following nature, respecting people, valuing wisdom, fostering virtue' and continuously fulfill our mission and responsibility to protect the Mother River. Through our actions, we demonstrate Moutai's deep appreciation and affection for the Chishui River, our Mother River."
随后中国工程院院士王金南以及中国科学院院士桂建芳分别作主旨发言。王金南表示建设赤水河要践行绿水青山就是金山银山理念，形成绿色发展，加强三省协同推进生态保护和高质量发展，探索生态产品价值实现路径。桂建芳总结了长江生态保护经验，强调不仅是保护赤水河的生态，更是保护周边的山水林田湖草等生命共同体。
茅台集团党委副书记、总经理王莉分享了“茅台样本”，指出通过引领产区保护、推动产业绿色发展和聚焦产品生态价值，推动赤水河生态保护与可持续发展。
最后，围绕“赤水河保护与可持续发展”主题，茅台集团代表与多位学者展开访谈，并从城镇建设、流域治理、社会公益等多个方面，就当前及未来赤水河的生态保护提出了多项建议。
“中国茅台·国之栋梁”生态守护公益行动启动仪式
18日，2025“中国茅台·国之栋梁”生态守护公益活动正式启动。
启动仪式在一支环保公益宣传片中拉开帷幕，展现了护林员、巡河员和科研人员默默守护生态的故事。
On Tuesday, the "China's Moutai: Pillar of the Nation" Ecological Charity Initiative was officially launched. The opening ceremony began with a public service video highlighting the efforts of forest rangers, river patrols, and researchers in safeguarding the ecosystem.
茅台集团党委书记、董事长张德芹通过视频向云贵川三地赤水河守护者致敬，他表示，我们怀着感恩的心态，感恩赤水河为3省14县人民带来福祉，我们希望通过这样的活动把赤水河建设得更加美丽清澈，福泽子孙万代，希望通过我们的努力，让这里的水更清，山更绿，天更蓝，酒更香，人更美。
Zhang paid tribute to the ecological guardians of the Chishui River across Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces via a video message. He said: "With deep gratitude, we thank the Chishui River for its blessings to the people in 14 counties across three provinces. Through the initiative，we aim to make the Chishui River even more beautiful and pristine — with clearer water, greener mountains, bluer skies, more fragrant liquor, and better living for all."
随后，茅台集团向10名优秀巡河员和护林员颁发荣誉证书，并对受助学子代表颁发励学证书，鼓励他们用知识回馈社会，为生态保护贡献力量。
同时，贵州茅台公益基金会理事长卓玛才让与三地茅台酒经销商会长签署了赤水河流域生态环境保护合作备忘录，承诺将在生态修复、环境治理等方面展开深入合作，推动流域绿色发展。
赤水河的生命传递
随着2025年生态守护公益行动的正式启动，现场举行了一场极具象征意义的生态接力仪式。
科研人员、巡河员、高粱种植户和酿酒工匠依次接力传递赤水河水样，象征着赤水河对产业链的滋养以及各行各业对母亲河的守护。最终，企业代表和政府领导共同倒入水样到象征希望的树苗中，寓意赤水河的生态之美将在各方努力下生生不息。
与此同时，无人机在植树现场盘旋，并拉出 “守护赤水生态，共建绿色家园” 的横幅，现场气氛达到高潮。茅台集团的员工、环保志愿者们随后共同开展义务植树与巡河活动，让绿色承诺变为现实行动。
践行ESG理念，共创绿色未来
茅台集团始终秉持“顺天敬人，明理厚德”的核心价值观，将ESG理念深植于企业发展中，推动可持续的绿色未来。在此次生态公益行动中，茅台不仅深刻认识并践行了环境保护的责任，意识到良好生态环境对茅台酒酿造的重要性，还秉持“价值共创”理念，与各界携手合作，推动社会共同享有绿色发展的成果。未来，茅台将继续承担生态保护责任，以赤水河为生态标杆，与所有合作伙伴共同建设人与自然和谐共生的美好家园，拓宽绿色发展之路，生生不息。