wine making in China is mainly located in the north, especially in Ningxia.
If you think of China as a country that produces only rice wine, it’s time to expand your horizons. Although the main wine-making regions are located in the north, primarily in Ningxia, winemaking has been taking place on Chinese soil since the Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD).
There were two attempts by the French to introduce and develop the tradition of viniculture in China. The first attempt was between 1892 and 1895 during the Qing Dynasty, resulting in little success. However, this second attempt was carried out between 1919 and 1949 during the Republic of China period with much more success. The vineyards grew from less than 2,000 hectares (4,940 acres) to more than 10,000 hectares (24,711 acres), making China one of the world’s largest wine producers at that time.
Ningxia is home to some of the most famous wineries in China.
A few miles outside of Urumqi, the capital of China’s Ningxia region, sits a small village in the outskirts of which is found a small winery called “Wine City”. It’s a charming place to visit, with rows and rows of wine barrels that show off their vintage. A sprawling tasting area is spread about the place, where you can sit down with your friends and try one after the other. Around 50 different wines are available at Wine City, though most people stick to the ones from Dehua County. The variety isn’t overly overwhelming—they’re all smooth but not too sweet—but it’s a nice feature for those who are looking for something different on their next night out.
Ningxia’s first winery was founded in 1930.
You won’t find many wineries older than Chateau Changyu Moser XV. The first winery in China, it is situated in Ningxia, a region known for its wine history. The winery was founded in 1930 and its first vintage was a Bordeaux-style blend made of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Gernischt and Petit Verdot grapes.
Today the winery continues to make the same Bordeaux-style blend, called “Moser XV,” although there are new versions released yearly under the label “Great Wall.” In addition to these two wines, Chateau Changyu Moser XV produces several other reds from a mixture of local grapes—Ningxia’s signature grape Marselan is included as well as Cabernet Gernischt—and international varieties. The vineyard also has a small wine museum on site showcasing its long history of production.
The largest region for winemaking is Ningxia’s Yinchuan district, where over 600 hectares of grapevines grow.
Ningxia is the most important wine region in China, and its largest winemaking district is Yinchuan, where over 600 hectares of grapevines grow. The region has a desert climate with an irrigation system that comes from the Yellow River. The main grapes used for winemaking are Cabernet Gernischt, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
Chinese white wines are mainly made from grapes grown in Ningxia.
Chinese white wines are mainly made from grapes grown in Ningxia. This region produces mostly white grapes, such as Chardonnay, Riesling and Pinot Noir. The Helan Mountain range in the region protects the vines from extreme weather conditions and intense UV rays. Grapes are also grown in Xinjiang, Hebei, Yunnan and Shandong Provinces.
Wine making resources and info about wine regions in China
China may be the world’s largest market for imported wines, but it is also the fifth largest producer of these beverages, too. With annual production of 1.9 million hectoliters (around 2.5 million U.S. standard wine bottles), China ranks in the top 10 countries for wine production, alongside Spain and ahead of Portugal and Australia. As one might expect from a country as large as China, there’s a great deal of variation in terms of quality and quantity across its different winemaking regions—though that doesn’t mean you can’t find plenty to smile about if you know where to look!
Two main wine-growing regions have emerged as leaders in Chinese viticulture: Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Shandong Province. While both make primarily white wines (mainly Chardonnay or aromatic Riesling), their reds are increasing in popularity among international consumers due to the favorable climate and high altitude vineyards they leverage to cultivate such grapes as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.