CHINESE WINE REGION
Ningxia
The grape harvest
At the foot of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia, the first grape harvest begins in August.
At six o'clock in the morning, the sunbeams in the vineyard shine like honey, bathing the farm in idyllic golden hues. On the vines, the grapes hang low, as if the weight of their ripe bounty is too much to bear. Throughout the gardens, the harvesters are already hard at work – grapes in one hand, a sharp blade in the other, rapidly filling the baskets at their feet with a smooth and rhythmic motion. Behind them, the majestic, snow-covered peaks of the Helan Mountains rise up to meet the heavens.
A poem of glorious vineyards
For the Chinese people, the Helan Mountains are more than just a geological location – they are a rich symbol of devotion to family and nation, a long and uninterrupted link from the past to the present. Witness to ancient battles and lofty passions, these mountains have borne the pride, generosity and tragedy of countless poets and heroes who have captured their devotion, piety and passion in time-honored verses. Now, these mountains are writing a new poem for China with their glorious vineyards.
The expanding foothills of the Helan Mountains on the world stage
Looking down from the peaks of the Helan Mountains, it is impossible to count the seemingly infinite rows of vines that extend throughout their foothills, especially on the eastern side. Situated at around 37°-39° north latitude, the vineyards share the same 38°N agricultural belt as the Bordeaux wine region in France and Napa Valley in the United States, widely considered one of the wine industry's golden regions for premium wine grapes. The Ningxia region is considered to be in its infancy, as its vineyards recognized for producing top-of-class wines date back only to the early 2000s. Approximately 200 wineries currently operate in the region, managing more than 570,000 mu (around 380mm square meters) of vineyards, which equates to approximately a quarter of China's total plantings.
Premium wineries
The Ningxia regional body's wine classification program draws its inspiration from the Bordeaux classification system. These ratings are reassessed on a biannual basis, which helps to establish a benchmark for wineries who have strong ambitions about their wine production. As of September 2021, Ningxia has ranked 57 premium wineries across different tiers of classifications, including 9 Grade Two, 15 Grade Three, 18 Grade Four and 15 Grade Five wineries.
Premium wineries
Attractive destination for foreign investors
In addition to local premium wineries, Ningxia is an attractive destination for foreign investors. For example, in 2012 the world-renowned luxury group LVMH invested RMB175mm in Ningxia to establish Domaine Chandon, which specializes in making premium sparkling wines for cold climates. Many other well-known local and overseas boutique wineries have also established locations in this region, including Helan Qingxue, Silver Heights, Kanaan and more.
The vibrant terroir
Every aspect of a region's terroir – the air, wind, soil, humidity, sunlight, climate, and so on – plays a role in the wine it produces. Since the Ice Age, the Helan Mountains have experienced four rounds of glacial advances and tectonic shifts, accumulating layers of sands, gravel deposits and ancient soils with each round. This has formed an alluvial plain on the eastern side of the mountains, expanding over 200 kilometers and scattered with limestone, quartzite, moraine conglomerate and other precious rocks. The stone there contains silicon and calcium, minerals that are essential for growing grapes.
The grape varieties
Ningxia's terroir is an excellent complement for Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. The wines these grapes produce are deep purple-red in color and silky in texture, with subtle and soft tannins, rich aromas featuring notes of flowers and dark fruit, a perfect body, and an aftertaste that lingers pleasingly on the palate. The process for creating each wine is as complex as preparing an exquisite Chinese dish, seeking an overall balanced flavor that preserves the unique characteristics of its ingredients.
The grape varieties
Cabernet Sauvignon grapes in Ningxia
While Cabernet Sauvignon grapes take center stage in Ningxia's red wines, Chardonnay grapes star as the region's primary white wine, whilst several other emerging varieties such as Marselan, Saperavi and Syrah are now being more widely planted across the region. The complex interplay between grape varieties, soil and climate conditions has established Ningxia as a diverse and progressive region that is leading the charge into a new frontier of Chinese wine production.
