All styles
China learned wine with French grapes, is finding its identity in Marselan, and hides in its northern forests a wild vine that exists nowhere else. Meet the grapes, family by family.
China's signatures
The classics
赤霞珠
RED
Cabernet Sauvignon
China's most planted red grape and the backbone of its best reds
美乐
RED
Merlot
The soft partner of Cabernet in China's Bordeaux-style blends
霞多丽
WHITE
Chardonnay
China's leading white grape, for still and sparkling wines
雷司令
WHITE
Riesling
A German classic that pioneers are proving can thrive in China
Other reds
品丽珠
RED
Cabernet Franc
The fragrant Bordeaux grape that adds freshness and perfume to China's finest blends
黑比诺
RED
Pinot Noir
Burgundy's great red grape, finding a cool corner of China in the Hexi Corridor
西拉
RED
Syrah
The spicy Rhône grape that adds depth to China's most ambitious reds
小味儿多
RED
Petit Verdot
Bordeaux's late-ripening spice grape, finding the sun it needs in Ningxia
沙布拉维
RED
Saperavi
Georgia's red-fleshed grape, making gold-medal wine in the oasis of Turpan
Other whites
Ancient and heritage
Native to the north-east
Beyond China
Other grapes
酱香
WHITE
Sauce Aroma
The savoury, endlessly long style of Moutai
元红酒
AMBER
Yuanhong
The classic dry Shaoxing wine
浓香
WHITE
Strong Aroma
China's best-selling baijiu style, born in Sichuan's mud pits
加饭酒
AMBER
Jiafan
'Added rice': the rich, semi-dry Shaoxing wine most people know
善酿酒
AMBER
Shanniang
Wine brewed with wine: Shaoxing's semi-sweet speciality
清香
WHITE
Light Aroma
Clean, floral and pure: the baijiu of Fenjiu and northern China
香雪酒
AMBER
Xiangxue
'Fragrant snow': the sweetest Shaoxing wine
青梅酒
OTHER
Green Plum Wine
Sweet, sour and young
米香
WHITE
Rice Aroma
Soft, honeyed baijiu from rice, the gentle style of southern China
花雕酒
AMBER
Huadiao
'Carved flowers': aged Shaoxing wine, named after its decorated jars
桂花酒
OTHER
Osmanthus Wine
The fragrance of autumn
凤香
WHITE
Feng Aroma
The phoenix style of Shaanxi, aged in woven 'wine seas'
兼香
WHITE
Mixed Aroma
Strong and sauce in the same glass
女儿红
AMBER
Nü'er hong
'Daughter red': the Shaoxing wine buried at a daughter's birth
芝麻香
WHITE
Sesame Aroma
A roasted-sesame note, discovered in Shandong
红曲酒
AMBER
Fujian Red Qu Wine
Ruby-red rice wine made with red yeast rice, the 'grandfather of Chinese wines'
药香
WHITE
Herbal Aroma
Dong aroma: a starter rich in herbs, from Zunyi in Guizhou
即墨老酒
AMBER
Jimo Laojiu
The dark, northern rice wine of Shandong, made from millet
酒酿
AMBER
Jiuniang
Sweet fermented rice, eaten with a spoon
特香
WHITE
Te Aroma
The 'special' rice-based style of Jiangxi
豉香
WHITE
Chi Aroma
The Cantonese style, aged with pork fat
老白干香
WHITE
Laobaigan Aroma
Old, white and dry: the powerful northern classic of Hebei
馥郁香
WHITE
Fuyu Aroma
Several styles in one sip, from the mountains of western Hunan
中国威士忌
OTHER
Chinese Whisky
The world's newest whisky country, from Mount Emei to the Yunnan highlands
中国金酒
OTHER
Chinese Gin
Juniper meets Sichuan pepper, Buddha's hand and lotus flower
白兰地
OTHER
Chinese Brandy
China's oldest Western-style spirit, with an international medal from 1915
拉格
GOLD
Chinese Lager
Light, crisp and everywhere
黑啤
GOLD
Dark Lager
The darker side of Chinese brewing
扎啤 / 生啤
GOLD
Draft Beer
Fresh from the tap, by the jug
精酿
GOLD
Craft Ales and IPAs
The new generation
本土风味精酿
GOLD
Beers with Chinese Ingredients
Tea, Sichuan pepper and osmanthus in the glass
古法啤酒
GOLD
Ancient Grain Beer
A recipe from 5,000 years ago
Grape explorer
Light to full body, soft to sharp acidity. Click a seal to meet the grape.
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