Question 1

Is Chinese wine any good?

Accepted Answer

The best of it is very good. In 2011 a red from Ningxia, Jia Bei Lan 2009 by Helan Qingxue, won an International Trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London, beating Bordeaux-style blends from around the world. Quality varies a lot, though: look for wines from a named estate and a named region.

Question 2

How long has China been making wine?

Accepted Answer

Much longer than most people think. Traces of a fermented drink made with rice, honey and fruit, found at Jiahu in central China, date back about 9,000 years. The European wine grape arrived along the Silk Road over 2,000 years ago, and China's first modern winery, Changyu, opened in 1892.

Question 3

Does China make a lot of wine?

Accepted Answer

China has one of the three largest vineyard areas in the world, although many of its grapes are grown for eating rather than for wine. Wine consumption inside China has been falling since 2018, which is pushing the best producers to look for markets abroad.

Question 4

What does Chinese wine taste like?

Accepted Answer

Most Chinese wine is dry and red. The best examples from Ningxia and Xinjiang combine ripe dark fruit from intense sunshine with freshness from cold nights and altitude. Many European tasters compare them to Bordeaux-style reds with a sunnier, fruit-forward personality.

Question 5

Is Chinese wine sweet?

Accepted Answer

Most quality Chinese wine is dry. Sweet wines exist, especially for the domestic market and as ice wine. On a label, look for 干 (gān), which means dry: 干红 is a dry red, 干白 a dry white.

Question 6

Does China make white wine?

Accepted Answer

Yes, though red dominates. The main white grapes are Chardonnay, Riesling, Welschriesling and Petit Manseng, which is emerging as one of China's most interesting whites. China also makes sparkling wine and ice wine.

Question 7

What is the best wine region in China?

Accepted Answer

Ningxia, at the foot of the Helan Mountains, is China's most acclaimed region and the only one with an official winery classification, created in 2013 on the Bordeaux model. Xinjiang, Yunnan, Shandong, Hebei, Gansu and Shanxi are the other key regions.

Question 8

What is China's signature grape?

Accepted Answer

Marselan. Created in France in 1961 by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, it arrived in China in 2001 and has spread across the country. Today China has more Marselan than any country except France, and many producers see it as China's future calling card.

Question 9

What is Cabernet Gernischt?

Accepted Answer

A grape that arrived in China with the first European vines in 1892 and was long thought to be a distinct variety. Modern DNA studies have linked it to Carmenère, an old Bordeaux grape. It is a speciality of Shandong, with a spicy, herbal character.

Question 10

Why do Chinese winemakers bury their vines?

Accepted Answer

Because in northern China winters are too cold for grapevines to survive: in Ningxia temperatures can fall to -25°C. Every autumn the vines are bent down and covered with earth, and every spring they are dug out again. It is labour-intensive and can account for up to 30% of a vineyard's yearly costs.

Question 11

What is the most famous Chinese wine?

Accepted Answer

Ao Yun, made by Moët Hennessy in the Himalayan foothills of Yunnan at over 2,200 metres, is China's most collectable wine. Long Dai, made by the Rothschilds of Château Lafite in Shandong, is another icon. Among family estates, Helan Qingxue, Silver Heights and Kanaan are among the best known.

Question 12

Is Chinese wine expensive?

Accepted Answer

Quality Chinese wine is rarely cheap: vine burial, desert irrigation, young estates and small volumes raise costs. Estate wines are priced like good wines from Bordeaux or Tuscany, while icons like Ao Yun are luxury wines. The best value is often among family estates.

Question 13

Where can I buy Chinese wine in Europe?

Accepted Answer

Mostly through specialist wine merchants and fine wine traders, with the UK currently leading. Our Wineries section shows which Chinese estates are available in Europe, and Wine Silk Road is building a curated selection: join the waitlist to be the first to know.

Question 14

How can I tell if a Chinese wine is a quality wine?

Accepted Answer

Check for a named estate (酒庄), a named region (产区) and a vintage (年份). Wines legally sold in Europe also carry a back label with the European importer. Be careful: the date printed on many Chinese labels is the bottling date, not the vintage.

Question 15

What food goes with Chinese wine?

Accepted Answer

Both Chinese and European food. Try Marselan with Peking duck or with pizza, a Ningxia Cabernet with lamb skewers or with a grilled steak, and an off-dry white with spicy Sichuan dishes. Our two pairing guides cover dozens of dishes.

Question 16

What does "ganbei" mean?

Accepted Answer

干杯 (gānbēi) is the Chinese toast and literally means "dry the cup": traditionally, you finish your glass. If your host says 随意 (suíyì), "as you like", a sip is enough.

Question 17

Is baijiu a wine?

Accepted Answer

No. Baijiu (白酒) is a strong spirit distilled from grains such as sorghum, usually around 40 to 60% alcohol. China's traditional fermented drink is rice wine, huangjiu (黄酒). Grape wine is called 葡萄酒 (pútáojiǔ).

Question 18

Can I visit wineries in China?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ningxia in particular has built its wine industry around tourism, and many estates welcome visitors. Autumn, during the harvest, is a wonderful time to go. See our Travel section for itineraries.

The basics

Regions and grapes

Buying and drinking

The basics

Is Chinese wine any good?+

How long has China been making wine?+

Does China make a lot of wine?+

What does Chinese wine taste like?+

Is Chinese wine sweet?+

Does China make white wine?+

Regions and grapes

What is the best wine region in China?+

What is China's signature grape?+

What is Cabernet Gernischt?+

Why do Chinese winemakers bury their vines?+

Buying and drinking

What is the most famous Chinese wine?+

Is Chinese wine expensive?+

Where can I buy Chinese wine in Europe?+

How can I tell if a Chinese wine is a quality wine?+

What food goes with Chinese wine?+

What does "ganbei" mean?+

Is baijiu a wine?+

Can I visit wineries in China?+