A French partner in 1980
Dynasty was born in 1980, at the very start of China's opening to the world, as a joint venture between the city of Tianjin's grape garden and the French Cognac house Rémy Martin. It was the first Sino-foreign joint venture in Tianjin and one of the earliest in China, and the first foreign partnership to produce wine in the country on a large scale. The French side brought equipment and winemaking know-how; the Chinese side brought land and facilities.
A household name
Dynasty quickly became one of China's best-known wine brands, alongside Changyu and Great Wall, and its wines were found in supermarkets and restaurants across the country. Its range has included dry and medium-dry whites, reds, sparkling wines and brandy, and in its early years it won medals at international competitions, starting with a gold in Leipzig in 1984.
Why it matters
Dynasty is a symbol of the first chapter of modern Chinese wine: a time when the country learned from French partners and built the mass-market brands that introduced millions of people to grape wine.