On the Silk Road
Guofeng, officially Gansu Jiuliang Guofeng Wine, was founded in 2000 as a subsidiary of the Gansu Binhe food group. Its vineyards are around Zhangye, in the Hexi Corridor, the narrow strip of land between the Qilian Mountains and the Gobi that was the main Silk Road route between China and Central Asia.
The vineyards
The estate’s base at Banqiao, in Linze county, covers about 10,000 mu of light, sandy, well-drained soils, with long sunny days and wide differences between day and night temperatures. It is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Welschriesling. Irrigation comes from mountain meltwater rather than rain.
Recognition
Li Demei names Guofeng, with Mogao and Qilian, among the producers to know in the Hexi Corridor, a cool continental region where Pinot Noir and Welschriesling perform best. Its 3500 Desert Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 won a bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards.