Chinese red wine producing regions are moving towards the world through exchange and mutual learning. Special article: From Helan Mountains to Bordeaux, Ningxia | Wine | China

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 8th (Xinhua) - From Helan Mountain to Bordeaux, Chinese red wine producing regions are moving towards the world through exchange and mutual learning

Xinhua News Agency reporter Ai Fumei, Zhang Baihui, and Shang Xu

Brice Lambert, a Frenchman involved in promoting Chinese and French wine, said that tasting Ningxia wine reminds people of Bordeaux, but what is more obvious is the unique flavor created by the unique terroir here.

"Many winemakers in Ningxia have studied in France and brought a Bordeaux style to wine, but the climate, soil, sunlight, and other conditions are different, so the final presentation is also different. I think these wines are really great!" said Lambert.

As a young wine producing region in China, the eastern foothills of Helan in Ningxia strive to bring major wine countries such as France into their "circle of friends", cooperate through communication, innovate through cooperation, and in just forty years, become a typical representative of Chinese local wine and go global.

benchmarking

"The wine production area of the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain in Ningxia is located between 37 degrees and 39 degrees north latitude. There is abundant sunshine, low annual precipitation, large temperature differences in different seasons, and low air humidity, which gives Ningxia wine a typical Eastern style, sweet, smooth, and balanced taste. Surprisingly, the taste of Helan Mountain wine in Ningxia and its international awards are described in an article recently published by a journalist from the American Business Insider website.".

In many wineries on the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain, the brands of the top tier wineries are always prominently displayed.

"For foreign consumers and distributors, as long as the introduction is about a certain level of winery, they will have a preliminary understanding," said Hua Min, the general manager of Poly Li Jia Winery Co., Ltd.

Ningxia is the only wine producing region in China that has learned from the experience of France and implemented a winery classification management system. Since 2014, there have been multiple evaluations conducted here, and currently there are 9 second tier wineries and 15 third tier wineries.

Although the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain are recognized as one of the golden areas for wine grape production in the industry, for a long time, the most beautiful gifts of nature have been locked in the "deep boudoir".

In 2011, Ningxia chose the wine industry as a breakthrough point. In order to better integrate into the world wine industry system, Ningxia has carried out exchanges and cooperation with many countries, and has made France, the wine kingdom, the "initial choice".

The introduction of world-renowned wine grape varieties from France, the introduction of renowned winemakers from France and other countries to serve in Ningxia, and the attraction of French enterprises to establish bases and wineries in Ningxia, as well as the implementation of graded winery evaluation management methods... "French elements" can be seen everywhere here.

Zhang Yanzhi, who studied wine making in Bordeaux, France and established the Xige Winery in Ningxia, said that learning from the development experience of world-renowned wine producing regions such as France has solidified the foundation of the eastern foothills of Helan and enabled this region to rise rapidly.

As of now, the total planting area of wine grapes in Ningxia has exceeded 500000 acres, with an annual production of 138 million bottles of wine. In top international competitions such as Brussels and Paris, wines from Ningxia have won thousands of awards.

In 2011, Lambert and his wife were authorized by the French Wine Review to establish and distribute the Chinese version of the magazine, and regularly organize blind wine tasting competitions. In 2018, the couple, together with Chinese and French wine lovers, initiated the establishment of the Ningxia Lamborghini Wine Culture Foundation with the aim of promoting Chinese wine culture.

"I haven't been to China for over 3 years and I can't wait to go back to Ningxia to taste some New Year's wine that I don't know," said Lambert.

exchange

In early summer, when the grape leaves in the vineyard near Gezishan in Qingtongxia City, Ningxia were verdant, Nicolas Grima arrived from France as promised.

This sixth generation descendant of the Bordeaux wine industry family in France, after exploring many world-renowned production areas, focused his attention on the thousands of acres of Gobi Desert backed by the Helan Mountains and irrigated by the Yellow River, and together with his Chinese partners, founded the Wangyue Stone Winery.

"Our first wine won an award, and I believe that in the next 5 years, as the grape trees grow, we will produce exceptional and high-quality wines," said Grima.

Invited by Grima, Chilean winemaker Maria Ponce arrived at the Moonstone Winery in 2021 and took root here, participating in the entire process of planting and brewing. In her spare time, she will visit other wineries in the production area and exchange ideas with Chinese winemakers.

In recent years, many foreign winemakers have traveled thousands of miles to Ningxia, and at the same time, a group of Ningxia people have traveled across the ocean to learn grape cultivation and brewing techniques. This "two-way exchange mechanism" has effectively improved the cultivation and management of wine grapes and the level of wine making technology in Ningxia.

Huamin told reporters that over the past decade, Poly Li Jia Group has dispatched multiple growers and winemakers to Ningxia, accumulating rich experience in localized planting and brewing, and cultivating local teams.

"Our Cabernet Sauvignon dry red has participated in many high-level international wine blind tasting competitions and always ranks in the top three, gaining recognition and love from everyone," he said.

Going to sea

Ningxia wine people have always maintained a clear understanding: learning is not equivalent to copying, we must fully tap into the unique local conditions of the eastern foothills of Helan, establish our own industrial system, and conquer the taste buds of consumers at home and abroad with the flavor of the East.

According to Zhang Yanzhi, the cultivation techniques and field management of wine grapes in Ningxia have distinct regional characteristics, such as burying grape vines in winter, expanding them in spring, and pruning them in a "factory" shape, which facilitates the grapes to absorb nutrients, receive light and ventilation, and mature evenly.

In the brewing process, Ningxia continuously promotes technological innovation. Some wineries install "respirators" on oak barrels to promote wine ripening by expelling carbon dioxide, while others use automatic temperature control equipment to achieve precise control of temperature, humidity, and light, improving wine quality.

Wei Xiaodong runs a Chinese red wine store in Paris and started selling a red wine from Ningxia a year and a half ago. "This wine is closer to Bordeaux red wine, but has a slightly sweet taste. The French agree with it, and some repeat customers buy it in a box."

Chen Xianni, International Affairs Director of Xige Winery, also found that the international market's enthusiasm for Chinese wine is increasing. This girl from Burgundy, France used to mainly promote French wine to China, but now she is promoting Ningxia wine to the world.

"Nowadays, many international customers come to us proactively because Chinese wine has high quality and can bring them a fresh experience," said Chen Xianni.