Ningxia

Ningxia Province is located in the northwest of China, about 1000 kilometers west of Beijing. In 1984, Wang Fengyu, an official of the Ministry of Agriculture in Yinchuan, planted the first grapevines in his private garden here. The region quickly developed into the most dynamic and leading region for high-quality wines in China. Located at the foot of the Helan Mountains, the region benefits from mineralogically diverse rock formations like those found in the famous Napa Valley. The climate is continental, with temperatures ranging from up to 35 ºC in summer to minus 27 ºC in winter.

The vineyards are located at an altitude of up to 1200 meters above sea level and are characterized by intense sunshine during the day and much cooler nights. To protect the vines from the extreme cold in winter, they are covered with 20 to 30 centimeters of soil from October to April. The average life expectancy of the vines is 25 years. The yield is low, but the grapes are all the more concentrated. Chardonnay, Riesling and Viognier are the predominantly cultivated white wine grape varieties. Red wine is mainly grown in the form of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Marselan, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Syrah. In 2003, the sub-region "Helan Mountain" was awarded the first protected appellation in China.