China Flashcards
Popular wines in China?
Almost all red
Cabernet Sauvignon dominant
Merlot + Carmenere (aka Cabernet Gernischt)
All price points
History of wine in China?
Late 19th Century, Zhang Bishi brought Vitis Vinifera - Changyu winery
1980s - expansion of wine production
Foreign wine companies in China?
Remy Martin - winery in Huailai; Dynasty label
Pernod Ricard - joint venture; Dragon Seal
LVMH - Chandon sparkling wine operation in Ningxia
Climate in China:
Continental climate
Very cold, arid winters
Vines buried in November (survive temp, retain more water)
Regions in China?
Heilongjiang
Jilin
Beijing
Hebei
Shandong
Shanxi
Shaanxi
Ningxia
Xinjiang
Gansu
Yunnan
Describe Beijing and Hebei:
Humid continental climate
Warm summers, cold winters
Low rainfall except torrential rain in August/September
Describe Shandong:
Warm maritime climate
Higher rainfall
Rot
Describe Yunnan:
Sub-tropical humid climate
Long frost free season
Vines do not need buried
Describe Xinjiang and Gansu:
Extremely dry
Short growing season
Very windy
Frost
Vineyard management in China?
Phylloxera not found
Multi Cordon Fan system or Single Dragon system
Leaf roll virus
Dense canopies, excessive fertilization, and extensive irrigation leading to poor fruit quality
Buried vines = high labor
Government involvement in viticulture?
Government owns all land
Wine taxed as industrial product rather than agricultural - extra 10%
Government crackdown on gifting wine
Grapes in China?
90% for table grapes/raisins
Indigenous species - V.Amurensis - resistant to cold
Remainder is Cab/Merlot/Carmenere/etc
Winemaking in China?
Modeled after Bordeaux
Improved significantly in past decade - less faults
Chinese wine sales?
Online sales important
Fraud an issue
Very little exported
Market grew 70% in last decade
Three large companies that dominate the industry?
Changyu
Great Wall
Dynasty
All have bulk wine production as well as premium/super premium
