China to certify 16 ‘estate wine’ producers

Sixteen wineries from China’s Beijing, Hebei, Xinjiang and Ningxia provinces, believed to represent a higher quality of domestic wine production, are set to be certified as ‘estate wine’ producers.

Vineyards in Ningxia

The 16 wineries comprise four wineries from Xinjiang, including Tiansai Vineyards, five wineries from China’s premium wine region of Ningxia, four in Hebei province neighbouring Beijing, one winery from Shandong and Chateau Rongzi from Shanxi province.

The wineries were selected after going through a series of audits and tasting assessments by the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, as reported by Decanter China.

The trademark is expected to “protect the reputation of Chinese estate wine producers and overseas market”, said the association. The first batch of wineries are expected to be first approved next month.

In order to qualify as ‘estate wine’ producers, wineries are required to have full control of their vineyards, winemaking and bottling. The yield limit is 1,000kg grapes per mu, or around 94-115 hectolitres per hectare, according to the trade association, higher than the Bordeaux AOC’s 58 hectolitres per hectare.

Among other requirements, the wineries will also need to make at least 75 hectolitres of wines each year and vineyards must be of at least three years old.