30. China

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

• Recently -> important producer of red wine
  o Principally from CS, Merlot, Carmenère
• CS -> most planted
• Nearly all grape-growing regions -> marked continental climate
  o Very cold + arid winters -> vines have to be buried
  o Heavy summer rains also affect most regions
• High-volume (inexp) -> small (premium)
• Model for winemaking -> Bordeaux red wine

Question 2

Heilongjiang and Jilin (in the far NE)

Answer 2

Subject to extreme winter cold -> winter burial of vines is essential

Question 3

Beijing and Hebei (on E coast)

Answer 3

o Humid continental climate -> often, torrential rain at harvest
o Vines planted closest to the ocean -> no need to be buried

Question 4

Shandong (on E coast)

Answer 4

Warm maritime climate -> considerably wetter, rains at harvest

Question 5

Shanxi and Shaanxi (inland, central regions)

Answer 5

Dry continental climate -> low annual rainfall, less than 500 mm

Question 6

Ningxia (well inland)

Answer 6

o Arid continental climate -> monsoon rains
o Very windy conditions -> exacerbating the dryness

Question 7

Xinjiang and Gansu (in far NW)

Answer 7

o Extremely dry climate -> only 80 mm of rain / year
o Xinjiang -> also suffers from very windy conditions
o Gansu -> very dry, shorter growing season, cooler than Xinjiang

Question 8

Yunnan (in far S)

Answer 8

Subtropical humid climate -> vines on slopes at high altitude
-> 1,600-2,900 m -> including in the foothills of the Himalayas