Ch. 33 – China Flashcards

1
Q

Most planted grape in China

A

Cabernet Sauvignon

followed by Merlot and Carmenere (Cabernet Gernischt)

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2
Q

Local name for Carmenere

A

Cabernet Gernischt

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3
Q

Key developments in the history of wine in China

A

late 19th century - Zhang Bishi

  • imported around 150 v. vinifera varietied to China
  • founded Changyu winery in Yantai
  • due to political events, wine industry did not develop till 20th century

1980s

  • Government partnered with French government and Remy Martin to create Sino-French winery in Huailai
  • Dynasty label
  • Pernod Ricard joint venture - Dragon Seal brand
  • LVMH’s Chandon sparkling wine in Ningxia
  • Anti-extravagance measures negatively affected wine business in China

1990s
- government encourages wine industry to replace cereal-based spirits (health and shortage of grains)

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4
Q

% of vineyard area devoted to wine production (estimate)

A

10%

the rest goes into table grapes and raisins

  • higher profits
  • fruits as premium gift
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5
Q

Anti-extravagance measures

A

Ban of gifting wine to government officials

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6
Q

Climate

A

Nearly all regions marked continental climate

  • very cold and arid winters
  • vines have to be burried as early as November
  • Heavy summer rains

Regions can have very different climates

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7
Q

Reason to bury vines over winter

When?

Problems

A

Against winter freeze

Vines underground retain more water

Typically done in November and dug out again in March-April

Needs advances manual labour skills

Adds 20-30% of production costs

Parts can be mechanized but never entirely

Availability of labour is issue

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8
Q

Heilongjian and Jilin regions

A

far north east

Extreme winter cold (winter burrial essential)

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9
Q

Beijing and Hebei regions

A

Coastal regions
- humid continental climate
- warm humid summers and cold winters
- torrential rain in August and September
(however low rainfall 200-300mm per year)

Cool Pacific breezes moderate the warm temperatures and reduce humidity levels
- still enough to make fungal diseases challenge

Older vineyards - flat land - poor drainage and fertile soils
- high yields, poor quality

Newer vineyards on better sites

Vines close to coast do not need to be burried (saving cost)

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10
Q

Largest challenges in Beijing and Hebei

A

excessive short term rain

humidity

over-rich soils

winter freeze (inland)

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11
Q

Shandong

A

East coast

Warm maritime climate

  • wetter
  • rain during harvest (August-September)
  • rot is constant problem
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12
Q

Shanxi and Shaanxi

A

inland, central regions

Dry continental climate (less than 500mm)
- humid in south (fungal diseases)

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13
Q

Ningxia

A

Inland, arid continetal climate (200mm)

  • monsoon rains
  • very windy (evapotranspiration)
  • irrigaiton water from Yellow river

Best area is in Helan Shan (Helan Mountains) region
- mountains protect from the worst of north-west dessert winds

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14
Q

Xinjiang and Gansu

A

Extremely dry (only 80mm in many areas)

  • winter snow as early as October
  • short growing season
  • very windy
  • Frost is a problem
  • High altitude in south (1,100m) - frost in Autumn as well
  • availability of water from snow enables high volume production

Gansu is slightly cooler

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15
Q

Yunnan

A
far south
Sub-tropical humid climate
 - vineyards on slopes (1600-2900m)
 - foothills of Himalayas
       - moderate temperatures and reducing humidity
 - Long frost-free season
 - vines do not need to be burried
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16
Q

Phylloxera

A

thought not to be present

17
Q

Vine training

A
Traditional 
 - Multi Cordon Fan system
    - multiple cordons from low trunk 
    - popular in table grape industry
 - Single Dragon system
    - single trunk at slight angle as spur-pruned cordon
both designed for high yields
do not have single fruiting zone (uneven ripening)

Modern

  • spur-pruned Chang shaped system
    • trunk in bended form allowing for easier burrial
    • unified fruiting zone
18
Q

Vineyard management (except training)

A

Dense canopies

Excessive use of irrigation and fertilization

leaf roll virus

relative lack of viticultural training

lack of good quality planting material

19
Q

Government influence in viticulture

A

Government owns all land

Determine all agricultural practises

  • making site specific changes is difficult
  • viticultural advisors do not necessarily have power to affect what is happening in vineyards
20
Q

Indigenous vine species

A

v. amurensis
- resistant to cold
- unusual aromas

21
Q

Winemaking

A

model of Bordeaux

Premium

  • prolonged maturation (18 months) in barriques
  • standards have significantly improved
  • reduction of technical faults

Riper tannins due to better canopy management and more attention to picking dates.

Very small amount of white wine (Chardonnay, Riesling)

22
Q

Wine law and regulations

A

all wine is treated as food product

  • declare product 100% fermented grape juice with indication of alcohol strenght
  • production date and shelf life indication

BUT Continues to be taxed as industrial product
- adding 10% to the price

23
Q

Wine business

A

Domestic market continues to grow
- 70% in the last decade

Low consumption per capita (1.5L)
- but 5th largest consumer of wine in the world

Market dominated by

  • Changyu, Great Wall, Dynasty
  • bulk operations
  • many rely on blending with imported wine (because of diffucult local production)
  • Common wide portfolio (including foreign acquisitions)

Importance of online sales

Fraud of French, Australian and Chinese wine

Most of the wine is consumed domestically

24
Q

Notable producers

A

Grace Vineyard (Shanxi)

Silver Heights (Ningxia)

Ao Yun (Yunnan)