China Flashcards
Describe some key points in China’s wine history
- Only really began in 1980s when People’s Republic opened to international development
- Only 10% of vineyards for wine production (rest table grapes)
- Hit hard by ‘anti-extravagance’ measures (no more gifting to government officials)
What are the climatic factors almost all wine growing regions have to deal with?
- Marked continental climate
- Very cold winter -> burying of vines
- Heavy summer rains
Heilongjian and Jilin
Describe the climate and influence on grape growing
- Far north-east
- Extremely cold winters -> burial of vines essential
Beijing and Hebei
Describe the climate, climatic influences, and their influence on grape growing
- Coastal region
- Humid continental climate
- Low rainfall (200-300mm)
- Breezes from Pacific provide cooling influence and reduce humidity
- Still fungal diseases a problem
- Closer to the ocean, vines do not need to be buried, but challenge with rain, humidity, and over-rich soils
Shandong
Describe the climate and influence on grape growing
- East coast
- Warm maritime
- High rainfall, esp. at harvest -> rot is a problem
Shanxi and Shaanxi
Describe the climate and rainfall
- Inland with dry continental climate
- Low rainfall (< 500 mm)
Ningxia
Describe the climate, rainfall, and other climatic influences
- Arid continental climate
- Very low rainfall (200 mm) with monsoon rains
- Very windy -> even more dryness
- -> irrigation is essential
Xinjiang and Gansu
Describe the climate, rainfall, and other climatic influences
- North-west, very warm
- Extremely dry (only 80 mm)
- -> Low risk of fungal diseases
- -> melted snow from mountains for irrigation
- Very short growing season (already snow in October)
- Very windy conditions
- Frost is a problem
- -> high volume production
Yunnan
Describe the climte and location of vineyards
- Far south, sub-tropical humid climate
- Slopes at high altitude (1,600-2,900 m), incl. in the foothills of the Himalayas
- -> moderate temps and reduced humidity
- -> Vines do not have to be buried
What are the two general types of vineyards? How are vines typically trained?
- Traditionally run vineyards
- Ungrafted vines (phylloxera not present)
- Multi Cordon Fan system (popular for table grapes) or Single Dragon system (single trunk, spur-pruned cordon)
- Both lead to high yields and uneven ripening
- Modern vineyards developed by international, especially French, investors
- Spur-pruned Chang shaped system (bended trunk for easier burial)
- -> unified fruiting zone
What factors lead to poor fruit quality?
- Dense canopies
- Extensive use of irrigation
- Excessive use of fertilisation
What are problems with diseases, varieties, and viticulture?
- Leaf roll virus leads to under ripe fruit
- Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère are prone to green flavors if not fully ripe
- Lack of viticultural understanding
- Lack of good quality planting material
Why is it difficult to make changes to vineyards?
- Government owns all land
- Changes rarely possible without sanctions
What vineyard practice adds significantly to costs and what are other problems with it?
- Vines are typically buried in November and dug out again in March-April
- Requires advanced labor and adds to costs (20-30%)
- Esp. labor is difficult to find: younger generations do not want to do the hard work and older generations ask for higher pay
What are the six most grown varieties (incl. %)?
- Cabernet Sauvignon (70%)
- Carmenère (9%)
- Merlot (8%)
- Cabernet Franc
- Chardonnay
- Riesling
