China Flashcards
China - Red Wine Producer
Cabernet Sauvignon (most planted by far), Merlot, Carmenere (Cabernet Gernischt)
*Chinese consider wine to be inherently red
*majority wines are red at all price levels
*dry, with or without oak influence (dependent on price), some off-dry and sweet
*small quantities of white, rose
China - History
late 19th century: Zhang Bishi imported 150 V. vinifera varieties to China
*founded Changyu winery in Yantai (Shandong Province)
*considered start of modern wine industry
*1990’s Chinese gov encourages focus on grapes to replace spirits: health + grain shortage
Sino-French Relations
1980s: People’s Republic opened to international development
*CITIC (gov. foreign investment arm) partners with French government and Remy-Martin
*create Sino-French winery in Huailai (near Beijing); wines sold under Dynasty label
*Pernod Ricard formed joint venture to create new Chinese brand now called Dragon Seal
*today: LVMH’s Chandon in Ningxia Province
Domestic Production
only 10% of vineyard area devoted to wine production
*majority = table grapes (fresh and dried)
*culture to give fruit as premium gift
rationalization under President Xi Jingping
*‘anti-extravagance’ measures
*wineries no longer rely on gifting product to government officials
*shift to targeting consumers
*difficult for recently (2010s) established regions (Ningxia); lost support from provincial government
Climate
continental with very cold and arid winters
*vines have to be buried as early of November to survive winter temps/arid conditions
*vines underground retain more water
*heavy summer rains (although total rainfall relatively low)
vast country = different climates
ex. 2,800 miles between Heilongjang in NE and Yunnan in S
Heilongjang Climate
far NE; extreme winter cold: must bury vines
Jilin Climate
far NE; extreme winter cold: must bury vines
Beijing and Hebei Climate
coastal: humid continental with warm, humid summers and cold winters (no need to bury vines = save cost)
*torrential rain in August/September
*overall rainfall low (200-300mm per year)
*cool Pacific breezes moderate warm temps and reduce humidity
*fungal disease constant challenge in summer
**older vineyards planted on flat land with poor drainage and fertile soils = excessive yields and poor fruit quality
**new vineyards on better sites
problems = excessive short term rain + humidity + over-rich soils
Shandong Climate
coastal; warm maritime
*high level of precipitation; rainfall in August/September before/during harvest
*rot = persistent problem
Shanxi and Shaanxi
inland, central regions
*dry, continental
*less than 500 mm annual rainfall
*higher humidity in Shaanxi (farther south) = risk of fungal disease
Ningxia
inland, arid, continental climate
*200 mm annual rainfall with monsoon rains
*very windy (exacerbates dryness)
*must irrigate (water from Yellow River)
Helan Shan (Helan Mountains) region: best
*mountains protect from NW desert winds
Xinjiang
far NW; extremely dry (80 mm rain)
*winter snows arrive beginning of October = short growing season
*very windy
*frost in spring and early autumn (vines at high altitudes (1,100 m +)
dry conditions + availability of water from melting snow from the Tian Shan (Heavenly Mountain) range + very warm climate = high volume production
Gansu
very dry, short growing season, slightly cooler than Xinjiang
Yunnan
far south; sub-tropical humid climate
*vineyards on slopes at high altitude (1,600-2,900m); foothills of Himalayas
*creates moderate temps and reduces humidity
*long, frost-free season
*inland but vines do not have to be buried
Vineyard Management - Traditional
ungrafted vines (no phylloxera) trained as
1. Multi Cordon Fan system
*multiple cordons grown from very low trunk
*popular in table grape industry
2. Single Dragon system
*single trunk at slight angle as spur-pruned cordon
designed to carry high yields and lack single fruiting zone = uneven ripening
**dense canopies, extensive use of irrigation, excessive use of fertilization = poor fruit quality
**leaf roll virus
Cab Sauv and Carmenere = popular
*prone to green flavors if not ripe
**lack of viticultural training
**lack of good quality plant material
Vineyard Management - French Influence
spur-pruned Chang shaped system
*trunk trained at bend to allow for easier burial
*ensures unified fruiting zone
Government Agriculture
government owns all land: government officials determine agricultural practices
*site-specific changes very difficult without official sanction from provincial or local government’s agricultural unit
*independent viticultural advisors with little power to make changes (ex. changing training system)
Vine Burial
buried in November, dug out in March/April
*requires skilled manual labor
*adds significantly to cost of production (20-30%)
*availability of labor = issue; older generation of vineyard workers not being replaced by younger generation willing to work vineyards; youth urbanizing
*labour expense = older generation asking for higher pay for specialized skill
**particular problem close to Beijing (Huailai): other employment opportunities close by
Grape Varieties
90% of production for table grapes/raisins
indigenous species: V. amurensis (named after Amur Valley in Liaoning Province)
*resistant to cold
*similar to American hybrids = unusual aromas
top varieties:
1. Cab Sauv
2. Carmenere
3. Merlot
4. Cab Franc
5. Chardonnay
6. Riesling
Winemaking
winemaking standards improved significantly in last decade (reduction of technical faults: Brett or excessive volatile acidity)
model = Bordeaux
*18 months French oak barriques
riper tannins than in past due to better canopy management and picking dates
quality potential: top international award for Cab Sauv blend
Wine Law
wine treated as food product
*only legal requirements
1. declare product 100% fermented grape juice
2. indicate alcohol strength
3. list production date
4. include shelf-life indicators
wine taxed as industrial product, rather than agricultural: adds 10% to price
Wine Business
affluent middle class: domestic consumption and imports
*market grew +70% 2007-2017
*5th largest consumer of wine in world (per capita still very low: 1.5 L per capita compared to 12 L USA and 20-60 L Europe)
*nearly all Chinese wine consumed domestically
Large Companies
- Changyu
- Great Wall (owned by gov: COFCO)
- Dynasty
*bulk; blended with imported wine
*diversifying with premium/super-premium (COFCO’s Chateau Junding)
*acquisition of foreign wineries (title impact on domestic consumption)
Small Wineries
Grace Vineyard (Shanxi)
Silver Heights (Ningxia)
Ao Yun (Yunnan)
Online Sales
TMall and Alibaba: large investment in online drinks retail
Fraud
counterfeit bottles = problem
*top French, Australian, Chinese wines
Licensing for sales
fluid: wine can purchased at any time of day in retail locations and in hospitality sector
