China Flashcards by Elvis Lo

The Map of Chinese Wine Region

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What is the characteristic of Vitis Amurensis species

– a cold-resistant species
– also known as the mountain grape
– widely used in crossings with vinifera to breed varieties which can survive below -20 °C

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Examples of ‘Bei’ wine grape varieties

– Beichun北醇,
– Beihong北红,
– Beimei北玫

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the cold-resistant ‘Bei’ varieties were bred in Beijing in 1954 by crossing between:

‘Muscat humberg’ (V. vinifera) × (V. Amurensis)

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Carmenère in China

Cabernet Gernischt

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Four main wine regions of Xinjiang

– Yili River Valley
– Tianshan Mountain North
– Yanqi Basin
– Turpan

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The second largest desert in China

– Gurbantünggüt Desert
– Situated north of Tianshan Mountain North

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Bosten Lake

Situated in Yanqi Basin, one of the four main wine region in Xinjiang

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Which one has the least continental climate among all the wine regions in Xinjiang

Yili River Valley

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Two Georgian varieties growed in Xinjiang wine regions

Rkatsiteli and Saperavi
– heat-resistant grape varieties

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Countries with the world biggest vineyard planting

Spain 961,000 ha
France 797,000 ha
China 785,000 ha
Italy 719,000 ha
Turkey 431,000 ha
USA 405,000 ha

China — the world’s third largest vineyard area (after SPAIN and FRANCE), albeit mostly planted to TABLE GRAPES.

(Upto 2021 by Forbes)

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Native grape species in China

– Vitis amurensis (Liaoning province)
– Vitis thunbergii (Shandong and Jiangxi provinces)
– Vitis heyneana (Guangxi province)
– Vitis davidii (Jiangxi and Hunan provinces)

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When is modern wine history in China begin?

As recently as the late 19th century

But the industry remained highly unsophisticated until after 1978 when China opened again to the outside world.

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Name the oldest and largest winery in China

– Changyu winery
In Yantai, founded in 1892 by Zhang Bishi

– Zhang introduced Cabernet Sauvignon and over 100 vinifera varieties from Europe

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Name the China’s first ‘château-style’, wine estate

– Huadong Vineyard
In Qingdao, founded in 1985

– The first wine estate to plant and produce varietal and vintage-dated wines

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Name few Chinese family-own wineries and foreign-own wineries

Chinese family-owned wineries
– Silver Heights (Ningxia)
– Tiansai Skyline (Xinjiang)
– Longting (Shandong)

Foreign-own wine companies
– Helan Mountain (Ningxia)
– Domaine Chandon (Ningxia) and Ao Yun (Yunnan)
– Domaine de Long Dai (Shandong)

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The latitude of viticultural areas in China?

Most viticultural areas are in a band at latitude 33-40° N

There is one exception for Southern wine district which is located between 25°N and 30°N latitude
(Low-Latitude and High-Altitude wine regions)

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The region with the largest wine grape production in China

In Xinjiang (over 20% of vineyard area)

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Ice wine production area in China

– In North China (East) Wine District
For example, Liaoning province

– Mainly produced by Petit Manseng

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Overall climate pattern in China

Winters:
can be extremely arid and cold.

Summer and Autumn:
the monsoon rains bring high humidity resulting in fungal diseases and rot.

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Which area the European styles of vine training can be applied

European styles of vine training can be seen only where winter protection is unnecessary for vines.

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Primary water source in Xinjiang

– Tianshan snow-capped mountains
– Bosten Lake

Despite of the lowest natural rainfall (around 80 mm)

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Primary water source in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces

Mekong River

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Primary water source of Ningxia province

Yellow River

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Key aim of breeding new wine varieties

Cold-resistant species

Crossing of Marselan

Cabernet Sauvignon x Grenache – First planted in Hebei Province in 2001

The largest wine producing region in China

– Yantai, in Shandong province – contains over 140 wineries that produce 40% of Chinese wine.

Color of grape that China mostly produce

– Black varieties – account for over 80% of wine grape plantings – Cabernet Sauvignon the most

Characteristics of Marselan

Disease resistance, reliable yields, plentiful phenolics, deep color, fruity flavors, and sufficient body

Mountain grape

Vitis amurensis

Characteristics of Vitis amurensis

Due to its high acidity and bitterness, it is unsuitable for dry wines.

Beibinghong

a more balanced hybrid—red grape variety—crossing between Vitis amurensis and Vitis vinifera

Spine grape

Vitis davidii

Characteristics of Vitis davidii

– excellent resistance to high temperatures, humidity, and fungal diseases – suitable for growing in subtropical areas – But it lacks sugar and acid, unsuitable for wine production.

Pentagon-leafed grape

Vitis quinquangularis

Characteristics of Vitis quinquangularis

– with high tolerance for elevated temperatures, humidity, and fungal diseases – low in sugar content but high acidity and tannins

Rose Honey

A hybrid grape, mainly in Yunnan Province

Longyan

– known as “dragon’s eye” – the most famous vinifera variety in China – the signature grape for producing refreshing white wines (both still and sparkling), mainly in Hebei Province

Common fungal disease founded in China

Downy mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis bunch rot Grapevine white rot and Grape spot anthracnose

Issues of low temperatures combined with low humidity in China's viticulture

– leads to desiccation and eventually the death of the vines.

Official GIs designation in China

– Shacheng Pu Tao Jiu GI (Hebei province) – Huanren Bing Jiu GI (Liaoning province) – Helanshan Dong Lu Pu Tao Jiu GI (Ningxia province) – Yantai Pu Tao Jiu GI (Shandong province)

Three main wine-producing regions in the Northwestern Zone

– Ningxia—East Foothill of Helan Mountain appellation – Xinjiang wine reigons – Gansu—Hexi Corridor region

Desert in North China

– Gurbantünggüt Desert (north of Tianshan Mountain North) – Tengger Desert (north of Helan Mountain) – Gobi Desert (north of Loess plateau region)

The largest wine area/region in China

1. East Foothill of Helan Mountain (38,000 hectares) 2. Xinjiang region (33,500 hectares) 3. Yantai (19,500 hectares)

The most planted grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon among reds Chardonnay among whites

Issues of high salinity in soils

– elevated salt levels can hinder normal water and nutrient uptake Solution: Grafting vines onto rootstocks resistant to high salinity

Issues of naturally high potassium in soils

– results in elevated pH despite acid additions, leading to lower acidity in many Ningxia wines

The primary water source of Hexi Corridor

Qilian snow-capped mountains

The most esteemed subregion of Hexi Corridor

Wuwei, – lies directly beneath the Qilian Mountains, benefiting from a desert climate that minimizes fungal disease pressure while ensuring sufficient grape ripening.

Name a subregion within East Foothill of Helan Mountain appellation

Shizuishan, Jinshan, Zhenbeibu, Yuquanying, Qingtongxia, and Hongsipu (from north to south)

The least continental climate among all Xinjiang's wine regions

Yili River Valley – uniquely influenced by humid Atlantic air

a wine sub-region of Hebei province

Huailai – the site of the first Marselan grapevine planted in China – Petit Manseng also growing successfully

Bohai Bay

The highest number of old vines in China

Situated in eastern China, as it’s not necessary to bury vines over winter. This enhances the longevity and vitality of vines, with some exceeding 50 years in age

Wine regions of Shandong province

Yantai and Qingdao

The birthplace of the modern Chinese wine industry

In Yantai, the first commercial winery located

Wine regions with significant plantings of Cabernet Gernischt

Yantai, Shandong

Most esteemed wine-region in Northeast zone China

– Liaoning Huanren – Jilin Tonghua – The Changbai Mountain region spans the northern part, providing protection for vineyards

Important lakes in China to moderate vineyards area

– Bosten Lake, Xinjiang – Huanren Lake, Liaoning (for ice wine production)

The altitudes of the Shangri-La vineyard start at

– at 1,500 m and ascend to 3,000 m – Compared to Argentina, vineyards generally sit above 700 meters, with some reaching above 3,000 m – Argentinian vineyards are often on plateaus, – whereas Shangri-La’s terrain is dramatic, characterized by steep slopes and terraced agricultural lands.

wine regions in Yunnan

Deqin and Mile