{"title":"China","description":"\u003ch2\u003eChinese wine: the grape wine behind a fast-rising fine wine scene\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen people in the UK search for Chinese wine, they often land on rice wine or cooking wine. This page is about something else: grape wine, made from the same Bordeaux varieties you know, grown in some of the most extreme vineyards on earth. China's vineyard area is concentrated in a few key provinces. Xinjiang has the most land under vine, Ningxia follows with roughly 38,000 hectares, and Shandong on the coast has a long winemaking history in a wetter, maritime climate. Across all of them, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cabernet-sauvignon\"\u003eCabernet Sauvignon\u003c\/a\u003e leads, alongside Merlot, Marselan and Cabernet Gernischt (the local name for Carménère).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNingxia deserves a special mention. On the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, vineyards sit at 1,000 to 1,200 metres on a dry, sunny plateau with more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and big swings between day and night temperatures. Winters drop to around minus 20°C, so growers bury the vines under earth each November and dig them out again in spring. The result is ripe, full-bodied reds with a surprising lift of acidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAo Yun: Yunnan Cabernet grown high in the Himalayan foothills\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe most talked-about Chinese red is Ao Yun, a project from Moët Hennessy (the wine and spirits arm of LVMH) whose first vintage, 2013, was released in 2016. The vineyards lie near Shangri-La in Yunnan, at the foot of the sacred Meili Snow Mountains above the Mekong valley. Around 30 hectares are split into more than 300 tiny plots across four villages, Adong, Xidang, Sinong and Shuori, at 2,200 to 2,600 metres. The name means \"flying above the clouds\".\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat altitude shapes everything. Fewer hours of direct sun but a very long season, about 160 days from flowering to harvest against roughly 120 in \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/bordeaux\"\u003eBordeaux\u003c\/a\u003e, give slow, even ripening. The terraces are too steep for tractors, so vineyard work and harvest are done by hand. In the cellar, oxygen levels are about a quarter lower than at sea level, so the team adapts with extra aeration during maceration and malolactic fermentation partly in clay jars. They even taste and finalise the blend at sea level, because thin, dry air dulls the palate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAo Yun 2018 and 2019: two vintages of Chinese red wine compared\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2018 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/cabernet-franc\"\u003eCabernet Franc\u003c\/a\u003e, 10% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 4% Petit Verdot. Expect deep purple colour, cassis, blackberry and black cherry, a touch of green pepper, smoke and clove from new oak, and very fine, layered tannins. It is the more generous of the two.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2019 left out Merlot entirely: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 10% Syrah and 6% Petit Verdot. It is a wine of energy rather than size, with red berries, blood orange, mint, cedar and pipe tobacco, and dusty tannins that build to a juicy, precise finish. Side by side, they show how much vintage matters in a young region still learning its sites.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFood pairing for Chinese red wine\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese are structured, Cabernet-led wines, so treat them like serious \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/red-wine\"\u003ered wine\u003c\/a\u003e from anywhere. Slow-roasted lamb, beef with black pepper sauce, Peking duck or char siu pork all work well, and so do aged hard cheeses. Give them time in a decanter, especially the 2019.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eChinese wine FAQ\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat is the best Chinese wine?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmong Chinese reds, Ao Yun from Yunnan is widely regarded as the benchmark for fine wine, and Ningxia's Helan Mountain producers are building a strong reputation for Cabernet blends.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Chinese wine the same as Chinese rice wine?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. Rice wine such as Shaoxing is huangjiu, fermented from glutinous rice and wheat-based yeast, and is mostly used for cooking or sipping on its own. The wines here are made from grapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich grapes are used in Chinese red wine?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCabernet Sauvignon dominates, with Merlot, Marselan, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Gernischt (Carménère) also widely planted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow long can Ao Yun age?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAo Yun is built for the cellar, with firm structure and new oak. It rewards several years of bottle age, and a decanter helps if you open it young.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"ao-yun-2018-75-cl","title":"Ao Yun 2018","description":"\u003cp\u003eAo Yun 2018 is a remarkable high‑altitude red from the remote Yunnan region of China, crafted in partnership with local villages on the slopes of the Himalayas. This vintage showcases a Bordeaux-inspired blend with a distinctly mountain character, combining incredible purity of fruit with finely etched structure. It’s a wine that not only illustrates the potential of China’s new fine‑wine frontier, but also defines Ao Yun’s emerging, unmistakable house style.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, Ao Yun 2018 is an opaque, deep purple with an almost inky core, hinting at both concentration and youth. The nose is lifted and perfumed, very much Cabernet-driven, with intense aromas of crushed blackberries, blackcurrants and black cherries, layered with ripe green bell pepper, subtle pyrazine notes, and beautifully integrated new oak giving nuances of smoke, clove and fine spice.\n\nOn the palate, the wine is full-bodied yet poised, with a cool, mountain freshness. Dark berry and cassis flavors are wrapped around a core of graphite, tobacco leaf and gentle herbal complexity, supported by refined, ripe tannins and vibrant acidity. The finish is long, compact and savory, suggesting many years of positive evolution ahead. While already impressive with some aeration, Ao Yun 2018 is built for aging and should continue to develop for 10–20 years, gaining tertiary notes of cedar, leather and truffle over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAo Yun 2018 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 7% Syrah and 4% Petit Verdot, sourced from terraced, high‑altitude vineyards in Yunnan, often likened to an amphitheater carved into the Himalayan foothills. These sites benefit from intense sunlight, cool nights and well‑drained mountain soils, contributing both ripeness and precision. Grapes are typically harvested by hand in small parcels to respect the steep terrain and preserve berry integrity. In the cellar, vinification follows a carefully tailored, parcel-by-parcel approach, with gentle extraction to maintain aromatic purity and fine tannin texture. Aging in a significant proportion of new French oak adds structure and complexity without overshadowing the distinctive mountain fruit profile.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAo Yun 2018 is a natural partner for richly flavored dishes such as grilled or roasted lamb, dry‑aged ribeye, braised short ribs or Peking duck. It also pairs beautifully with dishes that feature earthy or smoky elements, like mushroom ragout, truffle-infused dishes, or slow-cooked beef with star anise and soy-based glazes. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) to highlight the wine’s aromatic lift and structural finesse. Decanting for 1–2 hours is strongly recommended in its youth to allow the tight, Cabernet-driven profile to open and reveal its full spectrum of dark fruit and spice.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAo Yun is one of China’s most ambitious fine‑wine projects, created in the early 2010s under the ownership of LVMH with the goal of producing a world‑class, age‑worthy red from the foothills of the Himalayas in Yunnan. Working closely with local farming communities in villages such as Adong and Sinong, the estate has pioneered high‑altitude viticulture in this remote region, establishing terraced vineyards between roughly 2,200 and 2,600 meters above sea level. Since its debut vintage, Ao Yun has attracted significant international attention and critical acclaim, playing a key role in putting Chinese fine wine on the global map. The increasing incorporation of Merlot and careful refinement of the blend, as seen in the 2018 vintage, reflect the estate’s constant drive to express the uniqueness of its terroir while standing alongside the great Cabernet-based wines of the world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ao Yun","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54252118180177,"sku":"PS-7730867503304","price":271.42,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/AoYun2018.png?v=1783443248"},{"product_id":"ao-yun-2019-75-cl","title":"Ao Yun 2019","description":"\u003cp\u003eAo Yun 2019 is widely regarded as the most accomplished vintage of this pioneering Chinese red to date, and one of the highest‑scoring wines ever produced in China. Sourced from dramatic, high‑altitude vineyards in Yunnan’s Himalayan foothills, it brings a Bordeaux-inspired blend into a truly unique mountain terroir. The 2019 is composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 10% Syrah and 6% Petit Verdot, with only the finest 53% of the harvest selected for the grand vin, underlining its rarity and precision.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, Ao Yun 2019 shows a deep, opaque ruby core with a vibrant, youthful rim that hints at its long life ahead. The nose is intensely perfumed yet refined, opening with layers of ripe blackcurrant, blackberry and dark plum, lifted by violet, rose petals and mountain herbs. Subtle notes of graphite, cedar, black tea, star anise and warm spice unfurl with air, reflecting both its Cabernet core and the complexity of its high‑altitude origins.\n\nOn the palate, the wine is full-bodied but beautifully poised, with a dense, velvety texture and finely layered tannins that feel both abundant and polished. Dark berry and cassis fruit dominate at first, followed by redcurrant, cocoa nibs, tobacco leaf and a mineral, almost saline edge that gives great tension and length. The warm, healthy 2019 growing season has endowed the wine with generosity and depth, balanced by fresh, mountain-cool acidity. This is a vintage built for the long haul: it is already impressive in its youth, but will gain in nuance and harmony over 12–20+ years, with peak drinking likely from the late 2020s onward.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAo Yun’s vineyards are scattered across four remote villages—Xidang, Sinong, Shuori and Adong—perched between roughly 2,200 and 2,600 meters above sea level in the Yunnan region, near the Mekong River in the Himalayan foothills. The 2019 vintage followed a relatively cool, wet winter that allowed the vines to build good reserves, followed by a drier, warmer-than-expected spring, which required careful irrigation around budbreak and flowering. The growing season was warm and healthy overall, with a moderately warm autumn and the lowest yields to date at around 16 hl\/ha (versus a usual 20–22 hl\/ha). Harvest began in Xidang on 9 September and concluded in Adong on 21 November, reflecting the wide altitude range and long ripening window. Fruit selection was exceptionally strict: only 53% of the harvest made it into the grand vin, with a small portion diverted to the Village Cru reds and a Chardonnay, and 33% not used for Ao Yun at all. The wine was vinified in a precision, parcel-by-parcel approach, then matured (typically in a mix of French oak barrels and larger vessels) to preserve the purity of fruit, highlight the distinctive mountain terroir and refine the tannic structure.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAo Yun 2019 is a natural partner for refined, flavourful cuisine. It shines alongside dishes such as roast or grilled lamb, dry-aged ribeye, braised beef short ribs, Peking duck, or rich game birds like pigeon or guinea fowl. Mushroom-based dishes, black truffle risotto, and deeply flavoured sauces—whether red wine, soy-based, or infused with five spice—also echo its complexity. Serve at 16–18°C (60–64°F) for optimal expression. Decanting is strongly recommended: allow at least 1–2 hours in a large decanter in its youth to soften the tannins and unlock the layered aromatics; mature bottles will need a gentler, shorter decant, mainly to remove sediment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAo Yun, created under the stewardship of LVMH, is one of the flagship projects that has put Chinese fine wine on the global map. Established in the early 2010s, the estate set out to explore the extraordinary potential of Yunnan’s high‑altitude vineyards near Shangri‑La, working hand in hand with local farming communities in the villages of Xidang, Sinong, Shuori and Adong. The name “Ao Yun” translates loosely as “flying above the clouds,” a reference to the vineyards’ elevation and the clouds that often sit below them. Through meticulous viticulture, tiny yields and a rigorous selection philosophy, Ao Yun has rapidly become a reference point for Chinese premium wine, earning international critical acclaim and demonstrating that world‑class, ageworthy reds can emerge from this dramatic corner of the Himalayas.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ao Yun","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54252477710673,"sku":"PS-15059172491644","price":303.43,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/AoYun2018_f66b3d2a-d2c8-4d3d-81fc-6416b85af67d.png?v=1783444812"}],"url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/collections\/china.oembed","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}