China may strike some as an odd entry in an atlas of wine, but it has two truly outstanding things going for it. First, China’s political borders may contain the earliest evidence of winemaking from (undomesticated) grapes, with archaeological evidence at the Jiahu archaeological site in Henan Province from 7,000 BCE demonstrating winemaking (that’s nearly 3,000 years before Armenia’s earliest winemaking evidence).
The second major significance of Chinese wine is the sheer volume and capacity the country can claim as a wine producing nation. In 2021, China produced the fifth largest volume of wine globally, surpassing Australia, Chile, and South Africa.
Though as recently as 2023, China’s production has contracted dramatically, and more focus has been directed at higher quality production. Ningxia has emerged as a leading region for Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varieties. Other regions, like Shandong and Xinjiang are also producing interesting wine, with Xinjiang claiming winemaking heritage dating back to the Han Dynasty 2,000 years ago.
While modern winemaking began in the late 20th century, China is just now outgrowing its domestic wine demand, and its wines are making their way around the world for the first time.
Cardwell Cellars are proud to offer Australia's largest selection of high-quality of both red and white Chinese wine.
