Puchang Vineyard Beichun 2018

Beichun is a hybrid between indigenous grapes from Jilin Province in China and Muscat from Xinjiang, a unique variety with high sugar levels only grown in Xinjiang.

100% Beichun. Hand picked and fermented in 50% stainless steel and 50% second-use wine barrels. Aged for 30 months in stainless steel and second-use wine barrels, then aged for 18 months in bottle before release.

Powerful notes of dates, dried fruits, black tea leaves, pot pourri, vanilla and nutmeg. Grippy tannins and powerful structure, akin to a Valpolicella.

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Located in the heart of Xinjiang, near the Tian Shan Mountains, Puchang Vineyard could probably claim to be the furthest-inland vineyard in the world. 

Led by Italian winemaker Loris Tartaglia, these wines are a lesson in resilience and strong will. Defying China’s wine trends, Puchang has doubled down on varieties indigenous to Central Asia and the Caucasus, including Rkatsiteli, Saperavi, Muscat and Beichun.

The family’s belief in their wines has paid off; the aromatic Muscat thrives in these conditions, and the potent Beichun is one-of-a-kind. Puchang Vineyard are more than just a breath of fresh air amongst a sea of Bordeaux blends; they demonstrate the quality that can be achieved by sticking to your gut. 

Organic certification was easily obtained, with the arid desert surrounding the vineyard offering natural pest control. The ancient Karez well system, in days past, making Xinjiang an oasis along the Silk Road, feeds glacier water from Tianshan into the vineyard - crucial in the harsh continental climate and drought-like conditions.