“Made in China” often conjures up images of faux Louis Vuitton and pirated DVDs. But did you know that China’s also one of the newest WINEMAKING regions on the international scene? In fact, its wine production has DOUBLED in size in the last decade.

A hundred years ago, no one would have thought that one day grape vines would be growing next to yurts in Xinjiang, beer factories in Tsingtao, and even the Forbidden Palace in Beijing. Yet today, those are three of the many wine producing regions of China.

The intrepid Michael Parry was the first to bring varietals to China, leading the way in making Chardonnays and Cabernet Sauvignons in a country that was used to downing rice “wine” more similar to vodka than Merlot. Although early versions of these wines suffered due to climate and technique challenges, wines made today are beginning to close the gap on many other “New World” producers.

China’s vast land resources and consumer base (1.3 billion and counting) make it the next big wine market to watch. Keep a special lookout for wines from the Xinjiang Province, which devotes 10,000 hectares to grape farming, more vines than cultivated in all of Canada! Check out Dragon’s Hollow for a wine made in China, but co-owned by iconic Westerner Bartholomew Broadbent (son of Michael Broadbent, founder of Christie’s Wine Department).

Gan bei!