Award Winning Chinese Wines

The Middle Kingdom is a world leader in many things but wine-making isn’t one of them. this being said, there are some locally produced wines which are not only quaffable but downright world beating.

The well-regarded Decanter World Wine Awards have been announced for 2013 and from 49 Chinese entries, a total of 20 Chinese wines were recognized by the judges as “commended”, or higher.

The highest praise was reserved for the silver medal-winning duo of Great Wall Terroir 2006 (from Shandong) and Domaine Helan Mountain Special Reserve Chardonnay 2011 (from Ningxia).

Yes, you read that correctly, a Great Wall wine was awarded a silver medal in an international wine competition. Though it’s only fair to note that the results don’t necessarily indicate the best wines in the world, or even the best wines in China but the best of the selection entered, according to a panel of judges.

The Great Wall label is China’s largest local wine brand, with 10 million cases sold annually. Many of them are the bottles with a taste resembling grape cordial from your local Lawson’s store that many of us know and loathe but not all wines, Chinese wines or Great Wall wines, are created equal.

The Great Wall Terroir 2006 retails for about RMB 500 from Chinese specialty wine sites and is generally regarded as a good choice in its price range for a dry Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a good model of its varietal, though better described as a solid and dependable wine, than a spectacular one.

Domaine Helan Mountain’s Special Reserve Chardonnay 2011 is a still, dry white wine with an oaky character, rounded fruit flavors and a peppery edge. The Ningxia region from which this wine hails, is leading the way for China’s wine industry, producing the country’s most innovative and interesting wines with a combination of large, state-owned conglomerates and smaller, boutique wineries producing there.

Look out for Chinese wines on your next peruse through a wine list, they may just surprise you.