by Chantal Chi
Grace vineyard, one of the most well-known wineries in China, was dealt unusual weather conditions in 2006. After a rarely seen snowstorm in April damaged the vines, August was rainy, which affected production. Although sufficient sunshine in
September allowed the grapes to mature, harvest was delayed for a week. The founder s daughter Judy Leissner, who now is in charge of the winery, said her father chose to set up their winery in Shan Xi province primarily for the region s reputation for rainless, long sunny days. An Indonesian Chinese, he graduated in engineering in Shan Xi and later established a winery with the wealth he accumulated. Known for its reds, which represent 90% of its 120 hectares, Grace Vineyard is still family owned. Its annual production of 500,000 bottles is small compared to other wineries in China, but its wines have become one of the country s flagships.
The most famous winegrowing region in mainland China is the Shan Dong province, where in 1999 the Italian winery Sella & Mosca invested 3 million USD in a joint-venture. They selected this location with a solid belief in the suitability of the soils and microclimate for making fine wine. Compared to the past two vintages, 2006 looks to be a good year here, according to general manager Mr. Gabriele Scapin, who noted that we had less than average rainfall in August and September. In fact, 2006 was a very dry year in Shan Dong, but the weather remained warm and well ventilated until the end of October. Sugar levels were high and there was very little disease.
Good news for those wineries purchasing grapes or must is the fact that the price of the best quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which are the two favoured varietals in China, dropped to 2.8 Renminbi (0.28 ) per kilogramme.
