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Travel + Leisure
2 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
China Is Home to Several Emerging Wine Regions—Here's Where to Go
When most people think of wine, China isn't a country that typically comes to mind. But as someone who plans trips to China for a living, I know that the country is in the midst of a wine renaissance. Rich histories and a penchant for experimentation lead to unique, storied bottles that travelers can taste for themselves. China's multiple emerging wine regions are as diverse as its landscapes, stretching from coastal hillsides to alpine valleys and desert plains, each distinct in terroir, climate, and character. Here are some of my favorites. The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu province, China. Ningxia, in northern central China, is a small, autonomous region that even many Chinese people haven't explored. It's remote, dry, and shaped by its Hui Muslim heritage. Today, over two hundred wineries sit at the foot of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia. In order to survive the harsh cold, vines must be buried each winter, but the flavorful result is well worth the effort. Nearby, travelers can visit the tombs of the Western Xia dynasty and ancient rock frescoes, believed to date back as far as 10,000 years—they serve as reminders that this land has always held layers of history. For travelers already venturing inland to explore the Mogao Caves, an art-filled Buddhist temple system in northwestern Dunhuang, or the ancient capital city of Xi'an, Ningxia can be a rewarding stop along the way. Wineries to visit: At family-run Silver Heights Vineyard, join the founder Emma Gao for an artisanal glass as she shares her terroir-driven vision and family legacy. Discover how Helan Qingxue made history with its Jia Bei Lan red, which won the International Trophy at the 2011 Decanter World Wine Awards and cemented Ningxia's place in the wine world. Meet bold, adventurous Chinese-German founder Wang Fang, nicknamed "Crazy Fang," at Kanaan Winery. Here, experience a private tasting of her groundbreaking Ningxia Riesling—zesty, floral, and unlike any other. Xige Estate is a sleek, futuristic winery with proprietary fermentation tanks, where boundary-pushing wines meet organic meals via its on-site restaurant, Jade Dove Organic Restaurant. Zaxee Walnut Tree Winery seen from outside. Set high in the Himalayan foothills, Shangri-La's vineyards grow in one of China's most striking wine environments: The altitude and dramatic terrain make for slow-ripening grapes, and the result is wine with unexpected depth. In addition to the wine, the region is culturally rich, with Tibetan influences woven into the daily rhythm of vineyard life. Travelers can tour Dongzhulin, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery 3,000 meters above sea level; take a scenic stroll around Napa Lake, a nature reserve surrounded by mountains; and learn to make Tibetan prayer flags. Wineries to visit: Try Zaxee Walnut Tree Winery's high-altitude Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, tended to by local Tibetan farmers. Stop by the Tibetan Catholic village of Cizhong, known for its homemade wine made from the Rose Honey grape—a French variety that was wiped out a century ago in Europe. An interior view of the barrels at Canaan Winery. Just a short drive from the Chinese capital, Huailai's extraordinarily diverse terroir thrives between Beijing's rugged western mountains and the Great Wall's majestic silhouette. Large day-to-night temperature shifts and the monsoon continental climate make the region well-suited to growing grapes. For wine lovers visiting Beijing, Huailai is a perfect one-day countryside escape. There, you'll learn about the region's long history of wine production and meet winemakers who blend traditional European methods with deep local experimentation. Wineries to visit: Head to Domaine Franco-Chinois, where the winemaker will share how Marselan—a French grape variety—has found its perfect expression in Huailai, producing a smooth, full-bodied red. At the eco-focused Canaan Winery, where grapes are harvested at night and sorted by hand, taste Chardonnay and Riesling, alongside deeper reds like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Mei Zhang is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Zhang by contacting her at [email protected] .
Forbes
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The Latest Wine Trends From The 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards
Five friends cheering with glasses of red wine. getty Decanter has just announced the results of its 22nd annual World Wine Awards. The DWWA is the largest and one of the most respected wine competitions globally. Below is a summary of the results from the world's leading wine regions and highlights of the industry's most significant trends. Renowned for its rigorous blind-tasting process, the DWWA sets a high bar for quality and consistency in the wine world. This year's event drew an impressive 16,000+ entries from 57 countries, all carefully evaluated by 248 leading experts, including a record 22 Master Sommeliers and 72 Masters of Wine — the highest number of top-level judges in the competition's history. At the DWWA, medals signal excellence across different tiers: the top fifty wines worldwide earn the elite 'Best in Show', followed by Platinum and Gold medals, all awarded to wines scoring 95 points or higher. To put this in perspective, the 50 Best in Show winners represent just 0.30% of all wines judged this year. In addition, the competition awarded 137 Platinum and 732 Gold medals, highlighting truly exceptional wines from across the globe. Only about 5% of the wines entered reached this highest tier of excellence. Another noteworthy list is the Value Gold Top 30, which showcases high-quality wines priced under $20, reinforcing the idea that great wine can still be affordable. France once again led the medal count, securing 187 top-tier awards: 14 Best in Show, 33 Platinum, and 140 Gold. The Champagne region was the standout, producing 27 top-tier winners, including three Best in Show medals for vintage Champagnes. Italy also performed strongly, earning 138 top-tier medals, including two Value Golds for high-quality yet wallet-friendly Prosecco and Langhe wines. Spain continued its strong showing, with Sherry producers standing out: González Byass won two Best in Show awards, contributing to Spain's total of 105 top-tier medals: five Best in Show, 16 Platinum, and 84 Gold. Notably, Ribeira Sacra celebrated its first-ever Best in Show. In the UK, English sparkling wine producers continued to impress, winning a Best in Show for a magnum — a first for the DWWA — along with two Platinum and six Gold medals. Greece also enjoyed a historic year, with 20 top-tier medals and its first-ever Best in Show wins for wines from Peloponnese, Goumenissa, and Epanomi. Other European highlights included Portugal, which received five Best in Show awards, and Slovenia, which claimed its first Best in Show for an orange wine. Australia maintained its reputation for consistent quality, securing 80 top-tier medals, including four Best in Show. New Zealand added one Best in Show and 24 Gold medals to its tally. For the United States, results were equally outstanding. California led the charge, with two Best in Show awards — one of which went to Clos du Val for the second consecutive year. Judges praised the winery for its refined style and approachability. Oregon and Washington State also earned top-tier recognition, while Virginia and Pennsylvania continued to build momentum, each repeating their gold medal successes from the previous year. Assortment or various type of cheese, wine glasses and bottles on the table in a restaurant. getty In South America, Argentina achieved a record result, with a 50% increase in top-tier medals compared to last year, totaling 46 high-scoring wines, including two Best in Show awards. Eight of Argentina's awards were Value Golds, reinforcing its reputation for delivering excellent quality at competitive prices. Chile earned two Best in Show medals, including a first for the Secano Interior region, while Uruguay collected 14 medals overall, including three Golds. South Africa broke its record by achieving 45 Gold medals, the country's highest total to date. Worcester earned its first Gold for a sweet 100% Muscat Blanc, underscoring the diversity of the region's offerings. China reached a milestone with 13 top-tier awards, including its first-ever Best in Show medals — a significant achievement for the emerging wine market. Additional notable performances came from Japan, which secured eight top-tier medals; Austria, with 21 top-tier awards; and Croatia, which recorded its highest medal count to date, with 386 medals overall. Canada brought home two prestigious Platinum medals for its renowned sweet ice wines. The awards also marked some 'firsts' this year: Denmark received its first medal, a Bronze. Uzbekistan made its debut with Silver and Bronze medals, Mexico repeated its Gold medal performance from last year, and Armenia returned to the spotlight with three Golds. The DWWA continues to reflect broader trends in the wine industry. Orange wines gained further recognition, with 87 medals awarded, including Slovenia's first-ever Best in Show for this style of wine. Fortified wines also excelled, with four Best in Show medals split evenly between Sherry and Port. Platinum medals in this category increased from 17 to 20, with standout entries from Australia, France's Languedoc-Roussillon, Portugal, and Spain. Additionally, heritage and lesser-known grape varieties received increased attention. Argentina earned its first Gold medal for a 100% Criolla wine, while Italy secured its first Gold for an Erbaluce di Caluso bottling. The Decanter World Wine Awards continue to showcase the diversity, quality, and innovation taking place in wineries worldwide. For American wine enthusiasts, the strong showing by domestic producers — particularly those from California, Oregon, and Washington — reinforces the West Coast's reputation as a leader in premium winemaking. Visit the Decanter website for a complete list of this year's medalists, tasting notes, and more details on each award-winning wine. Whether you're seeking iconic labels or exploring new regions and varietals, the DWWA is an excellent guide to some of the world's best wines.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Climate change: How a warming planet could affect the taste of B.C. wine
Future sommeliers may have something very different on the nose, as climate change alters the taste of wine in regions around the world. A global study led by UBC researchers, and published this week in the journal PLOS Climate, found that temperatures during the grape-growing season have increased across the world's major wine regions — including B.C. — and that the heat is changing the taste of wine. For the study, researchers analyzed temperatures over the growing seasons in wine regions on five continents and studied 500 varieties of grapes. They studied the temperatures during dormancy, budding, and during harvest. The climate data will eventually allow scientists to recommend which varieties of wine grape are best suited to the changing climate in different regions, including those with unique climate challenges such as intense heat waves, drought and wildfire smoke. 'We want to be able to say to growers, OK, there's 1,000 varieties out there. Here are some recommendations on which ones to consider,' said Elizabeth Wolkovich, senior author of the study and an associate professor at UBC's faculty of forestry. On average, the regions have warmed by the equivalent of almost 100 extra growing degree-days, a measure of the cumulative heat that vines are exposed to, according to the study. Impacts of a hotter climate include lower grape yields, heat damage to berries and vegetation, and an industry that is rapidly working to adapt, the study says. Speaking Friday from Zurich, where she is working with colleagues who contributed to the global study, Wolkovich said this heat can affect harvest times and grape ripening, which changes the taste of the wine. 'Most of the wine you drink from Europe and North America is already a different flavour profile due to climate change than you drank 30 or 40 years ago. The biggest obvious change is that the grapes are more sugar rich, and that means they are also higher in alcohol,' she said. As the weather gets warmer, the grapes develop faster. For instance, she said the grapes are ripening in parts of France in late August instead of September. 'When they ripen in late August, and are exposed to hotter temperatures, the grapes build up sugar faster. The grapes you harvest have higher sugar acid ratios, so the balance in the wine is different.' The acidity, which gives the wine its zest, declines in warmer weather while pigments in wine called anthocyanins, which give the wine its colour, break down. Tannins may not develop if the grapes are plucked too early to compensate for the heat. 'I would say it would taste a little bit more like jam, or what you would call like a fruitier wine, and it would maybe be generally a little darker, less light in the flavour profile, and, on average, a little bit less complex for a red wine,' she said, but emphasized that expert winemakers are skilled at compensating for this change. Around the world, scorching heat, wildfires and other climate-related disasters have already decimated crops, including here in B.C. The province's wine industry is still recovering after two years of climate-related crop losses in the southern Interior. Record-breaking heat, wildfires and smoke tainted grapes, while a destructive cold snap in 2023 and 2024 caused significant crop loss across the province. Varieties of grape most affected in B.C. were Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with projected losses of more than 65 per cent, according to a report last year from Wine Growers B.C. Wolkovich said there are hundreds of varieties in Spain, Italy and Greece 'that you've probably never heard of' that could work well at some point for B.C. growers as the heat intensifies. One example is Xinomavro, a wine grape that tolerates the dry heat of Greece. The difference is Mediterranean regions like Greece have longer growing seasons than B.C. so the trick is to find varieties that have a shorter ripening time but are also heat-resistant. On that note, Wolkovich also said there are varieties from the mountainous regions of Spain that B.C. growers haven't tried that could work well as the temperatures increase. 'So regions in Spain that are at higher elevations have shorter growing seasons, but they also are hot — the way the Okanagan is hot. And I know that certain vineyards have looked into them and would love to try them.' She said the problem isn't that the consumer won't want to drink these hardier varieties, but that there are hurdles in Canada to importing the rootstock. Kathy Malone, chair of the B.C. Wine Grape Council research and development committee, said winemakers are wary of testing new varieties when it takes years for the grapes to grow and mature in flavour. Malone, who is also a winemaker at Hillside Winery and Bistro in Naramata, said there are efforts underway to get experimental plots going in B.C. 'You could have very small plots of varieties that no one's ever heard of and make a small amount of wine, but then you could blend that into another wine.' She said it's very difficult for B.C. winemakers to make decisions about new varieties that will be cold-resistant and that the focus should be on the warming climate and what varieties will survive intense heat. After last year's cold snap, Hillside will be planting the Malbec variety, which is less cold-hardy than Merlot but will do much better under the increasingly hotter Okanagan summers. 'I don't think there was much Malbec planted in the 80s and 90s, because it requires longer hang time and more heat. But now we're getting that heat more and more,' she said. 'The seasons are expected to be hotter and longer moving north. In some areas, like in Napa, it's a challenge because it's too hot and they have berries drying up on the vine.' For the study, scientists developed climate metrics for the world's wine regions that spanned the annual plant cycle of a calendar year. They found the biggest impact is in southern and western Europe, where the number of days over 35 C is the highest of all regions, with nearly five times as many extreme heat days compared with 1980. 'The temperature increases here (in B.C.) aren't as dramatic as in Europe, which is something that as a community, we're still trying to understand,' said Wolkovich. Growers are testing methods to adapt. Some are using shade cloth to protect vines from heat while others are planting new rootstocks and varieties. The study also looked at regions affected by wildfire smoke and how widespread fires in Australia led to technologies and approaches that could be used in California or in B.C. For example, some winemakers are now installing sensors in the vineyard to know when smoke is about to affect the grapes. ticrawford@ With files from The Canadian Press 'Clean slate' to reshape B.C. wine industry, after climate-related catastrophes Anthony Gismondi: Wineries step forward to fight climate change Anthony Gismondi: Assessing how deep freeze affected B.C. vineyards remains a work in progress
