China

China
Geography: China is a large country with a range of climates and soils. Inland has a continental climate with hot summers and extremely cold winters. Near the coastal areas the winter is milder but the humidity is high in the summer and the vines are more susceptible to diseases. Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Gernischt (Carmenère), Chardonnay, Welschriesling Viticulture: Vines are ungrafted, there is no widespread phylloxera. Labour intensive vine tending increases the production cost in the cold regions: vines have to be buried and unburied before and after winter. Hand-harvest is common. Winemaking: Chinese wineries have attracted huge domestic and international investments. Quality is still variable but there are a growing number of producers making sophisticated wines. Regions: Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Liaoning, Henan, Ningxia, Yunnan
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