China

Archaeological evidence suggests that local wild grapes were used for winemaking in China as early as 7000 BC. The cultivation of Vitis vinifera grapevines in the region dates back to the fourth century BC, beginning in far western Xinjiang Province and gradually spreading across the country. By 126 BC, grapevines were reportedly planted at the Imperial Palace in Chang’an (modern-day Xi’an), around 1,000 kilometers southwest of Beijing. During the Tang Dynasty (AD 618–907), grapes and winemaking became integrated into Chinese culture, with records documenting wines made from a grape variety called Manaizi, or "Mare’s Nipple". A significant leap in viticulture occurred in 1892 when Zhang Bishi, a Chinese businessman, imported European Vitis vinifera cuttings and established the Zhang Yu Winery in Yantai, Shandong Province. Other key milestones include the founding of the Shangyi Winery in Beijing by a French priest in 1910 and the establishment of the Shandong Melco Winery in Qingdao by a German company in 1930 (now known as Qingdao Huadong Winery). The modern era of Chinese winemaking began in the early 1980s with the government's Four Modernization Policy, which aimed to rejuvenate the economy and promote international collaboration. One of the first major ventures was a partnership between Rémy Martin and the city of Tianjin, creating Dynasty wines, which became one of China's top producers. In 1987, Pernod Ricard collaborated with the Beijing Friendship Winery to launch the Dragon Seal brand, which remains a major player in the industry despite Pernod Ricard’s withdrawal in 2001. Over the last three decades, China has become one of the world’s leading wine producers, ranking as high as fifth globally, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). In 2012, China’s production peaked at 13.5 million hectoliters, but there is debate about the accuracy of these statistics. Critics argue that some domestic production figures might include imported bulk wine used in locally bottled products or that wine shipped between regions could be double-counted. Since the 2012 peak, production has declined, with OIV figures indicating a drop to 10.8 million hectoliters by 2017. Some experts estimate actual production in 2018 to be as low as 6.7 million hectoliters, placing China outside the top 10 producers but still ranking it 11th globally. The decline is attributed to the closure or consolidation of wineries, reduction in vineyard areas, and increasing competition from imported wines.