Intl. wine expo opens in Ningxia

An international expo to boost exchanges and cooperation within wine industries opened Friday in Northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, a leading wine-producing area in the country.

Hosted by the regional government, the Fourth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo features 138 wineries and exhibitors from eight countries and regions, including France, Italy, Spain and Chile.

With the theme “Chinese Wine, a Marvel to the World — Good Wine Originates from Unique Terroir,” the three-day expo includes several events, including an international wine trade fair, a wine carnival, an international wine competition, a winemaking skills competition, and an international wine photography competition.

“The east foothills of Helan Mountain in Ningxia has undergone an important process of growth and modernization over the past 40 years,” said John Barker, director general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine, at the opening ceremony of the event.

Barker highlighted Ningxia’s impressive performance in international wine competitions and exhibitions, underscoring its emerging reputation as a world-class wine region.

Baudouin Havaux, chairman of Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, said over 1,200 different wines participated in this year’s Helan Mountain East Foothill International Wine Competition, up 14.5% over the previous edition and almost double the number of the first edition.

“The average score and wine quality of this year’s competition have improved significantly, with many exceptional wines emerging,” Havaux said, noting that the style of Ningxia wines is becoming discernible.

Zhang Yupu, governor of Ningxia, said the region has emerged as the country’s largest wine-producing area after more than four decades of development. It has about 40,000 hectares of grape plantations and 130 wineries annually producing 140 million bottles of wine.

He said the wine produced in Ningxia is exported to more than 40 countries and regions and has won more than 1,700 awards in various international competitions, accounting for about half of China’s total.

Duan Changqing, a professor at China Agricultural University, said the Ningxia Helan Mountain East Foothill Wine Region has embarked on a series of technological explorations and innovations across the entire wine industry chain.

The innovative achievements have played an important role in reducing costs, improving efficiency, and ensuring the quality of the region’s wine industry, he said.

Ningxia’s unique terroir, with its ample sunshine and cool, dry climate, is ideal for producing high-quality wines.

(Xinhua)