Ningxia region adds 15 wineries to its classification system

China’s biggest wine producing region has added an additional 15 wineries to its classification, bringing the total number in the Helan Mountain East region in Ningxia to 36.  

Three previously classified ‘fourth growth’ wineries – Helan Qingxu, Château Bacchus and Château Yuanshi – have been promoted to ‘third growth’ status and nine wineries have been elevated to ‘fourth growth’ status including Château Changyu Moser XV, according to the Ningxia News website.  

The classification system, which was devised by the Helan Mountain East and International Wine Association, assesses wineries based on their production, scale, quality and distribution, similar to Bordeaux’s system when it was created in 1855.  

The 15 new entries have been elevated to the fifth growth status, the lowest tier of the system. The wineries include the Ningxia winery owned by Pernod Ricard, Château Miqin, Domaine Pushang, Château Minglu, Jinyuan Winery, Daylong Winery, Château New Bull, Château Jin Sha Wan, Château Hong Fen Jia Rong, Hollyfun Winery, Château Lansai, Château Saint Louis Ding, High Sun Estate, Château Mihope and Château Huida.  

According to the regulations, a classified winery must grow grapes from their own vineyards with vines aged at least five years old. In addition, yields must be controlled between 500-800 kg per mu (1 mu is around 667 sq m) with sustainable quality and traceable provenance.  

The winery classification system, which is the first of its kind in China, is reviewed every two years. A ‘first growth’ winery, the highest in the ranking, will be reviewed every 10 years. Ningxia currently doesn’t have a ‘first growth’ or ‘second growth’ winery since it first unveiled the ranking in 2013.