Lesson 4 Principle Wine Regions of the World a unique gift from nature and the earth’s geology

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.7 China

• Incredible mix of terriors and terrains spanning over 3 million square miles. Sincere 1994 China has put an emphasis on developing its wine market. 1995 there are over 240 wineries in China majority located in the north Shandong province and Shanxi Province (well known ones include Great Wall, Dynasty, Grace and Dragon Seal) .

• Wine regions

• Ningxia: largest wine production and good quality beating French wines in competition (2011).

• North east

• Hebei

• Bohai Bar and the Shandong wine region

• Yellow River area

• Yunnan

• Gansu

• Xinjiang

• Most Notable wine producing regions: Beijing, Yantai, Zhangiakou in Hebei, Yibin in Sichuan, tonghua in Jilin, Taiyuan in Shanxi and

• Ningxia. Largest producing region: Yantai Penglai (140 wineries producing 40% of China’s wine).

• Grape varieties: Chinese Government set up 2 national grape germplasm respositories (Zhengzhou fruit Research Institute of the China

• academy of Agricultural sciences – located at Zhengzhou, Henan province) and Institute of Fruit research of Shanxi Academy of Agricultural

• Sciences located at Taigu, shanxi province). Both house 1,300 grape varieites for possible cultivation.

• Popular Varieties cultivated include: Table grapes: Zaomeigui, Zhengzhuo, Zaohong, Fenghuang No 51, Jing Zaojing, Shangdong Zaohong,

• Jingxiu, Jingya, Zizhenxiang, Shengxiu, Jingyu, Fenghou. Wine grapes: Beichun, Gonliang No 1, Shuangyou, zuoshan No 1. International

• varieties: Chardonnay, Irtalian Risling, Chenin Blanc, cabernet Franc, cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Gamay Noir, Gewurztraminer, Sauvignon

• Blanc, Pinot Noir.

• High quality Chinese wines: (just a few samples) Huadong’s - Chardonnay, Huaxia - Dry Red, Changyu’s - Cabernet, Beijing’s - Dragon

• Seal.

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.8 Czech Republic

• Two main regions – Bohemia and Moravia, both divided into sub regions, 19,000 hectares of vineyards, most of which located in Moravia. Top quality Moravian white wines known worldwide (i.e Muskat moravsky and reds Cabernet Moravia or Andre.

• Wine Regions

• Moravia: (little villages with wine cellars without permanent population), sub regions include;

• Znojmo: (aromatic whites), main grape variety Veltlinske Zelene, also grown Sauvignon, Ryzlink rynsky, Muller Thurgau, plus outstanding varieties Muskat moravsky and Rulandske sede, reds – Svatovavrinecke.

• Velke Pavlovice: 1,000 wine producers, whites – Tramin cerveny, Veltlinske zelene, Ryzlink vlassky. Heavy soil provides excellent conditions for red wines – most common Svatovavrinecke and Frankovka.

• Mikulov: largest area 2, 500 hectares, Valtice is the centre and home of the Czech wine producer Valtice Wine Cellars.

• Slovacks: vineyards around Uherske Hradiste (northernmost wine region in Moravia), main varieties Ryzlink rynsky, rulandske bile and Rulandske sede. Dark varieties – Frankovka and zweigeltrebe.

• Bohemia: (northernmost wine region in Europe, vineyards located around Melnik, Litomerice and Most, vineyards are

• scattered and spread over protected slopes near rivers – the Vltava, Elbe, Ohre, Berounka, sub regions include;

• Melnik: producing Muller Thurgau

• Litomerice: serious rival to Melnik. Best kniown cellars are Zernoseky. Varieties include Rulandske bile, Rulandske sede, Ryzlink rynsky

Lesson 4: Principle Wine Regions of the World 4.9 England and Wales

• Now recognised as a premium wine producing region, winning many awards, there are over 400 vineyards in England and Wales covering 1,384 hectares, producing top quality sparkling and still wines in their 124 wineries.

• Wineries breakdown: East Anglia (66), South East (145), central South (96), Midlands (91), North (18), South West

• (120), Wales (22), Scotland (4), Channel Islands (5).

• Grape Varieties:

• Chardonnay (20.6%), Pinot Noir (18.6%), Bacchus (9.6%). Other varieties: (White) Auxerrois, Faberrebe, Huxelrebe,

• Kerner, Madeleine, Angevine, Muller Thurgau, optima, Orion, Ortega, Pheonix, Regner, Reichsteiner, Rwagier,

• Schonburger, Seyval Blanc, siegerrebe, Wurzer. (Red) Dornfelder, dunkelfeder, Pinot Meunier, regent, rondo, Trimphe.

• Labelling and legislation:

• English or Welsh wine: made from fresh grapes grown in England (or Wales) and produced in UK wineries.

• British wine: imported grapes or grape concentrate made into wine in Britain, labelled as ‘United Kingdom wines’ or ‘wine from the UK’.

• Protected geographical status: labelled ‘Protected Designation of Origin’ (PDO) or ‘ Protected Geographic Indication’ (PGI) producers will have passed certain analytical and taste parameters, sponsored by UKVA. Producers must prove the geographical origins of the grapes. PDO wines have more stringent rules on origins of their grapes than PGI wines.