24 yantaispecial THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012 CHINA DAILY Vintners savor international expo By WANG QIAN booths that offer more than 2,000 nearly 30 percent of the total in Chi- in Yantai, Shandong types of wine, brandy, whiskey and na, and 10 luxury chateaus across [email protected] rum set amid varied chateaus. It also the world. offers tourism products as well as “We are looking for more robust The sixth Yantai International winemaking equipment. growth by expanding the existing Wine Exposition began in Yantai on A number of China’s leading wine vineyards and building another 20 June 27, providing business forum producers including Changyu, Great chateaus in the world’s top grape- for domestic and foreign wine pro- Wall, Weilong, Baiyanghe, Dynasty, growing regions in the next five ducers and equipment manufactur- and Nanshan Land are in attendance, years,” said Zhou. ers. joined by some of the world’s most Overseas winemakers, increasing- More than 450 exhibitors from prestigious foreign brands — Lafi te ly attracted by the rapidly growing 20 top wine producing countries Rothschild and Mouton Rothschild Chinese wine market, are hosting a including France, Spain, the United from France, Chateau Montelena range of promotions and wine-tast- States, South Africa, Italy and Chile, from the US and Nederburg from ing events. are arriving in Asia’s only Interna- South Africa. “China is one of our most impor- tional Grape and Wine City — a title Among the high-profi le compa- tant target markets. We had hoped conferred by the International Offi ce nies is Changyu Pioneer Wine Co more Chinese consumers know of Vine and Wine — to showcase Ltd, China’s oldest and largest vint- and take to our wines through this premium products to the event’s ner. expo, and actually we have already 10,000 participants. Established in 1892, the company found some new clients,” said Zak- “Yantai enjoys rich resources and is holding a series of activities to cel- kie Bester, chief executive offi cer of an enormous advantage in devel- ebrate its 120-anniversary during the Riebeek Cellars, a famed wine oping wine industry. We sincerely the expo. producer in South Africa. hope this expo can help more people A full range of its products “Although the wine market in chi- make business in Yantai and conduct are on display at the company’s na is fast growing, it still needs time Government offi cials and international guests attend the opening ceremony. PHOTOS BY JU CHUANJIANG / CHINA DAILY exchanges and cooperation on wine 1,200-square-meter pavilion. for Chinese to understand wine cul- sector,” said Zhang Jiangting, Party Zhou Hongjiang, general manager ture. I hope they can learn to enjoy Also underway is SITEVINI- growing grapes, winemaking, bot- wine festivals since 2007 that have secretary of Yantai. of Changyu, said the company now diverse wines with diff erent food and TECH China, an international expo tling and packaging. attracted more than 300,000 guests The three-day event has 706 has 20,000 hectares of vineyards, drink some wine everyday,” he said. on technologies and equipment for Yantai has held fi ve international from 60 countries and regions. Grapes of class: Rising chateau county in Yantai By WANG QIAN France, both top international wine pro- 6,667 hectares of vineyards under cultiva- in Yantai, Shandong ducers. tion and produce more than 20,000 tons of [email protected] Covering more than 142 hectares, the high-end wines annually. grounds include a chateau, a wine museum, Chateau Junding, backed by a 300 mil- Roaming around a vast vineyard in Chi- an underground cellar, rows of European- lion yuan ($47.1 million) investment from na, picking grapes and sampling premium style buildings and vast expanse of vine- China Oil and Foodstuff s Corp, was devel- vintages in a European-style castle could yards, where grapes for some of Changyu’s oped around a scenic lake and covers a total Performances at the on-going exposition. seem like a fairy tale. most high-end wines are grown. area of 6 square kilometers. Using imported But those experiences are easily available Th e wines — aged and bottled entirely vines from France and Italy, it produces at dozens of picturesque chateaus scat- in the chateau — soon became popular on premium wines for well-heeled customers. tered along the coast of Yantai in Shandong global wine market due to their quality and It is the fi rst chateau in Asia which has A city steeped in wine province. unique fl avor. a membership club off ering fi ne wine and “Th e city’s favorable natural and invest- The exotic approach of a French-style cuisine, golf, cigars and other luxuries. ment environment has attracted increasing chateau integrating winemaking, sight- Chateau Lafite Rothschild, one of the By ZHAO RUIXUE Several more chateaus are planned in Yan- numbers of domestic and foreign wine- seeing and recreation was well-received, world’s most prestigious winemakers, has in Yantai, Shandong tai’s satellite cities of Qixia and Penglai, and makers that have developed vineyards and prompting a number of domestic and for- acquired a 24.3-hectare site near Penglai [email protected] its Laishan district, which will bring the total chateaus, making it the nation’s major pro- eign wine producers follow in Changyu’s to develop its fi rst vineyard and chateau in number to 50 by the end of 2015. duction center for high-end wines,” said footsteps. China. It is projected to produce 120,000 Drinking wine is now a part of the Yantai To promote the city’s wine industry, Yantai Sun Chengxian, chairman of the Yantai According to Sun, there are now more bottles a year. lifestyle, not surprising in a city that produces hammers out the 12th Five-Year plan for the Wine Association. than 40 chateaus of diff erent features and “We have conducted research on the 360 million liters of wine yearly, one-third of wine industry. Yantai lies on a latitude similar to styles in Yantai. ideal grape-planting area in Asia for 15 the nation’s total. According to Yantai’s 12th Five-Year plan France’s premier wine producing area of “Th ese chateaus are not only production years, and Penglai was our choice,” said Eric “As the birthplace of China’s modern wine for the industry, the city is allocating 5 million Bordeaux and Italy’s Tuscany region. With sites for premium wines but also hot tour- Kohler from Chateau Lafi te Rothschild. industry, Yantai aims to be a world-famous yuan each year to support its wine sector by abundant sunshine, favorable soil and the ist destinations, attracting more than 1.5 March 20, a key chateau project was production and trade center for wine,” said developing quality grape growing sites, further right humidity, the area is regarded as the million tourists and wine lovers from all launched in the city’s Laishan district, Wang Liang, the city’s mayor. building wine brands and subsidizing grape best growing region for quality grapes, around the country every year,” said Sun. which involves a total of 5 billion yuan in Yantai’s connection to wine dates back to growers. Sun said. In Penglai, a county-level city of Yantai, backing and covers an area of 70 square 1892 when Changyu Pioneer Wine Co, China’s By 2015, about 33,000 additional hectares A decade ago Chateau Changyu-Castel alone there are 30 luxury chateaus built kilometer. fi rst winery, was established near the coastline will be developed for grape cultivation in Yan- on the outskirts of Yantai became China’s by world-renowned wineries including Sun from the wine association said “10 of Shandong province. tai. fi rst vineyard to be developed to meet inter- domestic brands Junding and Century more chateaus will be built in Yantai by In 1987, the city was recognized as an Inter- Total yearly wine production is projected to national standards. Chateaus, France’s Chateau Lafi te Roth- 2015 targeting the high-end wine mar- national Grape and Wine City by the Interna- reach 500 million liters, which would generate It was jointly funded by Changyu Pio- schild and Treaty Port Vineyard from the ket and further promoting wine-themed tional Offi ce of Vine and Wine, becoming the about 40 billion yuan in revenue. neer Wine Co Ltd and the Castle Group of United Kingdom. Th ey have a combined tourism”. only Asian city to have the honor. Over the next four years, Yantai will focus According to Yi Fenghuang, head of Yantai on developing high-end vintages the Changyu Wine Bureau, Yantai now has a complete International Wine Research and Development wine industry that integrates planting, wine- Center now under construction is designed to making, trade and related tourism. integrate research, winemaking and tourism. Some 20,200 hectares of grapes are under It is also striving to cultivate another 20 wine cultivation to supply more than 150 wineries brands by 2015 and is in the process of apply- operating in Yantai. ing for a geographical indication trademark Together they produced 360 million liters for Yantai wine. of wine last year, generating 22.7 billion yuan Another facility under construction — the ($3.6 billion) in revenues and profits of 3.5 Yantai International Wine Trade Center — will billion yuan. be the largest one of its kind in China and a Th e city has three nationally famous brands clearinghouse for 300 wines from home and and fi ve trademarks in the wine sector. It also abroad. has eight Shandong famous brands and 13 More than 1 million tourists now visit Cha- leading provincial trademarks. teau Changyu-Castel and its wine museum Among the top 10 wine brands in China, every year. Yantai is home to six including Changyu and Th e city government also plans to build a Great Wall, which is owned by China National wine-themed square and shopping streets to Australian visitors are among the 10,000 participants expected for the event. Cereals, Oil and Foodstuff s Corp. further boost tourism.

The opening ceremony for the sixth Yantai International Exposition that began Wednesday in the city. International afi cionados taste Changyu wine at the on-going exposition.