From Xinjiang to Liaoning: Five years of Decanter awards for Chinese wines

By Jim Boyce

Jia Bei Lan Cabernet Red 2009, from Ningxia-based operation Helan Qing Xue, has been a hot topic since it became the first Chinese wine to win an “international trophy” at the Decanter World Wine Awards. I’ll leave for another post what this means in terms of such magazines acting as “gate keepers“, whether judges at such contests reflect the tastes of consumers, and so on.

For now, a note that Helan Qing Xue is only one of several operations in China that have received recognition at the Decanter awards over the years. I have no idea how many wines that enter the contest get a ranking of “commended” or higher, but I would guess the percentage is high, which means operations that seek such status would do well simply to participate in this — and presumably other — contests. Here are China producers that have received Decanter accolades over the past five years.

2011

International trophy
Helan Qing Xue Jia Bei Lan 2009 (Ningxia)

Silver
Changyu Vidal Ice Wine 2008 (Liaoning)
Domaine Helan Mountain Classic Chardonnay 2008 (Ningxia)
Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Shanxi)
Helan Qing Xue Jia Bei Lan 2008 (Ningxia)

Bronze
Domaine Helan Mountain Premium Collection Riesling 2008 (Ningxia)
Grace Vineyard Deep Blue 2008 (Shanxi)
Great Wall 3 Star Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Commended
Château Sungod Prime Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Hebei)
Domaine Helan Mountain Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Ningxia)
Great Wall Terroir Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Red 2006 (Hebei)

2010

Bronze
Great Wall Long Yan NV (Hebei)

Commended
Chateau Sungod Reserve 2005 (Hebei)
Domaine Helan Mountain Classic Chardonnay 2008 (Ningxia)
Domaine Helan Mountain Premium Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (Ningxia)
Great Wall Huaxia Vineyard Cru T Cabernet Sauvignon NV (Hebei)

2008

Bronze
Grace Vineyard Deep Blue 2005 (Shanxi)

Commended
Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Recerve Chardonnay 2005 (Shanxi)
Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Shanxi)

2007

Bronze
Xia Great Wall Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard H NV (Hebei)

Commended
Grace Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Shanxi)
Xia Great Wall Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard S NV (Hebei)

Good content takes resources. If you find Grape Wall useful, help cover its costs via PayPal, WeChat or credit / debit card. Also check out Grape Wall on Facebook. Twitter and Instagram. And sibling sites World Marselan Day, World Baijiu Day and Beijing Boyce.