China winery architecture #6: Modestly big chateaux.

In China "bigger is better," according to one Chinese winery executive. So I would rate these Chinese wineries as  architecturally modest Chateau. ("Chateau" is the term Chinese use for wineries.)

Dragon Seal Winery was originally formed as a collaborative effort with Pernod Ricard of France, In 1987. Upon the recommendations of the French new vineyards were established in Huailai County, Hebei Province, with cuttings imported from the Bordeaux and Burgundy regions of France. Those collaborative efforts failed.  Coming out of that failure, Dragon Seal Wines Company became a wholly, state-owned enterprise under the control of Beijing First Light Industry Corporation in 2001. This winery building in Hebei Province is part of that new rebirth. China wine.

Chateau Sun God winery owned by China Great Wall Wine Co., Ltd., located in Shacheng, Huailai County, Hebei Province, China. China wine.

 Ningxia Daylong winery Company in Ningxia Hui autonomous region near Yinchuan is a subsidiary of Thailand's Daysun Group based in Bangkok. China wine.

 Dynasty's Imperial Horse winery spreads out behind one of their vineyards. China wine. China, Ningxia Province.

 Local government-owned Chateau Lanny. China; Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

The sign at front entrance identifies the  Leirenshou Grape Winery, which was established in 2002. Like a good company in capitalistic/communistic China, they tout  statics like their manufacturing capacity of something like 6 tons per hour, and annual production of 18,000 tons of wine. I can't remember how many glasses can be filled with 18,000 tons.   China, Ningxia province. China wine.

HeLan Qing Xue Winery, which produced Jai Bei Lan wine, the first Chinese winery to win a gold medal at the Decanter Competition. The resident winemaker, Zhang Jing was once the Deputy Secretary General of Ningxia Wine Industry Association, and winery President and Chairman, Rong Jian, was also President and Chairman of the Board of the Ningxia Wine Industry Association. Now the functions of the Association are taken by a much more active Ningxia Bureau of Grape and Floriculture Industry—now that is a true Chinese name—located near the Helan Mountain Grape Cultural Corridor, with Cao Kailong as the director.  HeLan Qing Xue Winery is now only one of the many wineries in Ningxia Province, China. China wine.

While some functions are high tech, workers still hand glue labels on the bottles at HeLan Qing Xue Winery. China, Ningxia Province, Yinchuan. China wine.

Chateau Changyu-Castel is a joint venture winery between Changyu—China's oldest and most famous winery, and Castel— rated one of the top three wine companies in the world. This is Changyu's first in a series of chateax built throughout China. The winery is located near Yantai, Shandong Province, China. China wine.

This is the neatly organized barrel cellar in Chateau Changyu-Castel. China wine.

While I visited Yantai Happy News Winery Company during September harvest, there didn't seem to be much activity. But with a name like Happy News, how can life possibly be all bad? Shandong Province, China. China wine.

All images copyright ©Janis Miglavs 2014

China winery architecture #5: Modernist style

Domaine Chandon Ningxia, near Yinchuan, Ningxia Province.

Moët Hennessy broke ground on April 2012 in the construction of this modernist 6,300 square meter winery. Now fully operational, the winery has fermentation wine cellars, technical tasting rooms, and a visitor center. Equipped with world leading sparkling wine production facilities, Domain Chandon (Ningxia) Winery released its first sparkling wine just this year (2014).

Pinot Noir vines in front of Domaine Chandon Ningxia, near Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The sculptured wall represents furrowed rows with vineyard posts at Domaine Chandon Ningxia, near Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The sculptured wall represents furrowed rows with vineyard posts at Domaine Chandon Ningxia, near Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

The production area is visible through the large glass windows of the formal tasting and dinning room at Domaine Chandon Ningxia, near Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

COFCO's Great Wall Winery, near Yinchuan, Ningxia Province.

China's largest grain and oil dealer COFCO owns this winery and vineyard.

The architectural lines of COFCO's Great Wall Winery at the base of Helan Mountain seem to mimic the jagged lines of the mountain, near Yinchuan city, in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China.

All images international copyright 2014 Janis Miglavs. 

For a more comprehensive look at the China Wine industry see my recently released book China The New Wine Frontier written in both Chinese and English. (The book already won the "Best in the World" award from Gourmand.)

To order the book in China go to Amazon China. 

To order in the USA or internationally, contact the author/photographer at janis@jmiglavs.com.

China winery architecture #4: The practical Soviet-era style factory.

Xinjiang Citic Guoan Wine Co.
"Xinjiang is located at roughly the same latitude as Bordeaux and California, making it an ideal place for growing grapes,' said Fred Nauleau, the French winemaker hired by the Citic Guoan Wine Company, who has spent ten years in the autonomous region, married a Chinese woman and had two children. 'And I was surprised to find that red wine I made here could inherit the fine and elegant style which once just belonged to old world, French wine."

Main entry to Citic Winery in Manasi. Note the secure gates and tire spikes to guard against terrorists. Manasi, Xinjinag province, China.

Farmers unload harvested grapes at this platfoweigh and check sugar content at Citic Winery in Manasi. Manasi, Xinjinag province, China.

The bright flowers don't cover the factory-like architecture of Citic Winery in Manasi. Manasi, Xinjinag province, China.

The people on the walkway are dwarfed by the forest of huge storage and fermenting stainless tanks at Citic Winery in Manasi. Manasi, Xinjinag province, China.

Citic Winery in Manasi. Manasi, Xinjinag province, China.

This is the employee designed and made control center at the winery at Citic Winery in Manasi. Manasi, Xinjinag province, China.

Barrel Cellar at Citic Winery in Manasi. Manasi, Xinjinag province, China.

Changyu Pioneer Wine Co. Inc.

This is the factory winery of the Changyu brand, which also includes Disney-sized Chateaux, some of which can be seen in my blog. Located in Yantai, Shandong Province, Changyu Pioneer Wine Company is China's oldest and largest winery. Started in 1892 by Zhang Bishi, the company's name is formed from his surname Zhang (Chang) and the Chinese character which means prosperity.  Changyu Pioneer Wine Company is at least the world's 10th largest winery.

Two people in the lower right of the photograph are dwarfed by the fermenting tanks at Changyu Pioneer Wine Co., Yantai, Shandong Province, China.

This worker checks the quality of the cork being produced at Changyu Pioneer Wine Co., Yantai, Shandong Province, China.

This is just a portion of the bottling line at Changyu Pioneer Wine Co., Yantai, Shandong Province, China.

Storage tanks at Changyu Pioneer Wine Co., Yantai, Shandong Province, China.

 Domaine Helan Mountain Winery

Helan Mountain (Ningxia) Winery Co. Ltd. is a wholly-owned trading company of Pernod Ricard.

Pernod Ricard's Helan Mountain (Ningxia) Winery Co., Ningxia province, China.

Pernod Ricard's Helan Mountain (Ningxia) Winery Co., Ningxia province, China.

Pernod Ricard's Helan Mountain (Ningxia) Winery Co., Ningxia province, China.

Pernod Ricard's Helan Mountain (Ningxia) Winery Co., Ningxia province, China.

All images international copyright 2014 Janis Miglavs.

For a more comprehensive look at the China Wine industry see my recently released book China The New Wine Frontier written in both Chinese and English. (The book already won the "Best in the World" award from Gourmand.)

To order the book in China go to Amazon China. 

To order in the USA or internationally, contact the author/photographer at janis@jmiglavs.com.

China winery architecture #3: Nouveau California Mission style.

Chateau Junding winery, located near Penglai, Shandong province.

I conjecture the nouveau California mission style architecture of Chateau Junding is no accident, but in fact a visual association. 

The COFCO-private joint venture Chateau boasts it is located in Nava Valley. Now does that sound similar to Napa Valley or what? Napa Valley wineries and the Napa Valley Vintners Association fought legal battles over the name.  

Taking associations one step further, Junding and the Penglai city government Wine Region Promotional Association claim Nava Valley is now one of the world's seven major grape coasts, associating itself with Médoc, Tuscany, Casablanca, Barossa Valley, Cape Town and of course, Napa Valley.

Junding is just one of the wineries from all across China featured in my recently-released book, China The New Wine Frontier.(The book already won the "Best in the World" award from Gourmand.) To order the book in China go to Amazon China, in the USA or internationally, order directly from the author/photographer at janis@jmiglavs.com.

Chateau Junding is the pinnacle of "Bigger is Better" in Chinese wine marketing. The main cluster of buildings, spreading out like a square donut with a crowning tower at one edge, covers 300 mu (20 hectares). Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

The complex contains 92 guest rooms. Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Wind your way to the Junding amenities, including Chinese and Western style restaruants, at least one banquet hall, three private meeting rooms with round dinner tables, a fully equiped business center, a huge karaoke space (where I had to perform as the only foreign guest), an outdoor swimming pool, a more bars than I could count. Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

The trail leads to a 3000 sq meter theater-style plaza for outdoor barbeques and "celebration."Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

The lights and moon highlight the architecture at night. Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

The architecture of the wine production building seems stately even from the backyard side rarely seen by visitors. Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Towers and arches surround one of the courtyards next to dining rooms and recreation area. Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Almost hidden among the opulant amenities, there is actually a fully-outfittee winery capable of producing one million bottles and year and, according to the literature, the largest underground cellar in Asia.  Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Stainless steel storage tanks in a spotless production area at Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Chateau Junding Golf Club

This road leads to Chateau Junding Club, with its 7,293 yard, 18-hole course, boasts it is the only course in China situated in a vineyard. Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Park your Silver Cloud or black Buick right at the entrance of Chateau Junding Club with it incongruent combination of architectural styles. Inside is 5,800 square meteers of restaurants, privte member areas, business center, coffee shop, cigar boutique and, of course, wine display areas. Chateau Junding Club, Penglai, Shandong province.

The golfer's first sight insdie the Golf Club is the marble floor and ornate ceiling of the lobby. Chateau Junding Club, Penglai, Shandong province.

Inside Chateau Junding Club, Penglai, Shandong province.

Yes, they actually grow and make wine at Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Besides the winery, hotel and golf club, Chateau Junding also has a nursery to propagate new vines to be shipped all over China. Even the nursery has the mission style arches. Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Phoenix Lake, which has fish we ate for one dinner, cradles the complex. Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

Chateau Junding, Penglai, Shandong province.

All images copyright 2014 Janis Miglavs. 

Junding is just one of the wineries from all across China featured in my recently-released book, China The New Wine Frontier.(The book already won the "Best in the World" award from Gourmand.)

To order the book in China go to Amazon China, in the USA or internationally, order directly from the author/photographer at janis@jmiglavs.com.