A photographic journey to Chinese winery tasting rooms

 While Chinese wineries cater to a variety of clients, more often it's business and government officials rather than the casual camera-totting middle class visitor. 

As you look at these Chinese winery tasting rooms, play detective to decipher the target client.

Chateau Changyu AFIP Global, Beijing

Chateau Changyu AFIP Global, one hour from Beijing, China.

Just one of the tasting rooms at Changyu AFIP Global, China.

There are many tasting areas at Chateau Changyu AFIP Global. I was fortuante to receive individual attention in this one.

Chateau Sun Great Wall Winery, Hebei Province

While impressive with all the rich wood paneling, the Great Wall Chateau Sun didn't seem very well used.

A gardener mows the grass in front of Great Wall Chateau Sun Headquarters. Hebei Province, China.

Moët Hennessy's Domaine Chandon, Ningxia Province

In the wind swept desert of Ningxia, this is Moët Hennessy's Domaine Chandon’s Chinese outpost. The stainless steel tanks of the production area can be seen through the wall-sized tasting room windows. Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, China.

Pinot noir vines spring to life after a winter of buried hibernation at Domaine Chandon's sparkling wine facility in Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, China.

Château Changyu Moser XV, Ningxia Province

No decent tasting room should be without fully-armoured Miedeval knights guarding the entrance, according to Chateau Changyu Moser XV anyway. You never know what might happen during your Chinese wine experience in Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, China.

The Chinese wine experience at Chateau Changyu Moser XV includes a number of bottle shops designed more for looking and buying than tasting. Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, China.

Moonrise over Chateau Changyu Moser XV. Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, China.

Chateau Yuanshi Winery, Ningxia Province

The tasting room at Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region next to Helan Mountain.

French winemaker, Patrick Soye, tastes the wine at Chateau Yuanshi Winery. Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Province wine region next to Helan Mountain.

One of the private tasting rooms at Chateau Yuanshi Winery.

Chateau Yuanshi Winery

XiXiaKing Yuquan, Ningxia Province

Just entering the lobby into Xixia King Yuquan International Wine Estate is an expansive Chinese wine experience.  Xixia King Yuquan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, China.

Most guest wine tasting happens in private rooms like this one. Can you imagine a nice Chinese Cabernet Gernischt here?   Xixia King Yuquan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, China.

Mo
Xixia King Yuquan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous region, China.

Dynasty Winery, Tianjin Province

If you see a French influence at the Dynasty Winery, it's not by accident. One of the major shareholders is Frenched-based Remy Cointreau. This is a joint venture with Tianjin Development Holdings Ltd. Tianjin Province, China.

Coming in from the French inspired exterior and with Remy Cointreau as a major shareholder, this tasting room is quite a contrast. Perhaps we could call this wine experience Western wooden rustic with a sailor's influence. Dynasty Winery, Tianjin Province.

Chateau Huadong Parry, Shandong Province

Chateau Huadong Parry, on the outskirts of Qingdao, Shandong Province.

Chateau Huadong Parry, on the outskirts of Qingdao, Shandong Province.

Chateau Huadong Parry, on the outskirts of Qingdao, Shandong Province.

Chateau Huadong Parry, on the outskirts of Qingdao, Shandong Province.

Treaty Port, Shandong Province

Treaty Port, Shandong Province.

Treaty Port, Shandong Province.

  Changyu, Shandong Province

Inside the caverns of Changyu's wine museum, guards stand watch over the cellar and tasting room. I didn't think it was such a rough neighborhood. Yantai, Shandong Province.

Hidden inside the caverns of Changyu's wine museum is this tasting room. Yantai, Shandong Province.

All photographs and text © 2015 Janis Miglavs

www.jmiglavs.com

janis@jmiglavs.com