China winery architecture #1: One-of-a-kind wineries.

This is the first in a series of photographic inside-the-winery tours of China winery architecture.

These three wineries are very personal one-of-a-kind statements by passionate owners creating a unique winery design.

Treaty Port Scottish Castle Vineyard and Winery, Shandong Province

Treaty Port Scottish Castle where China meets Scotland head on. Treaty Port winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

The local construction company had never built a Scottish castle before, so there were lots of learning and delays. Finally a second company was hired. Treaty Port winery; Mulangou Village; Penglai; Shandong Province; China; Asia.

Here on the slope of Qiushan mountain sits a fully functional Scottish castle among 21 hectares of estate vineyards. Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

Night view of Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

The view of estate vineyards from Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

Griffon-like gargoyle staring down from the granite wall at Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

Hand carved wooden doors lead into the interior. Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

Main dinning room complete with fireplace and audio visual screen at Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

Fully equipped kitchen, complete with a red AGA cooker and matching refrigerator.
Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

Panoramic view of cellar at Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery, Mulangou Village, Penglai, Shandong Province, China.

Chris Ruffle, who with his wife Tiffany, founded Treaty Port Scottish Castle winery in 2004.

Chateau Yuanshi (Yuan Shi) Winery, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region (NHAR)

The owner's vision was to build Ningxia Chateau Zhihui Yuanshi from local stone with local craftsmen.  Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

The first light of sunrise touches Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

This craftsman worked for two days inscribing and carving a single stone at Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

Barrels are cleaned and lowered to the cellar for filling in the cellar below.  The Chateau has a 300 ton production capacity per year and can store more than 280 tons. The winery produced 40 tons of wine in 2013. Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

Chateau Yuanshi Winery is one of the 10 wineries that earned fifth-growth status in the 2013 classification. Cellar with rows of French oak barrels at Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

One of the intimate tasting rooms at Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

The dinning room at Chateau Yuanshi Winery near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

The owner of Chateau Yuanshi Winery treats his photographer guest to a formal chinese tea ceremony.  The Chateau is near Yinchuan city in the Ningxia Hui Province wine region near the base of Helan Mountain.

Jade Valley Wine and Resort, Shaanxi Province

Jade Valley Winery and Resort, in China's Qinling mountains, was envisioned and established by Qingyun Ma in 2000, Lantian, near Xi'an, Shaanxi Provice, China.

One of architect Qingyun Ma's drawings of his vision for Jade Valley Winery and Resort. Qingyun Ma is not only one of China's most influential architects, but also a dean at the USC architectural department. The winery and resort is located in Lantian, near Xi'an, Shaanxi Provice wine region, China.

Jade Valley Winery and Resort in China's Qinling mountains, Lantian, near Xi'an, Shaanxi Provice wine region, China.

Worker unlocking a traditional door lock into a portion of the resort at Jade Valley Winery and Resort, envisioned and established by architect Qingyun Ma, Lantian, near Xi'an, Shaanxi Provice wine region, China.

Jade Valley Winery and Resort, envisioned by architect Qingyun Ma in 2000, Lantian, near Xi'an, Shaanxi Provice wine region, China.

Jade Valley Winery and Resort, established by architect Qingyun Ma in 2000, Lantian, near Xi'an, Shaanxi Provice wine region, China.

Topping barrels in the underground cellar at Jade Valley Winery and Resort established by Qingyun Ma in 2000, near Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.

The photographer photographs the photographer photographing the photographer at the entrance of the resort portion of Jade Valley Winery and Resort established by architect Qingyun Ma in 2000, near Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.








All images international copyright © 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.