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.