Yantai-Penglai Region: 

China’s Wine CapitalHome to over 100 wineries, the Yantai-Penglai region is responsible for 40% of China’s wine production. This region, which sits on the same latitude as Bordeaux, boasts a rich history and ideal climate for winemaking, giving rise to some of China’s most renowned wineriesYantai is particularly famous for the Changyu Company, China’s oldest wine and brandy producer, founded in 1892 by Qing diplomat Chang Bishi. With an initial investment of 3 million taels of silver, Chang built Asia’s largest wine cellar in 1894, located less than 100 meters from the coast. Its unique, natural climate-control system, housed a meter below sea level, has remained effective for over a century.

The Yantai wine industry has grown rapidly over the past three decades and is now home to top producers like Changyu, Great Wall, Junding, and Grand Dragon, making it China’s largest wine-producing region.

Major Grape Varieties

Yantai's wines benefit from its geographic similarity to Bordeaux, which enhances the cultivation of both red and white grape varieties.

• The Cabernet Gernischt, a Chinese native grape, has gained international recognition, contributing to China’s status as the second-largest grape-growing country, with 830,000 hectares of vineyards.

• Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted grape in China, accounting for 7.2% of the global cultivation area.

• Other popular red varieties include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Vitis Amurensis Rupr.

• In the realm of white wine, varieties like Chardonnay, Italian Riesling, Longyan, and Ugni Blanc flourish.

With its superior climate, geographic advantages, and growing global reputation, Yantai-Penglai is solidifying its place as a key player in the international wine market.