Chinese Wines on the Rise

China has grown from a consumer of fine wines to a supplier. Vineyards have been planted across the country, as top winemakers begin to join in to take advantage of the increasing market. The International Vine and Wine Organization recorded that China now has more land devoted to wine production than France. Although oversupply is an issue in the global wine industry, China continues to plant to earn profits and become a major player in the industry.

China now ranks second to Spain, owning 11% of the vineyards in the world. That is up 3.9% from 2000. Qingyun Ma, Dean of the Southern California School of Architecture, believes that the mass planting is connected to China’s solar-power craze. China is now the world’s largest solar-panel maker, after a governmental incentive program was implemented within the country.

However, the wine industry has been decreasing due to oversupply. Production has been down since 2013, affecting five of the world’s top 10 wine-making countries. Most of the wine produced by China will be consumed by its citizens, but that may change with the production of higher quality wines. Professional winemakers are partially the reason, as they have began to purchase land within popular areas, like the Ningxia province.

China’s unfavorable climate proves a disadvantage for grape production. Where there is sun, it is too cold. When the weather is warm enough, the conditions are also wet. Finding a proper place to plant successful wines is a challenge, but those that know how to utilize the land will reap the benefits of a drastically increasing market.