It’s an exciting time for Chinese wine. After all, China is now one of the top wine producers in the world. In recent years, some 120,000 hectares of vineyards have been planted in the country, with eight large-scale regions and more than 200 wineries emerging. As a result, China has been propelled into the top 10 of the world’s biggest wine-producing countries.
If you’re thinking it might be time to see exactly what the country has to offer, the latest IWSC medal winners are a good place to start. Judges have taste-tested their way through the country’s diverse wines. The range included intriguing icewines and lively reds.
The top-rated Chinese wine was the Pabala Ecological icewine from Yunnan Zangditianxiang Wine, scoring 96 points and earning praise for its ‘Stunning nose of dried fig, stone-fruit, ginger, saffron, mango and nut aromas’. Second on the list was an Italian Riesling from Xinjiang Tangtingxialu Winery that had ‘defined nose of grapefruit, lemon verbena, pineapple and nettle’, scoring 95 points as a result. Other high scorers include wines made from Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc.
Each sample was grouped by type and judged blind alongside its category peers and by a panel of experts. Consequently, the team at Club Oenologique has taken a look in order to deliver the top eight list below.
For readers new to Chinese wine, we recommend you read our in-depth guide, Chinese Wine Explained. But for now, we bring you the top eight Chinese wines you need to try.
How do we judge these wines?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous wine tasting process. That means that each wine sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC wine judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the wine industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
How do we score these wines?
Only the best wines sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, wines have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
More from Club Oenologique
Club O is a premium lifestyle publication for curious and discerning wine and spirits lovers. Renowned for inspiring stories and trusted expertise, we connect people to the joys of the world, through the lens of wine, spirits and other interesting drinks. Based in London, our team of expert writers seek out thoughtful stories that introduce our readers to new people, places, drinking discoveries and insights, as well as exploring fresh perspectives on familiar themes. Membership to The Collection offers exclusive access to leading critics’ tasting reports, scores, tastings and events, especially tailored to collectors and investors. Our flagship Club Oenologique magazine offers even more insights for enthusiasts and collectors.
Eight of the best Chinese wines
Yunnan Zangditianxiang Wine, Pabala Ecological Icewine NV
Xinjiang Tangtingxialu Winery, Italian Riesling 2023
Bainian Manor Wine Co., Merlot 2022
Domaine Chandon Ningxia, Brut NV
Domaine Chandon Ningxia, Rosé Brut NV
Xuzhou Hanxiang Liquor, Nabaifu Gran Reserve Icewine Vidal 2017
Ningxia Jade Vineyard, Jade 2021
Shanxi Ruyan Valley Estate, Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc 2021
