China’s fledgling wine industry has expanded dramatically in recent years and according to a report by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) their vineyards now occupy more than 7,700 square kilometres of land, making China, officially the second largest winegrower in the world.

Leading the way is Spain with one million hectares under vine with China’s 799,000 hectares closing the gap. Some predictions estimate that China could even move into first place soon as plantings surged two to three years ago and these vines haven’t even started to produce yet.

China’s vineyards equate to more than 10 per cent of the world’s total vineyards, and a larger area than any nation on earth (after Spain) − more than vineyards in France, Italy, Australia and the US.

China also imports grapes from all over the world including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and Chardonnay; in particular the Chinese like their red wine. Two years ago, China became the world’s largest consumer of red wine, working its way through 155.4 million cases, compared with 150 million cases in France and 141 million in Italy, according to a report by Vinexpo.

The roots of China’s wine industry date back to 1892, the tail end of the Qing dynasty, with the establishment of the Changyu Winery in Yantai, a city in the coastal province of Shandong − an area that remains among the country’s largest wine producers.

Nearly two decades later, in 1910, the Beijing Winery opened its doors, producing wine used in the performance of religious rites by China’s Christians.

The first company built with the help of foreign funding emerged in 1979, which used equipment imported from France, Germany and Italy. The French capital and know-how helped establish European-style quality-control and management practices.