Ningxia's wines making the transition to the top table

Environmental restoration

The restoration of the environment in the Helan Mountains has achieved remarkable results.

As a result, Yinchuan was included in the world's first batch of international wetland cities, and was a demonstration city for the treatment of black and malodorous bodies of water in China.

In 2008, Ningxia's regional authorities issued the instruction: "With extraordinary perseverance and determination, we must take our region's grape industry to the top. We will not rest until we become the best in China."

In response to the government's call, a group of entrepreneurs who felt confident about the grape wine industry invested in vineyard construction. Also, many entrepreneurs from all over the world came to Ningxia, reclaimed wasteland and created vineyards.

He Hong, the Yangyang winery owner, said grapes are relatively drought-resistant and require annual precipitation of 600 to 800 millimeters for optimum growth.

Grapes require a lot of sunlight, and Ningxia's long hours of daylight are particularly beneficial for their growth, while fluctuations between temperatures in the day and at night help to deposit sugar and nutrients in the grapes, thereby improving their quality.

Ningxia's climate fully meets these conditions, which is why the quality of the region's wine is among the best in the world, he said.

In turn, grape cultivation has had a positive impact on the environment as grape roots are well-developed and can stabilize sandy soil.

"Ningxia's soil and water nurtured high-quality grapes, and hundreds of thousands of hectares of grapevines nourished this land," He Hong said.

Last week, during his online speech at the opening ceremony of the International Grape and Wine Industry Conference, Pau Roca, director general of the International Organization of Vine and Wine, said climate change remains a major challenge for the world, and the grape and wine industry can make a beneficial contribution.

"China has all the potential in research and new technologies to have its rightful share in shaping the global vine and wine tendencies," he said,

"Ningxia's success is in becoming the first Chinese pilot zone ... we now look forward to having China as a full member (of the organization) very soon, with all the rights and influence your nation deserves."