Going for gold

"Our owner always says it's okay if costs are higher or yields lower, as long as every bottle reflects our commitment to quality."

Kang says that 2019 was a particularly favorable year for winemaking in Ningxia. With moderate rainfall and ample sunshine, it is widely regarded as one of the region's best vintages. "Many of our other wines from that year also showed excellent flavor," he says. "This is thanks to the terroir and geographical advantages of Ningxia. Our vineyard is located in the heart of the region — one of China's largest contiguous wine-producing areas, and among the most awarded regions internationally."

In contrast, 2020 was colder, with a longer growing season. The phenolic compounds in the grapes developed more slowly, pushing harvest to about two weeks later than the previous year.

Kang saw this as an opportunity to make a wine that truly expressed the year's unique character. During vinification, he reduced pump-overs and cap management to better preserve the fruit aromas, and shortened the post-fermentation maceration period to allow for a slower, more delicate extraction of tannins and phenolics.