Huailai County

Huailai County carries more than 1,200 years of grape cultivation history, with roots tracing back to the Tang Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, local white milk and Longyan grape varieties were selected as imperial tributes. The modern era brought a landmark achievement in 1979 when China's first dry white wine was produced in Shacheng, the county seat. In 1978, the Five Ministries and Commissions designated Huailai as the site for national wine research projects, recognizing its position along the 40°N latitude belt. Then in 2001, Marselan cuttings arrived here for the first time in China, establishing Huailai as the birthplace of what is now the country's most extensively planted Marselan area.

• Grape cultivation dates to the Tang Dynasty, over 1,200 years ago
• Longyan and white milk grapes served as imperial tributes in the Ming and Qing dynasties
• China's first dry white wine produced in Shacheng in 1979
• First Marselan vines in China planted here in 2001

Huailai County sits approximately 120 kilometers west of Beijing, nestled between the Yan and Taihang Mountains. The Guanting Reservoir provides a moderating influence on temperatures throughout the growing season. The region operates under a continental monsoon climate with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Hillside vineyard sites range from 498 to 1,050 meters in elevation, creating distinct microclimates across the county. The soils are sandy-loamy with good drainage and mineral richness, well suited to producing wines with freshness and minerality. The extreme cold of winter requires growers to bury vines under soil for protection, a labor-intensive practice common across northern Chinese wine regions.

• Continental monsoon climate with hot summers and cold, dry winters
• Elevation ranges from 498 to 1,050 meters across hillside vineyard sites
• Sandy-loamy, well-drained, mineral-rich soils
• Guanting Reservoir moderates temperatures; Yan and Taihang Mountains provide shelter

Huailai grows an extensive range of varieties spanning both international and local grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Marselan, Cabernet Gernischt, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Pinot Noir represent the red portfolio, while Chardonnay and Riesling lead the whites. The indigenous Longyan grape has historically produced off-dry red wines. The dominant wine style is medium-bodied dry red and white wines, noted for balance, freshness, and minerality. The region's wines are recognized for persistence and aging potential. Marselan deserves particular attention: introduced to China here in 2001, Huailai now accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all Marselan grown across the entire country.

• Marselan is the signature variety; Huailai holds 90-95% of China's total Marselan plantings
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Gernischt are the leading red varieties
• Chardonnay and Riesling lead white wine production
• Indigenous Longyan grape historically used for off-dry red wines

Huailai hosts a range of producers from large-scale national companies to boutique estates and international joint ventures. Great Wall Wine Company (China Great Wall Wine Company, Ltd.) is the most prominent large producer in the region. Domaine Franco-Chinois represents one of the earliest Sino-French partnerships in Chinese wine. More recently, Domaine de Long Dai, the Lafite Rothschild project in China, has established a presence in Huailai, bringing significant international attention. Canaan Wine Estate, Martin Vineyard, and Chateau Sungod round out the notable producer roster. The county holds national geographical indication protection product status and has developed a growing eco-tourism industry built around its wine identity, including a wine bottle sculpture landmark along regional highways.

• Great Wall Wine Company is the dominant large-scale producer in the region
• Domaine de Long Dai (Lafite Rothschild's China project) is based in Huailai
• Domaine Franco-Chinois is one of China's pioneering Sino-French wine ventures
• Huailai holds national geographical indication protection product status