Seventeen high-end wineries of the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain in Ningxia Hui autonomous region attended promotional activities in Macao from February 23 to 26.
Guests celebrate at the prestigious perfection of Ningxia – gala dinner. [Photo provided by the Administrative Committee of the Grape Industry Zone of the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothills in Ningxia]
Fongyee Walker, China's leading wine educator and master of wine, and Li Demei, China's leading oenologist, were invited to deliver lectures and host a wine tasting, which proved a special event for wine lovers in Macao.
Guests pose for a group photo at the gala. [Photo provided by the Administrative Committee of the Grape Industry Zone of the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothills in Ningxia]
As an international metropolis, a free trade port and a world center of tourism and leisure, Macao enjoys a vast wine consumption market with huge potential. Wineries from the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain made their debut in Macao last December, with great effect.
In order to continue to expand the market in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the wine markets of Portuguese-speaking countries, and to promote exports of its wines, Ningxia, with the Macao Wynn Palace, held promotional activities to enhance the brand and influence of products from regions of the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain in Ningxia.
Guests attend the onsite wine lectures. [Photo provided by the Administrative Committee of the Grape Industry Zone of the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothills in Ningxia]
The eastern foothills of Helan Mountain in Ningxia is recognized as one of the core areas in the world most suitable for growing wine grapes and producing high-end wine, and have played a leading role in promoting the high-quality development of China's wine industry.
Guests taste the wine and take photos. [Photo provided by the Administrative Committee of the Grape Industry Zone of the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothills in Ningxia]
In recent years, with the efforts of the Ningxia governments, the wine produced from the eastern foothills of Helan Mountain has become more competitive, with its brand now worth about 30.107 billion yuan (about $4.4 billion), which ranks 9th in the list of regional brands of national geographical indication products.
The wineries receive more than 1.35 million visits a year, with a comprehensive output value of 34.27 billion yuan. The wine industry has become important for expanding opening up, adjusting structure and increasing agricultural income in Ningxia, and its wine has become a “name card” for Ningxia's exchanges around the world.
Guests taste the wine. [Photo provided by the Administrative Committee of the Grape Industry Zone of the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothills in Ningxia]
More than fifty high-end wines from seventeen wineries in Ningxia were sampled at the event, which was attended by wine practitioners, distributors and wine lovers from well-known hotels in Macao who tasted the wines onsite. Many guests and consumers said that the quality of Ningxia wine has reached international standards, giving the region bright prospects. Ningxia is looking forward to more cooperation to promote Chinese wines to a broader market.