Penglai·China
A Magical Grape-Growing Shore
Sea breezes moistened by the breast of the Pacific Ocean,
Sunshine at 37 degrees north latitude glitters, a gift from God;
Sea-sand, that covers a thousand years of legend, and
shapes a magical shore for grapes
This is Penglai, China.
The City
*Bordering on the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea, Penglai is located at the northern coast of Shandong Peninsula.
*Penglai is stretching across 120°35ˊ-121°18ˊE and 37°25ˊ-37°50ˊN.
*It covers an area of 1128.6 square kilometers with a population of 450,000.
*Penglai is the cradle of China fairy culture. The earliest Chinese "Silk Road of the Sea" begins on Penglai's seashore.
*The city is approved as "China Excellent Tourism City" and is world famous as the Fairyland on Earth.
*Penglai has convenient traffic and the highways from all directions.
*A long history of grape planting and winemaking have contributed enormous culture ethos to this city.
*Penglai’s seashore meets the three grape-growing principles, namely sun, sand and sea. The "3S"principles endow the wine with the natural quality of harmony, full of aroma and born elegance. Penglai is crowned as "one of the seven grape coasts of the world".
The Environment
*Penglai lies in the northern shore of Shandong Peninsula. The climate is greatly influenced by the sea. As a result of that, it has neither scorching summer nor freezing winter. The climate here is pleasantly cool with plenty of sunshine in growth period. Penglai has been slowly tilting with the south rising and the north sinking. In mature period, the southern mountains stop south wind which blows from South Pacific Ocean, therefore, the air humidity is comparatively low, and the temperature reduces gently. All these conditions are favorable for accumulation of sugars and guarantee the grapes a long mature period.
Climate
The annual sunshine time is 2825.2 hours, annual average temperature is 12.5℃, annual active accumulated temperature is 4164.0℃.The effective accumulated temperature is 3726℃, annual frost-free period is 216 days and IH is 7.66 in growth season. The hydrothermal coefficient in the two months before picking season is 1.29 and 1.14 respectively. All these natural advantages guarantee the superior quality of grapes. Slow ripening process endued the grapes with full flavors and a pleasing balance between sugars and acids.
Precipitation
The annual average rainfall is 592.0mm, and the precipitation decreases from early of August, which is suitable for the growth of late-mature grape varieties.
Soil
Sandy soil makes up a large proportion of soil. The soil layer is comparatively light with good ventilation and rich content of minerals.
Topography
The south part of Penglai is mainly hilly area, but the north is flat. Varied topography causes the formation of microclimate, which is favorable for the growing of distinctive varieties of grapes.
History
*The recorded history of Penglai for grape-planting starts from 200 years ago.
*In 1873, an American missionary introduced wine grapes to Penglai. From then on, Penglai entered a new era of planting foreign grape varieties.
*Zhang Bishi, the founder of Yantai ChangYu Winery Group Co., Ltd. traveled to Penglai in 1892 and found that wine grapes with good quality are planted here. He started a career in introducing new technology from Bordeaux and planting wine grapes in a large scale in Yantai region. All his efforts broke a path for wine making of China.
*In the period of 1950-1960s, grape was planted in a large area in Penglai. The production reached 585,000 kilograms in the late of 1960s. With the booming of wine in China in 1990s, the grape-planting industry developed rapidly.
Present
Grape-growing
Variety
Main grape varieties include Chardonnay, Italian Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Gernischt, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Ruby Cabernet and Carignan ect are widely planted in Penglai. In addition, special varieties such as Dunkelfelder T, Tannat and Marselan are developed in recent years.
Viticulture
Grafts are widely popularized. The Two Wire Vertical Trellising System is implemented to control the quantity and quality of the wine grapes. Advanced systems of irrigation and fertilizers have been used in developing vineyard.
Nursery
The famous French J.G.&B.ARRIVE S.A.S establishes the first joint venture of Grape Nursery Research and Development Center here in China. The Center breeds new grape varieties and grafts nursery by establishing maternal plant yards and new breeds yards.
Wine industry
*Many famous wineries from home and abroad such as Changyu Yantai, Yantai COFCO, Sino-French Dynasty, Suntime International, Huadong Parry Chateau and wineries from France & Italy have successively set up vineyards, bulk wine producing bases and bottling centers here. Under the influence of these famous wineries, together with local ones, a good industrial atmosphere is come into being.
*At present, there are 47 wineries in Penglai, the effect of industrial groups is becoming conspicuous. Now Penglai has risen to one of the famous wine-producing regions in China. Penglai was authorized as “Famous Wine City of China” by China National Food Industry Association in 2006.
Wine tourism
*Penglai is a renowned tourist city as well as a major wine-producing region of China. Wine industry is closely integrated with tourist industry. Therefore, wine-tourist industry arises and it enjoys a boom with local characteristics.
*The structure of “One Grape-planting Belt and Three Grape-planting Valleys” begins to take shape.
“Grape-planting Belt” means to build a grape-growing belt which goes along the No. 206 national highway with a complete function of grape-planting, wine-producing, tourism and sight-seeing.
To build the Nava Valley with a complete function of wine-producing, nursery stock-keeping, wine-culture promotion, sightseeing and leisure.
To build the Qiushan Valley which is well integrated with elegant European-style chateaus, such as Chateau Lafite of France and Chateau Treaty Port of Britain.
To build Hunter King Valley which is centered on Chateau Huadong Parry with breathtaking beautiful natural sceneries.
Wine management
Penglai Vine and Wine Bureau
Penglai Vine and Wine Bureau is a department of Penglai Municipal Government. It carries the functions of training winegrowers, providing technical advice on viticulture, harmonizing the relationships between different wineries, improving the production management, promoting brands, exploiting market, making the development plans for the wine and vine industry and bringing them into effect.
Penglai Association of Vine and Wine
Penglai Association of Vine and Wine was established as a non-governmental organization, which is composed of wineries and grape growers. It is a regional, industrial and non-profit organization, carrying out professional work under the guidance of Penglai Vine and Wine Bureau. The Association functions as a bridge between wineries and the government. It pursues a policy of self-discipline to promote sound development of the wineries. The Association, which consists of over 40 members, has Secretary Office, Financial Office, Grape Growers’ Association and Winemakers’ Association. Penglai Association of Vine and Wine starts using its new self-owned official mark from January 1, 2008.
Foreign Exchanges on Vine and Wine
*Penglai & OIV established friendly relations of cooperation. The chairman and the director of the OIV have visited Penglai for several times.
*Penglai maintains close cooperative relations with Italian Foreign Trade Committee and Commercial Counselor’s Office of Australian Embassy.
*Penglai promotes exchanges with Association of Bordeaux Wines, Italian Udine Chamber of Commerce and German Wine Growers & Wine Making Association.
*Penglai held so much attraction for holding the Top Forum of Seven Grape Coasts, which is sponsored by China Alcoholic Drinks Industry Association and Penglai Municipal Government in 2005. The representatives from Seven Grape Coasts of the World signed the Penglai Declaration.
*Penglai and Medoc of Bordeaux formally concluded an Agreement of Friendship and Cooperation .
*Keeping a frequent exchange of visits between the top officials of Penglai and VINITECH.
Future
*Uniting wineries in Penglai region to adopt uniform official mark, which implies ample power and noble quality. By means of these efforts, the local wineries working as a whole to expand the market of coastal wines.
*Developing vineyards in a scientific way and exploring the advanced mode of vineyard management so as to improve the quality of wine at the root.
*Adopting advanced wine-making technology to develop high quality coastal wines and extend the industrial chain of wine.
*Holding the world-famous VINITECH & VINALIES in Penglai to enlarge the influence of Penglai wine-producing region.
*Setting up vine and wine scientific research institute to provide wine industry of Penglai with technology support.
*Building Global Wine Exposition Centre to make Penglai the first global distribution centre in China.
*Building Wine Museum, Wine Country Club, Chateaus and Wine College to develop wine tourism.