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The signing ceremony for the International Chateau Alliance comprised of Changyu and other world-famous chateaus. The alliance formed in 2009 is the first of its kind in the world. Ju Chuanjiang / China Daily
When Qing Dynasty diplomat Zhang Bishi returned to his homeland from overseas to found Changyu Pioneer Wine Co in Yantai, Shandong province, 120 years ago, he might not have expected it to become the world-class wine company that it is today.
Changyu first won international acclaim in 1915, when the company made its worldwide debut at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco and won gold medals for four of its products - brandy, Red Rose, Vermouth and Riesling.
One of the few Chinese medal-winners at the exhibition, the company presented more than 4,000 products, including wine, liquor, tea and porcelain.
A local San Francisco newspaper billed Changyu's success as "most incredible", considering the 20-year-old company had bested many time-tested European rivals.
After New China was founded in 1949, Changyu's products, including its Special Fine Brandy, Vermouth and red wine, were listed among the nation's top eight famous alcoholic drinks in 1952, 1963 and 1979.
One of the best-known products of Changyu, its Jiebaina dry red wine, was awarded a gold medal at a quality products selection held in Brussels in 1987.
And in that same year, the city of Yantai, where Changyu's home office is located, became the first Asian city to be recognized as an "International Vine and Wine City" by the predecessor of the International Organization of Vine and Wine.
In 2006, Changyu was listed as one of the top 20 Chinese brands by Business Week magazine and the international brand consultant firm Interbrand. It has also been recognized as a well-known trademark and China Top Brand by Chinese authorities.
At the 2008 SIAL exhibition, an international food and drink expo held in Paris, Changyu Jiebaina was the only Asian wine to be selected as one of the world's top 30 brands.
In the following year, an international association of seven world famous chateaus was established, with Changyu as the leader.
The company's brand was evaluated at $3.2 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal's top 20 Chinese brands list, unveiled at the end of last year. Around 400 of its trademarks have been registered worldwide in more than 40 countries and regions.
Changyu is now also served at state banquets. Since November 2009, the wine produced at the Chateau Changyu AFIP Global has appeared on state banquet tables 29 times, where it was sampled by guests including US President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and British Prime Minister David Cameron.