Shandong is considered as one of China's most promising wine-growing regions. With about 10,000 hA of vineyards, the province already boasts of several well-established wine companies producing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc- the grapes of Bordeaux, and is known as 'China's Bordeaux.'
Chateau Lafite has an extraordinary reputation in China. The Estate’s second wine, Carruades de Lafite, commands the same price as other first growths such as Haut Brion, reports Adam Lechmere in Decanter.
Domaines Barons de Rothschild which owns Lafite, reportedly said in a statement, 'Having visited many regions in China our technicians finally chose this area as it proved to be the most promising area to produce a great wine, in terms of both its climatic and geographical conditions.'
Lafite owner, Baron Eric de Rothschild said he was particularly excited to be part of the creation of what he called an 'exceptional Chinese Grand Cru.' 'I am very pleased to develop a vineyard in a country where the interest in fine wines is increasing every year.'
By 2011, the Chinese are expected to be drinking more than 1.1 bn bottles of wine annually, twice the amount consumed in 2007, according to a study by the International Wine and Spirit Record in London, says the report.
The historic announcement has a significant message for the Indian wine industry in the long term. If the wine consumption continues following the anticipated growth of over 25-30% a year during the next two decades, many wineries abroad including Chateau Lafite might set foot in Maharashtra or the foothills of Himalayas although it is highly unlikely that the price conscious Indian elite would be willing to show as much respect to the Carruades as the Chinese.
China falls in the 30-50° latitudinal band (34-38° ) , considered to be ideal for making great wines whereas, barring the Himalayan states of Kashmir, Himachal and Uttaranchal, the other areas fall between 13-20° only (Bangalore-Nashik) and do not offer dormancy to the vines- an almost necessary pre-requisite to make great wines, despite several new technologies developed over the past few decades. |