WHO here knew that China has more land given over to the vine than every other country barring one?

 

Well, it's true, and it's also true that wine grapes have been grown there for some 9,000 years (yes, nine thousand), yet many of us probably haven't seen too many Chinese wines on the shelves of our supermarkets and merchants.

 

This is largely because the post-1980s wine boom over in the Red Dragon nation has targeted domestic drinkers rather than export markets. It might also be partly because the vines haven’t been that great especially in comparison to our more recognised Old and New World zones, although us lot wouldn't really know given so little of it is here to try.

 

That could soon change, though, given the investment that has gone into developing the Chinese wine business, the fruits of which are likely to grow.

 

Indeed, it has made one notable inroad into the UK market this year - with Sainsbury's now stocking wines from China's oldest winery, Changyu Pioneer Wine Co - and these are unlikely be the last to find their way onto our shelves.

 

Founded in 1892, Changyu is China's oldest commercial wine producer and is now among the 10 largest in the world, making more than 90,000 tonnes of the stuff each year.

 

The one we spotted on Sainsbury's shelves was its Noble Dragon Riesling, made from 10-to-15-year-old vines grown in gravel and sandy loam soils at 80-metre altitude in Yantai, one of China's best spots. The grapes are hand-harvested and pressed using an atmosphere pressing technique, with fermentation taking place in stainless steel tanks, no wood treatment giving it a fresher, lighter feel.

 

Riesling can make dry, sweet or sparkling white wine. This one is dry, light in colour with floral perfume and a peach-lemony character, making it more similar to the late-ripening Alsace or Austrian versions of dry Riesling as opposed to the more apply flavours from slightly colder climes in its German origins or the lime-zinginess of Australian ones.

 

It perhaps lacks the depth and concentration you can get with the better wines from Riesling's more famous heartlands but it is far from a bad tipple and would be friendly to most foods, particularly fish, squid or spicy seafood. It comes in at 12 per cent and its price tag of £10 - which is currently on discount offer at £8.50 - isn't bad at all, especially when you factor in the Chinese novelty value.

 

By the way, anyone know the only country with more vineyard land than China? Spain. Bonus point for whoever got that.