China
Part of the Silk Road Wine Trail
XINJIANG
6 stops
Turpan Wine Route
Turpan is one of the hottest and driest places on Earth, yet wine has been made here for 2,000 years. The secret? Karez - ancient underground irrigation channels that bring mountain snowmelt to the desert. Vines are buried in winter to survive, creating a unique viticultural calendar.
6 stops
Yili Valley Wine Route
The Yili (Ili) Valley straddles the China-Kazakhstan border and shares the same wild grape ancestry. Chinese wineries here are producing increasingly sophisticated wines in a continental climate similar to Bordeaux. This is China's emerging premium region.
6 stops
Yanqi Wine Route
Yanqi Basin, near the ancient Silk Road oasis of Korla, produces some of Xinjiang's most structured wines. The continental climate - extreme heat in summer, extreme cold in winter - creates concentrated flavors. Wineries here are investing heavily in quality.
NINGXIA
8 stops
Helan Mountain Wine Route
The eastern foothills of Helan Mountain have become China's most celebrated wine region in just 40 years. The desert climate, high altitude (1,100m), and rocky soils produce Bordeaux-style wines that compete on the world stage. This is where wine's Silk Road journey reaches its modern culmination.
6 stops
Yinchuan City Wine Route
Yinchuan is rapidly becoming the capital of Chinese wine. The city hosts the annual Ningxia Wine Challenge and is surrounded by over 200 wineries. Modern tasting rooms rival those in Napa, and the local government is heavily invested in wine tourism.
5 stops
Qingtongxia Wine Route
Qingtongxia, in southern Ningxia, offers a slightly different terroir from the Helan Mountain region. Warmer temperatures and different soil compositions create wines with their own character. This is frontier wine country, with new wineries opening regularly.
6 stops
Ningxia Premium Estates Route
Ningxia has attracted major international investment. LVMH's Domaine de Long Dai, Pernod Ricard's Helan Mountain, and boutique gems like Silver Heights and Kanaan produce wines that have won international acclaim. This tour visits the best of the best.