Last Thursday, June 22, at the Cultural Center of China in Madrid, an important presentation ceremony was held for Chinese wine from the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, under the name “The Wine that Links Us”. This wine, known as the purple desert wonder of the northwestern region, was the focus of an event that linked Ningxia’s culture and tourism, taking attendees on a sensory journey through the picturesque landscape of the Chinese region.
During the presentation, a video was shown highlighting the beauty of Ningxia’s tourist spots as well as its rich cultural resources. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about wine-producing areas in Ningxia and taste wines from the eastern Helan Mountains region.
Ningxia is famous for its ideal climatic conditions for grape growing, with annual rainfall not exceeding 200mm. The sun, soil, humidity, and altitude in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains create a perfect environment for vine growth. The wines produced here have an intense and pure aroma, as well as a balanced and harmonious flavor.
The Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is one of the cradles of ancient Chinese civilization. The first human settlements in Ningxia date back to the Paleolithic period, 30,000 years ago. Today, the region offers a diversity of tourist attractions including the ancient rock paintings of the Helan Mountains, the tombs of the Western Xia Dynasty, stunning natural landscapes such as the Qingtongxia Grand Canyon of the Yellow River, and a variety of local culinary delights.
In recent years, Ningxia has developed a thriving wine industry in the northern latitude between 37 and 39 degrees, at the eastern base of the Helan Mountains. This area has quickly become the largest wine-producing region in China, thanks to its commitment to quality and comprehensive quality control. Ningxia wines have won numerous international awards and are constantly growing. Thanks to its location, with sufficient hours of sunlight, an ideal temperature, low rainfall, a large temperature variation and a diversity of terrain, Ningxia is considered a wine region of excellence for the production of high-end wines. The wine industry is central to Ningxia’s culture and tourism, and cultural wine tourism in the Helan Mountains has become an emerging brand and business card for the region.
The central theme of the event, “Wine that Links Us”, sought to introduce the tourist and cultural wonders of Ningxia through wine, offering an immersive experience for wine lovers and allowing them to gain insight into Chinese culture.
The presentation ceremony was organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism of Ningxia, the Cultural Center of China in Madrid, the Office of Tourism of China in Spain, the International Association of Culture of China and the Association of China and Spain of Wines.
The Rioja Qualified Denomination of Origin, the leading winemaker in Spain, also participated. Fernando Ezquerro, president of the Rioja Regulatory Council, and Guangyu Qiu, representative of the Chinese wine denomination, signed a letter of intent for strategic cooperation.
The DOCa Rioja is the oldest denomination of origin in Spain, founded in 1925, and was the first to receive the “Qualified” certification in 1991. Today, it is one of the denominations of origin that offers the best guarantees of quality and authenticity of its wines worldwide, thanks to the rigorous regulations and self-control developed by its Regulatory Council. This, together with its pioneering character and its commitment to innovation and sustainability, has placed Rioja wines in a prominent position in the market, both nationally and internationally. Rioja represents more than 40% of the value of Spanish DOP wine exports, and more than a third (34.7%) of Spanish DO wines sold abroad. Currently, Rioja wines are present in 136 countries.
At the end of the event, the personalities present had the opportunity to enjoy Ningxia wine accompanied by Spanish and Chinese pairing.
