{"id":41872,"date":"2026-04-05T08:58:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T00:58:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=41872"},"modified":"2026-04-05T08:58:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T00:58:34","slug":"the-chinese-wine-awards-elevate-ao-yun-and-other-labels-to-the-world-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=41872","title":{"rendered":"The Chinese Wine Awards elevate Ao Yun and other labels to the world stage"},"content":{"rendered":"


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In 2024, the inaugural Chinese Wine Awards took place in Macau. The event was the first of its kind in the city, showcasing wines produced in China judged by a panel of international experts and critics. The awards have since expanded in scale, featuring a larger panel of judges, and this year included activation events in Beijing leading up to the judging sessions and award ceremony.<\/p>\n

Macau is the ideal spot for such an event: not only famous as a Unesco City of Gastronomy<\/span>, but also for its multiple hotels and resorts. These provide an excellent shop window for Chinese wines and attract discerning customers to visit the city\u2019s many decorated restaurants.<\/div>\n

For years now, Chinese labels have appeared at food fairs and international exhibitions, and occasionally featured on restaurant wine lists. But they were rarely celebrated for their own distinctive identities, nor did they have the PR budgets for significant marketing exposure. Instead, they were treated more as curiosities than wines worthy of serious consideration. The recent rise of Chinese wines \u2013 their popularity and the increasing number of international awards they have been receiving \u2013 is, however, no surprise to wine lovers and industry experts.<\/p>\n

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Wineries have learned that conditions in China favour the viticulture of grapes for red wines. Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
This all started in 2008 when Ao Yun became the first wine estate in the Himalayas, creating a fully sustainable winery where farming is carried out entirely by hand by local families. The label released Ao Yun 2013, its first vintage, in 2016, and the success of this quality red wine opened the way for future wines from China. Production has expanded across the country to include vineyards in Yunnan, Xinjiang<\/span> and Ningxia, as well as northeastern provinces such as Shandong<\/span>.<\/div>\n

As wine has become an increasingly valuable agricultural product in China, wineries have learned that the country\u2019s terroir and climatic elements tend to facilitate the viticulture of grapes for red wines better than for whites. Prominent varieties include Grenache, cabernet sauvignon and Marselan, a French varietal that struggled in its place of origin but flourishes in East Asia, thriving from budburst to harvest in less than six months.<\/p>\n

Given the growing interest, Andy Tam, sommelier at \u201cAsian bistronomy\u201d restaurant Aji<\/span>, is increasingly curating for gastronomes in Macau seeking something particularly Chinese to pair with their meal.<\/div>\n

However, Tam stresses that while wine lovers are certainly curious about China\u2019s labels, the place of origin is only one (and definitely not the only) determining factor when a customer selects a particular wine.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuests always go back to the triangle system when selecting wines \u2013 structure, concentration and acidity. The three elements must be in balance,\u201d he explains. \u201cThese elements rely heavily on naturally occurring factors such as terroir, rain, sun intensity and time \u2013 although human interference in winemaking can also help shape them, but not as much as the wine\u2019s raw talent.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Once considered mere curiosities at international food fairs and exhibitions, Chinese wine labels are now shedding their marketing anonymity to be celebrated as award-winning wines. Photo: Xinhua<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Tam says that guests find the vivacious character of Chinese wines a versatile pairing for Southeast Asian flavours, often exemplified in chef Pan Sihui<\/span>\u2019s dishes at Aji, as the wines can complement and occasionally deliver a surprise hint \u2013 if not an extra pinch of spice \u2013 to the pairing.<\/div>\n

Similarly, elsewhere in Macau, sommelier Phenol Mak says interest in Chinese wines is increasing and believes it is an obvious mission for members of his profession to ensure that the city\u2019s acclaimed restaurants \u2013 those included in the 100 Top Tables, Michelin and Black Pearl guides \u2013 engage more with native Chinese labels.<\/p>\n

Despite a predominantly 8:1 ratio of Old to New World wines at Alain Ducasse at Morpheus<\/span>, Mak says the Chinese wines he selects are included entirely on merit rather than for any local favouritism. \u201cWe abide by two important factors when deciding to list certain wines. First, we decide on the distinctiveness of a producer relative to their own appellation. In addition, we also assess whether the quality and value of a wine matches, if not surpasses, wines of the same calibre.\u201d<\/div>\n

\u201cAs a sommelier, it\u2019s not just about selling wines,\u201d he adds. \u201cWe also maintain a consistently high curiosity for tasting new wines, in this case Chinese wines that may be under the radar. We also aim to understand our guests better and [note] the feedback from them before we officially add any wines to our wine lists.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The recent rise of Chinese wines is no surprise to wine lovers and industry experts. Photo: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Besides notable names like Ao Yun and Long Dai, Mak says he has grown fond of Chinese labels such as Silver Heights and Starting Point, both from Ningxia, as well as Xinjiang\u2019s Puchang and Yunnan\u2019s Xiaoling. He considers all of them to be maisons which are raising standards and can represent modern-day winemaking in China.<\/p>\n

Amid the rapid growth in interest in Chinese reds, Mak also points out the potential of white wines, which are starting to gain traction in the industry with a polished style and clean profile. He cites a recently listed Chardonnay from Jiangpo Village, \u201ca small production from 2,900 metres elevation in the Shangri-La region of Yunnan, which produces only 887 bottles each year\u201d.<\/p>\n

Beyond restaurant consumption, the burgeoning interest in Chinese wines extends to the country\u2019s citizens, according to Xing Wei, a wine critic and judge at the Chinese Wine Awards. He points out that the wine industry is driven largely by China\u2019s economy. In times of economic uncertainty \u2013 like now, with the current crisis in the Middle East disrupting energy markets \u2013 wine is seen as an indulgence and less of a necessity. That has meant a recent dip in wine consumption in China but, according to Wei, this has done nothing to inhibit Chinese wines\u2019 growing profile on the world stage.<\/p>\n

As one of the 23 judges at the Chinese Wine Awards this year, Wei considers his mission to taste and judge wines a matter of \u201cdiscovery\u201d and appreciation of what China has to offer. Tasting between 160 and 180 wines over four days, the judging process meticulously selects winners that not only master the balance of structure, concentration and acidity but also vintages that enhance the iconic characteristics of their varietals and winemaking methods.<\/p>\n

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Grapes grow in the shadow of the Helan Mountains near Yinchuan in Ningxia Province, China\u2019s wine region. Photo: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Hosted at Wynn, the Chinese Wine Awards play a significant role beyond the ceremony by shaping the luxury hotel\u2019s dining events throughout the year. Wynn proactively includes award-winning Chinese wines in its dining programme to increase their exposure to guests who value quality food alongside new tasting profiles.<\/p>\n

The annual event has proved a hit and has expanded from a live event to an entire online platform that documents every wine label in competition, each with an information page detailing flavour profile, characteristics, details on the winery, as well as notes from wine judges. It sets a precedent in profiling a large library of Chinese wines, moving beyond being a tool for a B2B industry-recognised event to become a useful reference for consumers. The enriched website is set to launch within 2026, after the third instalment of the awards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n


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