Vineyard - Domaine Franco-Chinois

Region

Located in Hebei Province’s Huailai region, Domaine Franco-Chinois encompasses a 23-hectare vineyard, just an hour’s drive from Beijing.

Huailai Wine Region lies north of the Great Wall, which has been a significant mountain pass since ancient times. Its history of grape cultivation dates back more than a thousand years, earning it the titles “Home of Chinese Grapes” and “Home of Chinese Wines”. Since its designation as the national wine production base in 1976, Huailai has continued to make its mark in the wine world as the birthplace of China’s first-ever dry white and traditional method sparkling wine .

Terroir

Hebei’s Huailai region enjoys a temperate semi-arid continental monsoon climate, characterized by four distinct seasons, abundant sunshine, and a significant diurnal temperature variation exceeding 12℃. The region receives an average annual rainfall of approximately 393 mm.

40°N, 115°E

Avg. altitude: 498 meters

Gravelly sandy loam soil

Avg. annual rainfall: 393 mm

Avg. annual sunshine: 3,000 hours

Huailai’s advantageous climate—ample sunlight, significant daily temperature fluctuations, and suitable precipitation—creates the perfect environment for harmonious sugar and phenol accumulation in grapes while also contributing to their vibrant acidity. The region’s diverse soil composition further imparts an elegant and complex character to the grapes.

The Guanting Reservoir, with its expansive 230-square-kilometer size, plays a pivotal role in moderating the region’s climate, protecting the grapes from premature ripening due to intense summer heat. Flanked by the Yan Mountains to the north and the Taihang Mountains to the south, Huailai’s vineyards benefit from a natural barrier that forms a unique “two mountains and one lake” terrain. The resulting wind flow and strong monsoon keep the valley’s air dry year-round, drastically reducing the risk of grape disease and pest infestations.

Viticulture

In 2001, Domaine Franco-Chinois brought 16 grape varieties and 21 clones from France, including red Bordeaux blend varieties and the pioneering introduction of Marselan and Petit Manseng grape varieties for large-scale cultivation in China.

By meticulously cultivating these grape varieties and harmonizing them with Huailai’s exceptional terroir for over two decades, Domaine Franco-Chinois has nurtured a selection of perfectly adapted blends, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and the unique Marselan and Petit Manseng varieties.

The primary components in Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, are cultivated globally in renowned wine regions. Cabernet Sauvignon, a late-ripening variety, is able to reach full maturity in the gravelly sandy loam soils of Domaine Franco-Chinois. This contributes to the wine’s aroma of black fruit, licorice, and mint leaves, as well as its body structure and high-quality tannins.

Merlot has an early ripening period, resulting in rich wines with predominantly red fruit aromas. Domaine Franco-Chinois meticulously manages its Merlot to ensure freshness and balanced acidity through continuous monitoring and ripeness testing. Cabernet Franc, primarily used for blending, imparts elegance, delicate tannins, and rich floral aromas, moderately contributing to the wine’s aroma and palate complexity. Petit Verdot adds a distinctive touch to the wine, boasting an intense color, characteristic violet aroma, and powerful tannins.

Marselan, a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, has become a star Chinese wine due to its outstanding varietal features, such as small fruit size, high-quality yield, and strong disease resistance. First introduced from France in 2001 by Domaine Franco-Chinois, Marselan has thrived in the vineyard due to its successful assimilation to the distinct terroir characteristics of the Huailai region.

Petit Manseng, a late-ripening grape variety with high acidity and sugar content was introduced by Domaine Franco-Chinois from France to China in 2001. Harvesting Petit Manseng grapes between November and December each year, Domaine Franco-Chinois capitalizes on the late harvest to concentrate and enhance flavor compounds and acidity. With sugar content reaching over 350g/L and juice yield ranging between 35% and 40%, the noble quality of Petit Manseng wine is a testament to delayed harvests and limited production.

Over the course of more than 20 years, Domaine Franco-Chinois has diligently cultivated the Huailai wine region, developing a profound understanding of its exceptional terroir. Through rigorous viticultural management and fine winemaking techniques that respect and align with nature, Domaine Franco-Chinois ensures that its wines authentically express the best Huailai terroir has to offer.