The fascinating origins of chinese viticulture
With over 3,000 years of history and an often forgotten ancestral heritage, from the ancient “Jiu” to modern vineyards, let’s discover together the origins of Chinese viticulture.
The term “jiu,” which includes all alcoholic beverages, was born during the Shang dynasty (1600 – 1046 BC), when aristocrats drank “wine” during religious ceremonies and festivals. The wines produced at that time were mainly rice and millet wines. Over the following dynasties, up to the Han dynasty, wine production developed and expanded into a large-scale commercial activity. Under the Han dynasty, the cultivation of grapes imported from Central Asia developed, along with new winemaking techniques. The first grapevines were brought from Central Asia by an emissary of the Han dynasty who traveled along the famous Silk Road.
It is established that under the Cao Wei dynasty, grapes were already being cultivated in the city of Luoyang. Wine then became a popular drink, a symbol of power and prestige among aristocratic groups. The city of Chang’an had several wine shops, and it was even served in the marketplace by the ladies of Hu. From then on, wine was consumed not only by the aristocrats but also at family banquets, and even given as wedding gifts.
Under the ruling of Liao, Song, Xia, and Jin, Ningxia became the political and economic center of Western Xia, and the horticultural industry flourished. Over time, techniques continued to improve and were eventually perfected. For nearly a century, the Yuan dynasty marked the peak of viticulture in China, so much so that the rulers of this dynasty, fond of wine, made it a mandatory beverage in temples, built wine cellars in their palaces, and planted vineyards in different parts of the country.
Viticulture should have continued to develop thanks to the various techniques acquired over time and through different dynasties. Unfortunately, due to frequent wars and changes in power, the socio-economic climate deteriorated, society became impoverished, and with it, the scope of the wine industry declined. During the later years of the Qing dynasty, China faced political and social turmoil, leading to the decline of various cultural practices, including traditional wine production.
Coming up: Ningxia, a unique wine region, which has been propelled to the forefront of both the Chinese and international wine scene.
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