In 2025, China’s various wine-producing regions were significantly impacted by climatic conditions, with distinct growth dynamics and harvest characteristics across different areas. How did each region perform in the harvest? Let’s take a look!

Ningxia Region:Rising Rainfall

Jiade Vineyard in Jinshan, Ningxia, uncovered its grapevines on March 31 in spring, a date consistent with previous years. Multiple frost warnings in April caused damage to early-budding Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc; the vineyard supported new shoot growth by conducting spring irrigation in advance.

The flowering period was slightly delayed, with vines entering the flowering stage one after another in mid-May. Local strong winds reduced the fruit set rate and caused minor yield losses, yet they also improved the ventilation and looseness of fruit clusters, reducing disease risks for subsequent growth. June brought favorable sunny weather and steady fruit development. The rainy season started in July, and continuous overcast and rainy days coupled with below-average accumulated temperatures slowed the ripening pace and increased pressure on disease prevention and control. From August to September, sunshine returned after rainfall, keeping overall ripening risks manageable.

source：Jiade Vineyard

The region’s total annual rainfall reached 467 mm in 2025, the highest in nine years, with the majority falling between July and September. Coupled with a low annual accumulated temperature, the cool and rainy weather during veraison slightly hindered the accumulation of phenolic compounds. Even so, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon performed exceptionally well, achieving ideal flavor and color profiles.

For Jiade Vineyard, 2025 was not a year of attempting to alter nature, but one of affirming its development path amid changes and responding to industrial transformations driven by climate change, relying on long-accumulated experience and prudent choices.

Chateau Mihopewas also affected by the regional climate, with 85.6 mm more rainfall in July than the same period the previous year. Daily average temperatures and effective accumulated temperatures were close to historical averages in mid-July but declined in the late month. Different varieties responded to the climate at their own pace: Cabernet Sauvignon’s veraison was delayed by 2-3 days, Merlot’s proceeded as scheduled, Marselan’s by 3 days, and Syrah’s by 7 days. White grape varieties saw an overall ripening delay of about a week, accumulating rich color and flavor during slow growth and demonstrating the varieties’ adaptability to terroir changes.

Xinjiang Region:Facing Hail Challenges

The 2025 harvest season at Tiansai Vineyardsin Xinjiang proceeded in an orderly manner with routine management and emergency responses to sudden disasters. Chardonnay, the earliest variety to be harvested each year, kicked off the harvest.

On July 31, the vineyard harvested Chardonnay for sparkling wine production, which featured high acidity and a sugar content of 190-200g/L, fully meeting sparkling wine production standards. The remaining Chardonnay was harvested on August 13, Merlot in late August, the first batch of Marselan for fresh-style wines from late August to early September, Syrah in early September, and Cabernet Sauvignon in mid-to-late September. Vineyard clean-up was completed on September 25, marking the end of the harvest.

source：Tiansai Vineyards

In 2025, Tiansai Vineyards suffered the most severe hail disaster in a decade. A heavy hailstorm hit the vineyard for 30 minutes on July 3, just before the Minor Heat solar term. The vineyard minimized disaster losses through multiple fruit-thinning measures, and crucially, the hailstorm did not affect wine-making quality. This was both a test of the vineyard’s management capabilities and a testament to the stability of its fermentation technology.

Shandong Region: Nourishment and Adversity Combined

In 2025, the climate in Shandong brought both nourishment and challenges to grape growth, with different wineries delivering distinctive results through terroir-adaptive practices.

The early-year drought at Longting Vineyard did not disrupt grapevine growth rhythms; vines sprouted and unfurled leaves in line with natural timing, with only Marselan near shrubs showing a slight budding delay.

source：Longting Vineyard

Timely rainfall from late April to June provided ample nourishment for young shoots and fruits in the early growth stage, promoting even branch ripening and vigorous vine health, and laying a solid foundation for the following year’s growth.

Dry weather in July and concurrent heat and rainfall in August led to concentrated and deep veraison for Cabernet Franc, with outstanding color performance. Continuous rainfall during the harvest season affected Marselan yields in low-lying areas, yet Marselan on high-elevation coastal slopes remained in good condition thanks to topographical advantages. Although overall sugar content was lower than the same period the previous year, the bright and lively acidity built a fresh structural framework for the wines, endowing them with unique layering.

Chateau Nine Peaks experienced significant climatic fluctuations during the growing season. Favorable temperatures and precipitation in the early stage created ideal conditions for grape growth.

After July, insufficient effective rainfall and persistent high temperatures caused drought stress to plants in some plots; the manor activated its drip irrigation system in a timely manner to combat drought, effectively ensuring vine growth.

Affected by this, all varieties ripened at least one week earlier than usual. The climate shifted abruptly in August, with rainfall surging to 316.5 mm for the month. Continuous overcast and rainy days in late August led to excessive soil moisture and poor air permeability, hindering root growth, disrupting vine vigor and inducing diseases, with fruit anthracnose appearing in some areas. Rainfall continued in September, with a monthly precipitation of 266 mm, and the high-humidity environment further aggravated diseases in some plots.

source：Chateau Nine Peaks

However, Chardonnay, the manor’s flagship variety, performed brilliantly. The manor harvested Chardonnay in three batches based on ripeness and health status. Although the first batch was harvested a week early, the hot and dry weather in July enabled the fruit to achieve a perfect sugar-acid balance, with a sugar content of 20 Brix and an acidity of 6.8 g/L. Subsequent batches saw sugar content rise to 21 Brix with acidity stable at 6.5 g/L, and the final average yield was controlled at 7.5 tons per hectare.

Hebei Region: Excessive Rainfall and Severe Temperature Fluctuations

In 2025, the Huaibei region of Hebei was characterized by excessive rainfall and significant temperature fluctuations, bringing multiple pressures to grape growth and harvest, and driving wineries to seek a new balance between tradition and innovation.

Domaine Franco-Chinois recorded an effective accumulated temperature of 2053.7℃·days during the growing season (April to October), little different from previous years, but a precipitation of 604.1 mm – a record high for the manor – set the climatic tone for the whole year.

Continuous rainy weather from summer to early autumn posed greater challenges to grape health. The superposition of multiple pressures such as high humidity and shortened operable hours made trade-offs the core of decision-making throughout the year. The planting team strived to maintain grape growth under high pressure, and finally turned the fruits into fine wines to be aged with time.

source：Domaine Franco-Chinois

Grape yields were low this year, with fewer batches of must fermentation and relatively "easy" fermentation management. However, this marked the third consecutive challenging year for the manor. The sustained pressure of climate change has driven the manor to re-explore terroir expression, flexibly coordinating technological intervention and natural forces. Its goal is not only to adapt to climate change, but to move towards a more sustainable and solid future.

Canaan Winery’s wine harvest season kicked off in the early morning of September 29. Merlot from Nanshan No.17 Vineyard was the first to be harvested, marking the official start of the harvest phase for all red grape varieties except Pinot Noir.

source：Canaan Winery

The 2025 growing season saw excessive rainfall, which, unlike the concentrated heavy rains in July and August in previous years, was mainly continuous light rain. The gentle rain seeped deep into the soil, reaching the water-retentive clay layer, keeping the soil moisture content high during the vineyard’s ripening period. This not only avoided drought stress, but also slowed down sugar accumulation and fruit ripening. Changeable weather in early September, with alternating cloudy days and scattered light rain, further disrupted the ripening process, leading to slow sugar-acid conversion and flavor substance accumulation in the fruits.

Although this year’s Merlot harvest was earlier than in 2024 (October 5) and 2021 (October 2), it was nearly half a month later than the average harvest time since the winery’s establishment, a direct reflection of the profound impact of climate on grape ripening rhythms.

source：Canaan Winery

Shanxi Region: Ripening Period Accompanied by Rainy Season

Grace Vineyard, a representative of the Shanxi region, has developed mature response measures for grape ripening in the rainy season. This year’s yield was close to that of last year, with small grape berries and balanced phenolic ripeness in the field. Affected by rainfall during the ripening season, the estimated alcohol content is slightly lower than in dry years such as 2023 and 2024, and the wines present a more delicate and taut style instead of simply pursuing a full-bodied texture.

source：Grace Vineyard

The vineyard’s customary harvest starts with early-ripening Chardonnay and concludes with Marselan and Cabernet Sauvignon in early October. Scattered showers and brief temperature drops during the harvest retained the fruit’s acidity and uplifting aromas. Nearly 20 years of cultivating Marselan and Aglianico has allowed the vineyard to accumulate rich variety management experience. It trusts that these varieties can achieve natural balance in difficult seasons, exhibiting reliable color, ripeness and delicate tannins without excessive human intervention.

source：Grace Vineyard

Grace Vineyard has always adhered to the concept of minimal-intervention winemaking, believing that this approach best presents the vintage character of the vineyard. The vineyard’s wines feature stable mid-palate richness, forming a distinct brand identity. The vineyard stated that while changes in vineyard management have increased the complexity of winemaking, these changes are an important part of the industry’s learning cycle and are also challenges worth looking forward to.

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