Sustainable Chinese vineyards are the stars of our new Discovery wine series

In recent years, Chinese wineries have made great strides in the world of viticulture. As China’s winemaking industry has matured, a new generation of vintners is ensuring that production continues to develop sustainably. Our latest Discovery wine series shines a spotlight on some of these pioneering winemakers, with excellent vintages being served inflight in First class and Business cabins.

These bottles expand our collection of inflight Chinese wines, which we’ve proudly featured in previous Discovery series. “The aim of our Discovery wine programme is to showcase gems from around the world that may not be on the mainstream market yet,” says Ronald Khoo, Wine, Spirits and Beverages Manager at Cathay. “For this edition, there’s also a sustainability story, which supports our commitment to environmental responsibility.”  

With its vast wine regions and numerous labels, the Chinese Mainland offers Cathay’s wine experts plenty of choice. “China is rapidly becoming a significant player in the global wine industry, and it is growing in a responsible way,” Khoo says. “We found that many vineyards are already strategising how to scale up while keeping sustainability at the forefront.”

Our team started by looking at how different vineyards across the country operate. “All of the wineries we visited are doing some sort of regenerative farming, where no chemicals are used, soil health is emphasised, and there’s a focus on biodiversity and water management,” Khoo explains. “Some vineyards are already B Corp-certified , while others have adopted a broader sustainable approach by integrating their business with the local villagers and farmers to ensure a complete ecosystem.”  

For our First class passengers, we chose the Qiu Shan Valley, Shandong, China 2021 from Domaine de Long Dai – an exceptional brand featured in our first Chinese wine series. Owned by the Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, Long Dai has implemented a variety of sustainable practices in the verdant Qiu Shan Valley. Terraced vineyards are integrated into an agricultural land reserve, while buildings are partly buried and covered with green roofs. “These are all assets that favour biodiversity,” Khoo says. “A survey by Ludong University found 190 plant species: a good illustration of the biodiversity on the estate. Also, wine bottles are supplied from within 50km of the estate, as glass accounts for 80 per cent of the carbon footprint for packaging.” 

The result of these efforts is a luscious red wine blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Marselan and Cabernet Franc grapes, with notes of peony, cocoa and raspberry. Long Dai’s Qiu Shan Valley 2021 pairs well with rich meat dishes, such as grilled lamb chops with rosemary.

Business passengers are invited to sample one of three wines in rotation. Helan Qingxue’s Jia Bei Lan Estate Red, Ningxia, China 2019 has spicy notes of plum, currants, red capsicum and dark olives, with finely grained tannins and a balanced finish. The vineyard sits on a specially constructed wetland that facilitates the sustainable reuse of water for irrigation. This system has the added benefit of enriching the soil with organic matter. Ryegrass has also been planted on the territory to support biodiversity, particularly birdlife.  

Regenerative farming is the focus at Mystic Island, with nutrient-rich grape skins given a second life as a natural fertiliser. If you like white wine, try the estate’s Yihu Chardonnay Reserve, Qiu Shan Valley, Shandong, China 2022. Fresh on the palate, this zesty chardonnay has hints of lemon, grapefruit, green apple and melon. Pair it with steamed fish or stir-fried chicken with mushroom and bamboo shoots. 

From Puchang Vineyard, we’ve selected the Saperavi, Turpan Valley, Xinjiang, China 2017. This Ecocert-accredited vintner exclusively uses native yeasts and organic substances. Melted snow from Tian Shan irrigates the arid soil. The Saperavi 2017 tantalises the tastebuds with notes of blackberries, plums and dark chocolate. It’s perfect for balancing the bold flavours of spicy Sichuan stir-fried beef or mapo tofu.

While the Saperavi will not be served on our London, Paris, Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York routes, we’re pleased to offer Hu Yue’s Qiu Shan Valley, Shandong, China 2021, a vibrant red wine with a beautiful aroma of hibiscus complemented by hints of liquorice and black pepper. It makes for a refreshing accompaniment to stir-fried beef with ginger.

Next time you fly with us in First class or Business cabins, be sure to sample one of these excellent wines. They are as impressive for their complex, delicious flavours as the sustainable practices that went into making them. 

Learn more about our inflight wine experience and offerings here.