More than 30 kinds of Wuhai products were on display in the 18th China 
International Agricultural Products Fair and the 2nd Western China (Chongqing) 
International Agricultural Products Fair held recently, according to Wuhai City 
Publicity Department. Among them, desert wine has impressed many merchants. How 
can a "new industrial city inlaid on the bend of the Yellow River" accomplish 
in grapes and wine?

Wuhai is located between 30 and 40 degrees north latitude, the golden zone of 
grape planting in the world. Located at the junction of three major deserts, 
Wuhai is rich in light and heat resources with long sunshine time and large 
temperature differences between day and night. The region is dry and has a long 
frost-free period, all adding to the ecological advantages of developing 
high-quality grape and wine products. Wuhai is listed as the dominant 
cultivation area for Eurasian grapes in the middle and upper reaches of the 
Yellow River by China's agriculture ministry.

Wuhai enjoys the reputation of the land of grapes, which is related to its 
advantaged geographical position. But more importantly, it's because of the 
scientific methods covering from breeding and planting to maturity. For 
example, Wuhai has cultivated local grape seedlings to adapt to the local 
climate, and developed facilities to stagger the grape's maturity time for 
greater market presence. New varieties of table grapes and wine grapes have 
been introduced to lay a foundation for the market's future development. A 
special pattern of pruning is taken to promote the mechanization of grape 
planting development. The application of science and technology makes Wuhai 
grape more competitive and tastier. In 2008, Wuhai grape was recognized as one 
of the first batch of geographical indications of agricultural products in 
China. In 2015, the trademark of "Wuhai Grape" geographical indication was 
registered.

Good grapes make good wine. Wines produced in Wuhai are well known at home and 
abroad. In 2014, Hansen grapes and wines got the European Union organic 
certification, and Wuhai wine products have won gold and silver awards in Asian 
Wine Quality Competition. Wuhai wines, with international first-class high-end 
wine quality, have become a player in the international high-end wine market, 
attracting orders from Ireland, Canada, France, Belgium, Denmark, the 
Netherlands, Switzerland and other countries.

Wuhai has a grape planting area of 30,000 mu and four wine processing 
enterprises, with an annual output of 11,000 tons of wine and an annual sales 
revenue of about 200 million yuan. Wine from Wuhai region sells well all over 
the country and is exported to more than a dozen countries and regions such as 
the United States, Germany and Denmark, with emerging famous wine brands such 
as Hansen and Jiolis.

The development and growth of the grape industry has also driven the 
development of vineyards, wineries, grape streets, wine museums and other 
related tourism and cultural industries. Wuhai is home to more than 30 
grape-based agricultural leisure and sightseeing gardens, receiving more than 
200,000 tourists annually. It has two national-level and provincial-level 
leisure agriculture and animal husbandry and tourism demonstration sites in 
rural and pastoral areas.

With the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, Wuhai has held the World 
Desert Wine Art Festival for two consecutive years, gaining global spotlight by 
presenting Wuhai's high-quality grapes and wines.

Source: Wuhai City Publicity Department

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   Caption: Grape harvest