Changyu Winemaking Company: A Pioneering Journey in the Chinese Wine Industry

Zhang Bishi, an overseas Chinese diplomat of the Qing Dynasty, established the Changyu Winemaking Company in Yantai, China in 1892. He invested three million liang of silver to start the winery, which was the beginning of the Chinese wine industry. However, the journey was not without challenges. The first 2,000 plants he purchased from the United States did not bear sweet fruit and half of the vines rotted away before harvest. To save the venture, Zhang brought back wild plants from northeast China that produced bitter fruit. These wild plants were grafted to the foreign plants and after three years, they were planted in the Shandong vineyards. The new vines not only survived but also produced sweet fruit rich in sugar with good color, and were insect, disease, and cold resistant.

Zhang Chengqing, the nephew of Zhang Bishi and a fourth rank official of the Qing Dynasty, was the first general manager of Changyu Company. He built the Grand Cellar, developed 3,000 hectares of premium vineyards, and created dozens of different wine products during his term. The Grand Cellar, first built in 1894, had to be rebuilt three times in the first 11 years, but it has now lasted for over 100 years and is considered a great historical landmark in Chinese architecture. With its creative design and construction work, the Grand Cellar has been praised by both Chinese and foreign engineering experts.

The Grand Cellar is 1,976 square meters in size and seven meters in depth. It is located one meter below sea level and is no more than 100 meters away from the sea, which maintains a constant temperature and humidity throughout the year, making it ideal for wine maturation. The cellar is still in use today and contains thousands of oak barrels, with three of them being large enough to store 15 tonnes of wine each.

Changyu Company has had many influential figures throughout its history, including its first winemaker, Mr. Balboa from Belgium, and its first Chinese winemaker, Zhang Zizhang. In recent years, Changyu has recruited several renowned enologists from around the world, including Lenz M. Moser from Austria, John Salvi from Italy, Augustus Reina from Italy, Gohadi Fagnani from France, Albert Milan from Canada, and Norbert Buchonnet from France. These enologists have brought their expertise and knowledge to various Changyu wineries across China, including Ningxia Chateau Changyu Moser XV, Xinjiang Chateau Changyu Baron Balboa, Shaanxi Chateau Changyu Rena, Beijing Chateau Changyu AFIP Global, Liaoning Chateau Changyu Golden Icewine Valley, and Yantai Chateau Changyu-Castel.

In conclusion, the establishment of Changyu Winemaking Company by Zhang Bishi in 1892 marked the beginning of the Chinese wine industry. Despite facing numerous challenges, the company has persevered and has become a leading player in the industry. With the addition of international expertise and the continued use of the Grand Cellar, Changyu is well-positioned to continue its pioneering journey in the Chinese wine industry.