A deluxe edition of the anniversary publication of China’s oldest and largest industrialised winery. Founded in 1892 by the diplomat and businessman Zhang Bishi (also known as Cheong Fatt Tze) in Yantai (Shandong Province), the company is regarded as the cradle of modern Chinese wine culture. – „In 1892, Cheong Fatt Tze, also known as Chang Bishi (1840–1916), a businessman and Chinese consul in Singapore, founded a winery called ‘Chang Yu’ in Yantai, in the Chinese province of Shandong. The name is derived from his surname and the Chinese characters for ‘prosperity’. The establishment of the winery is regarded as marking the beginning of modern wine history in China. Chang Bishi purchased 67 hectares of land and introduced 150 European Vitis vinifera varieties for cultivation trials. He was aware that modern viticulture would only be possible with the support of European experts. The Austro-Hungarian consul Baron Max von Babo (1862–1933), son of August-Wilhelm von Babo (1827–1894), director of the Klosterneuburg Viticulture Institute, was appointed as consultant and cellar master. Max von Babo subsequently imported barrels, presses and 400,000 Welschriesling vine cuttings of various clones from Austria, and used modern methods to bring the winery to international renown. Under Chang Chengquing (1872–1914), the founder’s nephew and first general manager, the Grand Cellar was completed, over 3,000 hectares of vineyards were planted and many products were developed. In 1992, the ‘Changyu Wine Culture Museum’ was opened in Zhifu District, showcasing the winery’s long history through numerous artefacts, as well as those of other Chinese wine producers. Today, ‘Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Company’ is a multinational with international shareholders. It operates seven wineries in China – most of which are imitations of French châteaux – as well as others abroad. Its headquarters are in Yantai (Shandong). Its market share in China stands at around 25 per cent. Zhou Hongjiang serves as the multinational’s general manager. The ‘Great Cellar’, which covers over 3,000 m² and is seven metres deep, lies one metre below sea level, just 800 metres from the sea. The wide-ranging product range includes not only red and white wines but also sparkling wine, brandy, vermouth and cider. The absolute bestseller is the ‘Noble Dragon’ brand wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Gernischt). Produced since 1937, around 25 million bottles of this wine are sold annually and also exported to Europe. In 2017, to mark the 80th anniversary of the brand’s registration, the sale of a total of 460 million bottles was celebrated“ (wein(dot)plus/yantai-changyu transl. from German).

Schlagwörter: China, Company history, Corporate commemorative publications, Firmenfestschriften, Firmengeschichte, Oenologie, Wein, Weinbau, Wine and wine making

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