Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – In the Qingtongxia wine region on the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, the grapevines of Xiban Winery have broken with the old practice of burying them in the soil for winter, instead hanging them upright to face the harsh cold. These upright, hanging vines, with their withered yellow leaves swaying gently, resemble a golden carpet spread across the land when viewed from above.
Wu Zhibing, a 55-year-old villager, is busy covering the roots of the grapevines with soil: "This keeps them warm and moist, allowing the grapes to 'hibernate' peacefully." He has been working in the vineyard for over 20 days. Behind this is a new "hanging vine overwintering" technology promoted in Ningxia – separating the fruiting vines from the nutrient vines; the former hang to maintain the landscape, while the latter are buried in the soil to protect against the cold.
"The traditional method is labor-intensive and costly, while the new technology can save 30% of manpower," explains Li Zhuangyan of the Qingtongxia Wine Industry Development Service Center. The hanging vines, tempered by wind and snow, can kill pests and diseases, and when returned to the field the following year, they can also provide fertilizer. This year, over 5,300 mu (approximately 353 hectares) of vineyards in Qingtongxia have adopted this technology, and next year it will expand to 10,000 mu (approximately 667 hectares).
At the Xiban Winery in Quekou, Helan Mountain, grapevines form a windbreak, and the golden scenery attracts tourists. "Grapes grown under stress produce wines that are more mellow and fragrant," says owner Jin Jiarui.
Currently, Ningxia has over 600,000 mu (approximately 40,000 hectares) of wine grape cultivation. The government subsidizes 100 yuan per mu to promote new technologies, and this year, 40% of the vineyards in the region are using the "overwintering" method. This innovation not only improves the winter landscape and promotes the integration of wine and tourism, but also provides 130,000 jobs annually for the surrounding areas. Wu Zhibing, for example, makes a living through his vineyards.
"This is the result of terroir and time," Jin Jiarui remarked. He believes that Chinese winemakers, like old vines, endure wind and frost to produce fine wines. When the spring breeze arrives next year, these vines, weathered by wind and snow, will sprout new buds again.
