Grace Vineyard is a pioneering wine estate founded in 1997 by Chan Chun-keung in Shanxi province. “The idea for Grace Vineyard was sparked by a French business acquaintance of my father’s, who suggested he open a winery in France,” says Judy Chan, CEO at Grace. “But he saw an opportunity in his homeland and opted to establish the vineyard in China instead, envisioning a market eager for premium Chinese wines.”

Since taking over the winery from her father in 2002, Chan has transformed Grace into China’s premier boutique winemaker. In 2009, Grace Vineyard’s flagship wine Deep Blue 2008 was selected by Cathay Pacific as the first Chinese wine available in First class and Business.

“It was a bold move for Cathay Pacific,” says Chan. “At the time, our wine wasn’t a popular choice, as the market wasn’t quite ready for Chinese wine. Now the response would be very different, as the market has evolved.”

Elsewhere in the country, Helan Mountain in Ningxia has also seen an increase in boutique wineries. An outstanding example is the Helan Qingxue Vineyard, founded by a trio of Chinese industry veterans. In 2011, the winery’s Jia Bei Lan Grand Reserve 2009 won the highest honour at the industry-topping Decanter World Wine Awards: a landmark moment for Chinese wine.