Chinese New Year: 15 award-winning Chinese wines to try

Results for Chinese wines at the DWWA continue to establish its reputation as a quality-led wine producing country.

At the 2025 competition, China has a strong year, receiving 181 medals. With two Best in Show, one Platinum and 10 Gold medals, China’s wine-producing reputation is continuing to go from strength to strength.

Two red wines from Ningxia and Shandong respectively have been awarded the top accolade, Best in Show, at the 2025 Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) – marking a historic milestone for Chinese wine at the world’s biggest wine competition.

This is the first time Chinese wines achieved the Best in Show since its introduction in 2016, replacing the former top award, ‘International Trophy’. These two wines are also the only entries from Asia to reach the top 50 this year.

Scroll down to see award-winning Chinese wines from DWWA 2025

From Rkatsiteli or China’s ‘signature grape’, Marselan to Cabernet Sauvignon entries included a diverse array of styles, including sparkling and sweet wines.

To ring in the Chinese New Year on 17 February and highlight some producers to keep your eye on, we’ve selected 15 award-winning wines from the 2025 competition to try, each awarded 94+ points.

Whether familiar with Chinese wines or looking for where to start, discover benchmark examples of the quality wines China is becoming known for.

Chinese New Year: 15 award-winning wines to try

Best in Show

Changyu, Noble Dragon N188, Yantai, Shandong 2022

Best in Show, 97 points

Our second Chinese wine in this year’s Best in Show selection comes not from the inland, fiercely continental climate of Ningxia, but from the very different coastal environment of the Shandong Peninsula; it’s also a successful blend of 75% Cabernet Gernischt (Carmenère) with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite very different growing conditions, the lesson is the same: China is capable of making not just fruity red wines (which many locations in the wine world do well), but structured red wines in which rich tannins provide the bone structure which gives beguiling fruit flesh an inner seriousness of purpose. This dark red-black wine is dark and searching, with plum-blackberry fruits. On the palate, those fruits show both depth and textural finesse, and the supporting tannins play a key role once again in lending that fruit its dignity and gastronomic force. These two wines constitute a remarkable debut for China in our Top 50. Alcohol 13.5%

Dongfang Yuxing Winery, Geruihong Yeguangbei, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022

Best in Show, 97 points

China is a relative newcomer to the world of wine, though in other respects its civilisation pre-dates that of Mediterranean Europe (and the Chinese made mixed alcoholic beverages even earlier than the Georgians wines). Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised, then, both at the speed at which its wine creators are learning, and the level of their accomplishments. Both were on show this year with not one but two Best in Show wines. This wine from Helan Mountain in Ningxia is a cunning blend which few in Europe would have thought of: Cabernet Sauvignon with 9% of freshening Dornfelder and 6% of Cabernet Gernischt (Carmenère). It works well. The wine is a dark, opaque black-purple with fresh and alluring scents of blackcurrant and wild plum. The palate offers a seductive plunge of fruit and spice, settling on something more akin to dark chocolate but – and this is key – with the authority and detaining discipline only carefully extracted tannins can bring. It’s a revelation. Alc 15.6%

Sparkling

Devo Winery, MV03 Brut Nature, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia NV

Gold, 95 points

Captivating red apple, lemon peel and stone fruits persist over a bedrock of biscuits and toasted brioche and swirl across the delicate mousse. Long and impressive. Alc 12.5%

White

Mystic Island Winery, Yihu Qiushan Reserve Chardonnay, Penglai, Shandong 2022

Gold, 96 points

Dizzy with floral charm: jasmine, white blossom and honeysuckle aromas lead to a mouth-watering lemony freshness and wonderful smoky mineral quality which flows towards the finish. Alc 13%

Longting Vineyard, Reserve Sea Breeze Chardonnay, Penglai, Shandong 2022

Gold, 95 points

Beguiling white blossom, melon and peach perfume prevails over the invigorating citrus peel acidity and mineral undertow, with an intriguing bitter almond twist at the end. Alc 12.5%

Chateau Summer Land, Bo Series Malvasia, Wuwei, Gansu 2023

Silver, 94 points

Lovely nuances of lemon peel freshness with nettle and yellow peach aromas, hints of guavas and dry herbs. Silky texture. Alc 14.5%

Helanhong Winery, Helan Hong Jiangnan Reserva White, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022

Silver, 94 points

Water chestnuts and melons with plenty of vanilla and buttery sweetness mixed with nectarines. Juicy, fresh and attractive. Stony finish. Alc 14.5%

Tinnyu Winery, Mono Chard, Yunnan 2023

Silver, 94 points

Toasty nuances, with notes of clove and vanilla, hints of smoke and flint, lemon and red apple. Racy acidity. Alc 14%

Red

Li’s Estate, Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022

Platinum, 97 points

A tantalising complexity of blackberry fruit compote and succulent prunes garnished with cedar and black pepper spice and hints of green herbs. Rousing and rich with immersive tannins and a lick of warming tar on the finish. Alc 15.5%

Domaine Pushang, Marselan, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2022

Gold, 96 points

Dive deep into the waves of damson and blueberry fruit, earthy balsamic tones and intoxicating violet fragrance; bold and structured with broad tannins and herbaceous acidity. Alc 15.5%

MountainWave Vinery, Malbec, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2021

Gold, 96 points

Hugely concentrated damson florals, black cherries and plums with a bewitching clove and vanilla aspect. Stylish and plush with silky tannins and a lofty, lingering acidity. Superb! Alc 14%

Pernod Ricard Ningxia, Helan Mountain Xiao Feng Cabernet Sauvignon, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2020

Gold, 95 points

Charismatic Morello cherry, blackcurrant and plum notes are framed by the tightly-packed violet tannins and elevating acidity, and fortified by the spicy toast characters from the oak. Alc 14.8%

Sweet

Hanxiang Liquor, Nabaifu Reserva Icewine Vidal, Huanren, Liaoning 2018

Gold 95 points

Luscious apricot, mango, pear and honeyed acacia sing across the exquisitely sweet palate which is enlivened by the satiating acidity and fascinating savoury twist at the end. Alc 11%

Sanhe, Cailonglin Jinding Icewine Vidal, Huanren, Liaoning 2020

Gold, 95 points

An explosion of apricots, peaches, mangoes and raisins coat the palate and are enriched by a vivid orange peel acidity to mystify and delight. Utterly delicious! Alc 12%

Tonghua Winery, Tonghua Glory Yasay Oak Aged Icewine Vidal, Tonghua, Jilin 2022

Silver, 94 points

The nose is pure and fruity with complex orange blossom, honey, ripe mango and pineapple. Intense on the palate, long and charming. Alc 11.5%

Chinese New Year: 15 award-winning Chinese wines to try

Scroll down to see award-winning Chinese wines from DWWA 2025