In 2011, its Grand Reserve Jia Bei Lan 2009 won a top award at the Decanter World Wine Awards – an unprecedented achievement for a Chinese wine, drawing domestic and global attention to Ningxia’s quality potential.
Behind the success was a local team. Ningxia-born winemaker Zhang Jing began her journey in wine in her late 20s when she left a career as a civil servant to work alongside Rong Jian and Wang Fengyu. Amid arduous efforts in the vineyards to adjust soil pH and trial suitable varieties, the trio established one of Ningxia’s first boutique wineries, complete with an underground cellar, in 2005.
After a winemaking trip to the Rhône, Jing made vintages at Domaine Franco-Chinois in Huailai, Beijing, where she met her mentor, Professor LI Demei, who later joined her at Helan Qingxue as consultant. The 2009 vintage was not only a milestone for the winery, but also the year Jing became pregnant with her daughter.
Celebrating Helan Qingxue’s 20th anniversary in 2025, the team has resisted the temptation to expand and remains focused on cultivating its original 23 hectares of vineyards. The product range has evolved to include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Malbec, a late-harvest Petit Manseng, and even an upcoming traditional-method sparkling wine.
Jing, having travelled extensively throughout the wine world, is leading the trend in Ningxia towards earlier harvests and less use of new oak. It is an elegant new chapter for this legendary winery.
Helan Qingxue Vineyard, Jia Bei Lan Reserve, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia 2019
The 2015 vintage won 2019 DWWA Gold – 95pts
CH’NG Poh Tiong: Ripe, intense blackcurrant, liquorice and star anise flavours cloaked in silky tannins. Layered and complex with abundant freshness from start to finish. Seamless and harmonious. Grape: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Alc: 14.5%
Trade contact: +86 13995116667; nxjiabeilan@sina.com
Stockists: Seeking representation in UK
Read more about the wines of China:
China: Around the regions
Savour the diversity of Chinese wines
Changyu: China’s century-old wine legend
-
Explore paradise one wine at a time...Sponsored Content Set against the stunning backdrop of the Maldives, OZEN LIFE MAADHOO is a tropical haven for wine lovers, offering a curated wine programme that elevates every stay.
-
Behind the hill: Affordable Burgundy from Monthélie, Auxey-Duresses & St-RomainThree villages bubbling with excitement....
-
Protos: Defining the wines of the futureSponsored Content Winemaker Marilena Bonilla has overseen many changes during two decades at Protos, one of Spain’s most famous wineries. She reflects on the history and legacy of the iconic Ribera del Duero brand, and how she is adapting the wines for the future.
-
Selvanella: A Chianti Classico pioneerSponsored Content In 1969, when Chianti Classico was still dominated by blends and bulk production, one estate put the name of its vineyard on the label. It was an act of conviction that still defines it today.
-
Cantina Tollo: Business not as usualSponsored Content In the heart of Abruzzo, Cantina Tollo is proving that cooperatives are becoming a key source of quality wine. The benchmark producer shows how a long-term vision can balance tradition and innovation to create a truly sustainable business – and some very serious wines.
-
Two different faces of Tuscany: Castello di Radda and Cantina Fabio MottaSponsored Content For 50 years the Agricole Gussalli Beretta group has been dedicated to producing wines of the highest quality in Italy’s most prestigious wine-growing regions.
-
Bordeaux whites and crémants: Energy, freshness and renewalSponsored Content A deep dive into the new-wave dry white and sparkling wines from a region undergoing a vibrant renaissance creating crisp, lively expressions that blend Atlantic freshness, historical roots, and modern innovation for everyday enjoyment.
-
Azienda Agricola Cortese: Championing sustainability in the heart of SicilySponsored Content Meet the winemakers using ancient techniques and sustainable practices to create fresh, modern interpretations of Sicilian varieties
-
Dalmatia's hall of fame: DWWA winnersSponsored Content Discover a selection of medal-winning Dalmatian wines from the Decanter World Wine Awards.
-
30 years of Vinistra: Where to now?Sponsored Content Building on three decades of the Istrian wine producers’ association...
