Did you know that . . . Harbin and Sonoma county have more in common than we realize? Grapes! Grapes are grown over thousands of acres of land in the outskirts of Harbin in the city of Suihua. Over time, these grapes will be cultivated for the purpose of making wine. Currently, these grapes are either sold as it is or made into “sugar wine”, which essentially is potent grape juice with about 3% alcohol. It has become quite a popular recreational activity for many families. Armed with a basket and clippers, grapes are picked from the vines, weighed and brought home for consumption.

Although China does is not known for wine making, the culture dates back to at least four generations in northern China. It is believed that grape growing in China dates back 3000 years. Though the bulk of the winery is currently south of Beijing, which provides the volume, the Central Government is actively supporting vineyard developments in the north where the climate is more conducive of producing quality grapes. The Heilongjiang Academy of Agriculture Science has developed the Horticulture Research Academy to breed and conduct research on grapes in this region. There has been increased interest from the international wine making community in learning more about this industry in China. The USDA has sponsored trips to visit where participants learn more about the type of grapes and cultivation techniques used in this region with harsh climatic changes.

With the increase in disposable income and fondness of the western culture, wine drinking has increased in popularity in China. Even if a small percentage of the total populations in China are wine drinkers, this large number shows the potential and opportunity of this growth industry.