Mengjin Grapes

Mengjin Grapes

Mengjin Grapes are a protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Mengjin Grapes, a specialty of Mengjin County in Henan Province. Changdai Township in Mengjin County is located in the southwestern part of the county, where the terrain is mostly hilly with significant temperature variations and abundant sunlight, making it highly suitable for growing Red Globe grapes. The Red Globe grapes produced here are of premium quality and have gained widespread popularity. In 2011, they were approved by the Ministry of Agriculture as a protected geographical indication agricultural product.

　　Mengjin belongs to the Yellow River water system, with major rivers including the Yellow River, Jingshui River, and Chanhe River. The Yellow River is the largest river in Mengjin County. It enters the county from the west via Xin’an County and flows eastward into Gongyi City, winding along the northern part of the county through five townships—Huanglushan, Xiaolangdi, Wangliang, Baihe, and Huimeng—for a total length of 59 kilometers. The Xiaolangdi Dam Project enables effective artificial control of its flow. Downstream, the Xixiayuan Water Control Project is currently under construction and, once completed, will allow for an even higher degree of artificial regulation over the Yellow River’s flow. The Jingshui River flows into Luoyang’s Jianhe River via Matun Town, covering 6.5 kilometers within the county and draining an area of 62.7 square kilometers. The ample water supply provides excellent irrigation conditions for grape cultivation in the county. Mengjin is situated in the hilly region of western Henan, lying in the transitional zone between subtropical and temperate climates, where monsoonal circulation has a clear influence. Springs are often windy and dry, summers are hot with abundant rainfall, autumns are cool and sunny with long daylight hours, and winters are cold with little snow or rain. The average annual temperature is 13.7°C, with January being the coldest month at an average of -0.5°C and July the hottest at an average of 26.2°C. The average annual precipitation is 650.2 millimeters. The county’s complex terrain results in notable variations in light, heat, and water resources. The annual average sunshine duration is 2,270.1 hours, with June having the longest at 247.6 hours and February the shortest at 147.5 hours. The average annual sunshine rate is 51%. During the crop-growing months from April to October, the daily temperature range peaks in May at 12.7°C and is lowest in August at 8.6°C, with an average accumulated temperature of 5,046.4°C. The average frost-free period is 235 days, and the average annual precipitation is 650.2 millimeters, with an 80% assurance rate of 600 millimeters. These geographical and climatic conditions are highly conducive to the cultivation of Red Globe grapes.

　　- Clearly, the area enjoys distinct seasons: windy and often dry springs, hot and rainy summers, cool and sunny autumns with long daylight, and cold, dry winters with little snow or rain. The average annual temperature is 13.7°C, with January being the coldest at an average of -0.5°C and July the hottest at 26.2°C. Average annual rainfall is 650.2 mm. The county's varied terrain leads to significant differences in sunlight, heat, and water availability. The annual average sunshine duration is 2,270.1 hours, peaking in June at 247.6 hours and reaching a low in February at 147.5 hours. The average sunshine rate is 51%. From April to October—the main growing season for crops—the largest diurnal temperature variation occurs in May (12.7°C), while August sees the smallest (8.6°C). The average accumulated temperature is 5,046.4°C, and the average frost-free period spans 235 days. Annual precipitation averages 650.2 mm, with an 80% probability level at 600 mm. The combination of geography and climate makes it exceptionally suitable for growing Red Globe grapes. -

　　Certifications and Honors

　　Mengjin Grapes successfully registered the “Luohong” trademark in 2009, becoming Luoyang City’s first agricultural industrialization brand. They have since been recognized as a “National Agricultural Tourism Demonstration Site” and a “Henan Province Pollution-Free Product Origin.” In 2010, commissioned by the National Standardization Management Committee, the Henan Provincial Quality Supervision Bureau organized experts to evaluate the Thousand-Mu Red Globe Grape National Agricultural Standardization Demonstration Zone project in Changdai Township, Mengjin County. The demonstration zone passed the evaluation with outstanding results.

　　Production Situation

　　Changdai Township in Mengjin County is the main production area for Mengjin Grapes. Located in the southwestern part of the county, the township features mostly hilly terrain, significant temperature variations, and abundant sunlight, making it highly suitable for cultivating Red Globe grapes. In 1999, some local farmers introduced 300 acres of American Red Globe grapes. By 2002, the vines reached peak production, yielding 1,000 kilograms per mu, with total output value reaching 5 million yuan. Encouraged by this success, farmers in the township rapidly expanded Red Globe grape cultivation. Within just a few years, the planted area grew to over 3,000 mu. In 2010, the district invested an additional 500,000 yuan to build a new nursery base, laying a solid foundation for variety renewal and optimization. Additionally, the Changdai Red Globe Grape District has successfully applied for inclusion in the Henan Provincial Tourism Bureau’s “Tourism Wealth for Every Village and Household” program. The Changdai Red Globe Grape Garden follows standardized production practices and strict management protocols. It has been recognized as a Henan Province Pollution-Free Production Base, a Henan Province Science Popularization Demonstration Base, and a China Agricultural Tourism Demonstration Site, becoming one of the highlights of Heluo culture. Each year, the “Luoyang Changdai Red Globe Grape Picking Festival,” organized around the Mengjin County Grape Harvest Festival, has become a well-known agritourism brand in Luoyang. By 2010, the festival had been successfully held four times, attracting over 200,000 visitors and generating economic value exceeding 8 million yuan. The festival shifted grape sales from door-to-door delivery by farmers to on-site self-picking by tourists, increasing annual income by more than 1.8 million yuan. It also boosted the development of agritainment businesses, creating 200 new jobs annually.

　　The cemetery area has large temperature variations and abundant sunlight, making it highly suitable for growing Red Globe grapes. In 1999, some farmers in the township planted 300 acres of American Red Globe grapes. By 2002, the vines reached peak production, yielding 1,000 kilograms of grapes per acre, with total output value reaching 5 million yuan. Encouraged by this success, local farmers began to expand Red Globe grape cultivation. Within just a few years, the planting area grew to over 3,000 acres. In 2010, the vineyard invested an additional 500,000 yuan to build a new nursery base, laying a solid foundation for the renewal and optimization of Red Globe varieties. Additionally, the Changdai Red Globe Grape Garden successfully applied for inclusion in the Henan Provincial Tourism Bureau’s “Hundred Villages and Ten Thousand Households Tourism for Prosperity Project.” The Changdai Red Globe Grape Garden follows standardized production practices and strict management, and has been recognized as a Henan Province Pollution-Free Production Base, a Henan Province Science Popularization Demonstration Base, and a China Agricultural Tourism Demonstration Site, becoming one of the highlights of Heluo culture. Each year, the “Luoyang Changdai Red Globe Grape Picking Festival,” organized under the Mengjin County Changdai Red Globe Grape Picking Festival, has become a well-known agricultural and rural tourism brand in Luoyang. By 2010, the Luoyang Changdai Red Globe Grape Picking Festival had been successfully held four times, receiving over 200,000 visitors and generating an economic value of more than 8 million yuan. The annual festival has shifted grape sales from door-to-door delivery by farmers to attracting tourists to pick grapes on-site, increasing annual income by over 1.8 million yuan. It has also boosted the development of agritainment projects, creating an additional 200 jobs per year.

　　Mengjin Grapes

　　Geographical Scope

　　Mengjin Grapes are primarily grown in Mengjin County, Luoyang City, covering a total production area of 1,000 hectares. Mengjin County is located in the central-western hilly and mountainous region of Henan Province, at the boundary between the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. It lies 110 kilometers east of the provincial capital Zhengzhou, 90 kilometers west of Sanmenxia, adjacent to the ancient capital Luoyang to the south, and borders the mighty Yellow River to the north, connected by a single bridge to Jiyuan City. The overall topography can be summarized as “three mountains, six hills, and one plain.” Transportation in the county is well-developed: five railway and highway bridges span the 100-kilometer stretch of the Yellow River, linking it with Shanxi, Hebei, Jiaozuo, and Jiyuan. The Longhai Railway runs the entire length of the county, and the Jiaoliu Railway has three stations in Mengjin. The Lianyungang–Khorgas Expressway, known as the Eurasian Continental Bridge, has three interchanges in the county, while the Tai’ao Expressway, Luoyang Southwest Ring Expressway, National Highway 310, National Highway 207, and Luochang Highway intersect across the region. Luoyang Airport, a national second-class air harbor, is located in Matun Town of the county. This fast and comprehensive transportation network not only facilitates the flow of people, goods, and information but also provides strong logistical support for production and business operations. The suitable geographical coordinates for grape cultivation in Mengjin are longitude 112°12′–112°49′ and latitude 34°43′–34°57′, spanning 55.5 kilometers from east to west and 26.9 kilometers from north to south, covering an area of 758.7 square kilometers. The protected production area for Mengjin Grapes spans 1,000 hectares across four townships—Changdai, Matun, Xiaolangdi, and Chaoyang—with an annual total output of 20,000 tons.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　1. External Sensory Features: Mengjin Grapes are uniform in size, plump, and free of off-odors. The clusters are conical in shape, averaging 800 grams and reaching up to 2,500 grams. The berries are tightly packed, round to oval in shape, averaging 12–16 grams per berry, with some reaching up to 26 grams. The pedicel is thick and long, ensuring firm attachment and strong resistance to detachment, making them highly suitable for storage and transport. As such, they are considered an excellent table grape variety. 2. Internal Quality Indicators: The grape skins are medium-thick and purple-red. The flesh is firm and crisp, can be sliced thinly, and tastes sweet. Each berry contains 3–4 seeds, with soluble solids content ranging from 15–30%, total acid content between 0.15–0.2%, and reducing sugar content of 3–3.5g/100g, indicating superior quality. 3. Safety Requirements: The growing environment of Mengjin Grapes complies with the standards “Quality and Safety Requirements for Pollution-Free Fruit Production Areas” and “Mengjin Grape Pollution-Free Standardized Production Technical Regulations (DB410322/T2-2009).” Product safety adheres to the hygiene requirements outlined in “Pollution-Free Food – Deciduous Berry Fruits” (NY5086-2005). The entire production process follows pollution-free fruit standardization and pollution-free grape production technical procedures.