Huanren Ice Wine

Huanren Ice Wine

Huanren ice wine is a protected geographical indication product.

Huanren ice wine is a certified geographical indication trademark.

　　Huanren ice wine is produced in Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province. Huanren is globally recognized as an exceptional region for ice wine production and is hailed by international wine experts as the “Golden Ice Valley.” Its ice wine production accounts for one-third of the world’s total, ranking first in the world. In 2010, the county had 12,600 acres of vineyards planted with wine grapes, mainly distributed along the shores of the Huanlong Lake in six townships. The quality of Huanren ice wine has surpassed the standards set by the Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) of Canada and the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV). In 2006, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China approved the implementation of geographical indication product protection for Huanren ice wine.

　　　　 Black Diamond Grade Huanren Ice Wine

　　Ice wine originated in Franconia, Germany, in the late 18th century and has a history of over a hundred years. It is said that in 1794, a vineyard in Franconia, Germany, experienced an exceptionally good harvest year. However, the owner was away and failed to return in time, causing the ripe grapes hanging on the vines to miss the usual harvest period. Soon after, an unusually early snowstorm struck, and the extreme cold froze the grapes solid. Unwilling to let the grapes go to waste, the vineyard owner harvested and pressed the “ice grapes,” yielding only a tiny amount of juice, which was then fermented into wine. The resulting wine turned out to have a uniquely rich and aromatic flavor. This happy accident gave birth to what later became known as ice wine—famous for its rarity and premium quality. The VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance of Canada) defines ice wine as wine made from grapes that have naturally frozen on the vine at temperatures below -8°C. The grapes are harvested and pressed while still frozen, extracting only a small amount of highly concentrated juice. This juice is then slowly fermented and bottled several months later. During the pressing process, the ambient temperature must remain below -8°C. Huanren is globally recognized as an exceptional region for ice wine production and is hailed by international wine experts as the “Golden Ice Valley.” The unique ecological, geographical, and climatic advantages of Huanren County—a place surrounded by mountains and water—have made its ice wine renowned far and wide. The county’s ice wine production accounts for one-third of the world’s total, ranking first in the world. In 2010, the county had 12,600 acres of vineyards planted with wine grapes, mainly distributed along the shores of the Huanlong Lake in six townships. The county’s ice wine output reached 700 tons, with grape-based wine production totaling 1,700 tons, generating an industrial output value of 300 million yuan.

　　Growing Environment

　　　　 Huanren’s “Golden Ice Valley”

　　Among the world’s major ice wine-producing regions—apart from being located north of 40°N latitude—there is another common trait: they are all situated around lakes or river valleys, such as the Niagara Escarpment and Okanagan Valley in Canada, the Rhine and Moselle Valleys in Germany, and the Neusiedlersee region in Austria.

　　The main production area of Huanren ice wine—the Changyu Golden Ice Valley Ice Wine Winery—is located in the Huanlong Lake area at 41°N latitude. The Huanlong Lake stretches 81 kilometers in length, covers a water area of 148,000 acres, has an average depth of 15 meters (with the deepest point exceeding 60 meters), and holds a total water storage capacity of 3.46 billion cubic meters. As an ice wine production region, the Huanlong Lake area in Huanren has four major advantages: First, its prime location—41°N latitude ensures the necessary -8°C cold environment at the right time, making it an ideal area for growing ice wine grapes. Second, its favorable climate—with annual precipitation of 800–900 mm, 2,381.6 hours of sunshine annually, and a frost-free period of 142 days—promotes optimal grape ripening. Third, its superior soil—mainly composed of brown earth, meadow soil, and paddy soil, with slightly acidic pH (5.5–6.5) and abundant nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other organic matter—is highly suitable for cultivating the premium ice wine grape variety, Vidal. Fourth, its exceptional terrain—vineyards nestled against mountains and near water, part of the Changbai Mountain range, sit at an elevation of 380 meters. The gently sloping, sun-facing vineyards help create a microclimate characterized by warm summers with significant day-night temperature variations, and cold but not overly dry winters. Particularly around mid-December, this ensures that grapes can be naturally frozen at -8°C for over 24 hours, a condition even the Niagara region in Canada struggles to match.

　　Protected Geographical Indication Product

　　　　 Harvesting Ice Grapes

　　[6 Protection Scope

　　The geographical indication product protection scope for Huanren ice wine is based on the range proposed in the “Request for the Delimitation of the Huanren Ice Wine Geographical Protection Area” (Huan Zheng Ban Fa [2006] No. 82) issued by the People’s Government of Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province. It covers the current administrative region of Beidianzi Township, Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province.

　　The geographical indication product protection scope for Huanren ice wine is based on the range proposed in the “Request for the Delimitation of the Huanren Ice Wine Geographical Protection Area” (Huan Zheng Ban Fa [2006] No. 82) issued by the People’s Government of Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province. It covers the current administrative region of Beidianzi Township, Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Liaoning Province.