Ji’an Mountain Grapes

Ji’an Mountain Grapes

Ji’an Mountain Grapes is a geographical indication certification trademark.

Ji’an Mountain Grapes is an agricultural product geographical indication.

　　Distinctive Qualities

　　Ji’an grapes are made from selected high-quality mountain grape varieties. They exhibit strong growth vigor, good self-pollination, high yield potential, strong disease resistance, and large, dense clusters. The berries are uniform in size, juicy, rich in pigment and sugar content, and are highly adaptable with stable and high yields.

　　Geographical Scope

　　The production area of Ji’an Mountain Grapes is located in the southern mountainous region of Ji’an City, Jilin Province, including townships along the Yalu River such as Qingshi Town, Taiwang Town, Maxian Township, and Yulin Town. The geographical coordinates are between longitude 125°51′–126°33′ and latitude 40°53′–41°32′. The specific area spans from Erdui Team, Qingshi Village, Qingshi Town in the east, to Digou Village, Yulin Town in the south, to Yannong Street, Yulin Town in the west, and to Baxia, Qingshi Village, Qingshi Town in the north. The total planting area is 1,300 hectares, with an annual output of 15,000 tons.

　　Natural Ecological Environment and Humanistic Historical Factors

　　(1) Soil and Topography: Ji’an is a mountainous city located at the southwestern foot of the Changbai Mountains, with a general terrain that is higher in the north and lower in the south. The main planting areas for Ji’an Mountain Grapes consist of gray-brown soil and alluvial soil, which are deep and relatively fertile. The average organic matter content in the soil is 3.97%, total nitrogen 0.156%, total phosphorus 0.105%, total potassium 2.287%, with a soil pH value ranging between 5.5 and 6.7.

　　(2) Hydrology: The rivers in Ji’an belong to the Yalu River system. The average annual rainfall in Ji’an’s mountains and rivers (excluding the Yalu River) is 924.2 mm. The city’s total water resources amount to 1.765 billion cubic meters. Based on an 80% retention rate, the runoff can be maintained at 1.412 billion cubic meters. The available surface water resources are 870 million cubic meters, and the total available water resources (including groundwater) are 1.124 billion cubic meters.

　　(3) Climate: Ji’an generally has a northern temperate continental climate, with distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, and ample sunshine. The Laoling Mountain Range of the Changbai Mountain system runs from northeast to southwest across the entire territory, forming two climate zones: the area north of the mountains (Lingbei) and the area south of the mountains (Lingnan).

　　Lingbei has a continental climate, while Lingnan has a semi-continental maritime monsoon climate. It is the region in Jilin Province with the highest annual accumulated temperature, most rainfall, longest frost-free period, and gentlest wind speed, earning it the reputation of “Jilin’s Little Jiangnan.” The annual average temperature is 7.5°C, with annual rainfall between 800–1,000 mm, a frost-free period of 150–160 days, and an average annual sunshine duration of 2,228 hours. The annual accumulated temperature above 10°C averages 3,208°C. The total river runoff is 1.765 billion cubic meters, with per capita availability of 7,661 cubic meters. Ji’an is situated along the Yalu River, less than 300 km from the port of Dandong. During spring, summer, and autumn, warm sea breezes travel up the river, creating rare and favorable climatic conditions for grape cultivation. Ji’an also enjoys abundant solar energy, moderate heat, large diurnal temperature variations, and a long frost-free period of 150 days, resulting in cool fruit maturation conditions and slow ripening.

　　(4) Humanistic and Historical Background: Ji’an City is located in the southeastern part of Jilin Province. Its latitude is similar to that of Bordeaux, France’s famous golden grape belt. The soil, precipitation, and sunlight provide highly favorable conditions for mountain grape production, and the area boasts abundant wild grape resources with strong disease resistance. Mountain grapes have extremely strict requirements for geographical environment, climate conditions, and cultivation techniques (being found only in small quantities in China’s Changbai and Greater Khingan Mountains, as well as in Russia), making Ji’an the only region in Asia where mountain grapes are cultivated on a large scale. It hosts the country’s largest, most productive, and highest-quality mountain grape base. Tonghua Wine primarily relies on the Ji’an mountain grape producing area, as well as regions such as Jiaohe and Meihekou.

　　In 1976, Shangjiefang Village in Taiwang Township, Ji’an City, introduced grape cuttings of the “Gongniang No. 1” variety from the Tonghua Wine Factory for trial cultivation. In 1980, the Ji’an Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government, based on local conditions, formulated the development policy of “focusing on forestry, promoting grain, ginseng, fruit, and animal husbandry together, integrating agriculture, industry, and commerce, and comprehensively developing the mountain economy.” Grape cultivation for winemaking was identified as a key focus in fruit tree production, with a planned development of 1 million vines. After two years of preparation, large-scale cultivation of “Gongniang No. 1” began in 1983. In 1984, with strong support from Jilin Agricultural University and the Special Wild Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, a new hermaphroditic mountain grape variety called “Shuangyou” was initially selected and bred in Ji’an, leading to large-scale cultivation starting in 1985. By 1989, the brewing grape base, primarily consisting of “Gongniang No. 1” and “Shuangyou,” had reached 13,900 mu (approximately 926 hectares) with a yield of nearly 10,000 tons. In the early 1990s, fluctuations in the wine market affected the development of the grape base, reducing its area from 13,900 mu to less than 1,000 mu. In 1998, as the national wine market began to recover, wine sales increased steadily, and processing capacities at various wineries expanded. The shortage of mountain grape raw materials became increasingly prominent, presenting new opportunities for the development of Ji’an’s mountain grape base. Seizing this opportunity, the Ji’an Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government

　　signed 10–15 year supply and sales contracts with companies such as Tonghua Wine, thereby promoting the development of the city’s mountain grape industry.

　　The main cultivated varieties in the base include Shuangyou, Shuanghong, and Gongniang No. 1. In 2002, the mountain grape planting area expanded to 999 hectares, with a total output of 10,700 tons, a production value of 10.92 million yuan, benefiting 3,983 farming households, and increasing farmers’ per capita income by 315 yuan.

　　Production Technical Requirements

　　(1) Origin Selection and Special Provisions: Environmental quality requirements, including air, water quality, and soil fertility, must comply with NY/T391-2000 “Technical Conditions for the Environment of Green Food Production Areas.” The annual average temperature should range between 2.6–9.6°C, with winter lows between -25–37.2°C, a frost-free period exceeding 110 days, and annual rainfall between 300–1,000 mm. Flat land or slopes facing south, southeast, or southwest with gradients not exceeding 15 degrees (preferably below 10 degrees) and altitudes below 400 meters should be chosen. The soil should be loose, fertile, well-drained, with strong water and nutrient retention capabilities, and a pH value around 7, such as loamy or sandy loam soils with a minimum layer thickness of 60 cm. The highest groundwater level during the rainy season must be below 1 meter, with no seepage issues. The site must be accessible by vehicle or tractor and located near roads.

　　(2) Variety Selection and Specific Requirements: High-quality, high-yield, and disease-resistant varieties such as Shuangyou and Shuanghong, which have passed variety approval, should be chosen. The seedlings must meet national grading standards.

　　(3) Production Process Management, Including Special Provisions for Agricultural Inputs: Fertilizer use should prioritize organic fertilizers, with emphasis on base fertilizer, rational topdressing, controlled nitrogen application, and promotion of specialized and biological fertilizers. The use of nitrate nitrogen fertilizers is prohibited. Soil testing and formulated fertilization practices should be employed to maintain balanced soil fertility.

　　(4) Product Harvesting and Post-Harvest Processing Regulations: Harvesting should occur when the fruit meets quality standards. Watering and pesticide application should be stopped 15–20 days before harvest. Harvesting is best carried out on clear mornings or afternoons when temperatures have dropped, avoiding the midday heat. Berries should be picked, transported, and stored separately.

　　(5) Production Record Requirements: Detailed records must be kept regarding production conditions, pest and disease occurrences, technical measures, and the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

　　Product Typical Quality Characteristics and Quality Safety Standards

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Ji’an Mountain Grapes are characterized by uniform, plump berries with no off-odors.

　　(2) Internal Quality Indicators: Ji’an’s unique alpine climate of the Changbai Mountains and the maritime monsoon climate ecological environment of the Lingnan Yalu River Basin endow Ji’an Mountain Grapes with distinctive qualities. These grapes possess special and superior internal characteristics, including high juice yield, high pigment content, high sugar content, and elevated levels of dry extract, acidity, and organic components. Wines made from Ji’an Mountain Grapes are known for their rich color, intense fruit aroma, lingering wine bouquet, full body, and mellow purity.

　　Physical and Chemical Indicators

　　Item          Indicator

　　Item      Indicator

　　Total acidity　≤0.7%

　　Soluble solids　≥20%

　　Solid-acid ratio　≥28

　　Tannin　0.68

　　Total sugar　18.66

　　(3) Safety requirements:

　　a)　Arsenic content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 5009.11.

　　b)　Lead content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 5009.12.

　　c)　Cadmium content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 5009.15.

　　d)　Mercury content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 5009.17.

　　e)　Fluorine content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 5009.18.

　　f)　Hexachlorocyclohexane and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 5009.19.

　　g)　Dichlorvos, dimethoate, and fenitrothion content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 5009.20.

　　h)　Chlorothalonil content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 14878.

　　i)　Triadimefon content shall be determined in accordance with GB/T 14879.

　　Packaging and labeling requirements

　　(1) Grading and packaging: Packaging materials include plastic crates and lining paper. The external dimensions of the plastic crate shall be length × width × height = 40 cm × 28 cm × 18 cm, and other technical specifications shall comply with relevant regulations. The lining paper shall be clean and non-toxic, and must be soft and tough. Grape clusters should not be packed too densely or thickly in the crate; generally, 2–3 layers are appropriate. Products in the same batch shall be of the same variety, grade, and maturity.

　　(2) Labeling: Users of the mark shall uniformly use the geographical indication for agricultural products on their products or packaging

　　(in the combined labeling format of the Ji’an Mountain Grape name and the public identification pattern).

　　(3) Storage: During storage, grapes must be kept in a cool, ventilated, clean, and hygienic place, strictly protected from sunlight, rain, freezing, and contamination by toxic substances or pests.

　　(4) Transportation: Handle with care during loading and unloading to prevent mechanical damage. Transport vehicles must be clean, hygienic, and free of contaminants. For road transportation by truck, protect from sun and rain. For long-distance rail or waterway transport, take precautions against freezing and ensure proper ventilation and heat dissipation.