Tonghua Mountain Grape Wine

Tonghua Mountain Grape Wine

Tonghua Mountain Grape Wine is a protected geographical indication product.

　　Jilin Tonghua is located at the western foot of the Changbai Mountains. This area not only boasts picturesque scenery but is also a paradise for mountain grapes. It is here that the pure, sweet mountain grape wine is produced, renowned as the “Chinese-style wine.”

　　 The ripening period for mountain grapes in the Tonghua region generally falls between September 10 and 25. Under normal weather conditions, harvesting should be done after the morning dew has dried, before the midday heat sets in, or during the cooler afternoon hours. Grapes must not be picked under conditions of high temperature and humidity (such as on rainy or foggy days). When harvesting, fruit shears should be used to cut the grapes from the base of the cluster, handling them gently to avoid damaging the fruit. Unripe, rotten, or moldy grapes must be removed immediately during picking, with no more than 3% of green or unevenly colored berries allowed. Packaging materials must be clean and free of foreign objects, and transportation should not crush or damage the fruit. Mountain grapes must be crushed and transferred to tanks within 24 hours of harvesting. As a protected geographical indication product, Tonghua Mountain Grape Wine must also undergo oak barrel aging. Fresh-style mountain grape wine requires oak barrel aging for 6 to 24 months, while aged-style mountain grape wine requires oak barrel aging for over 24 months.

　　　　Tonghua Wine was once the collective memory of an entire generation. Yet, this most prominent Chinese wine brand, at a time when China’s wine industry was thriving, experienced a downturn in performance and gradually faded from consumer view.