A picture taken on Sept 23 shows farmers on the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains picking, loading, and transporting wine grapes. [Photo/IC Photo]
Renowned wine critic James Suckling recently released the China Top 100 Wines 2025 list, with wine from the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region accounting for over 40 percent of entries.
The wine from this area has been highly recognized by the JS team for several consecutive years, a testament to its continuous breakthroughs in terroir expression and brewing standards.
As one of the most influential wine critics in the world, JS is widely trusted in the industry for his rigorous tasting system. This year's Top 100 list in China not only focuses on the quality and taste of the wines, but also considers their cost-effectiveness, market performance, and availability.
Cabernet gernischt wine from the Jade Dove Single Vineyard at the Xige Estate in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains topped the list this time. The wine features complex spices, aromas of red fruit, and tobacco flavors, reflecting the unique advantages of the area in shaping the structure and aging potential of wine.
The diversity of the Helan Mountains' eastern foothills is further highlighted in this year's ranking. Among the top 10, in addition to the iconic red wine, white wine and sparkling wine from the region are also present.