A promotional event for Yantai wine took place on Nov 3 in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province.

Some 18 well-known Yantai wine companies took part in the event, including Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine, China Great Wall Wine and Grand Dragon Organic Wine, providing an all-inclusive representation of their companies and wine products in a bid to attract more merchants and build a larger market share in the country's Central Plain.

The promotional event for Yantai wine held on Nov 3 in Zhengzhou, capital of Central  China's Henan province. [Photo/wine.zynews.cn]

More than 300 attendees participated in the event, including officials from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association and Yantai Vine and Wine Office, wine experts, local wine distributors and dealers, as well as a few media outlets.

Wang Zuming, head official from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, in which he stated that after years of development, the scale and level of China's wine industry has entered a new stage. Yantai wine has stood out among many of its competitors due to fine quality and diverse products, which are highly praised among customers and throughout the industry.

Wang Zuming, top official from the China Alcoholic Drinks Association, delivers a speech at the promotional event for Yantai wine held on Nov 3 in Zhengzhou. [Photo/wine.zynews.cn]

Xiong Yuliang, president of the Henan Alcoholic Drinks Association, said, "As the birthplace of wine culture in China, Yantai maintains a massive influence over the domestic wine industry". He emphasized that Henan is a very promising market for the wine industry because of the popularity of low-alcohol wines in the province in recent years.

Guo Songquan, a wine expert, conveyed Yantai's long wine history dating back to 1892 when Zhang Bishi, a patriotic overseas Chinese, established the country's first wine company in the city, Changyu Pioneer Wine Co, and launched a new era of industrialized wine production in China, making Yantai the birthplace of China's wine industry.

A white spirits dealer from Taiyuan shared his view that the promotion was a perfect opportunity to understand Yantai's wine industry, as well as negotiate business with wine producers directly and face-to-face, as he soon plans to start his own wine business.

Distributors and dealers consult with wine producers at the promotional event for Yantai wine held on Nov 3 in Zhengzhou. [Photo/wine.zynews.cn]

Wines produced in Yantai have had a good reputation in China and abroad since 1915, when Keya Brandy, Vermouth and Riesling Dry White Wine, produced by Changyu Company, all won gold medals and other awards at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition.

In 1987, Yantai was named the "International Vine and Wine City" by the International Office of Vine and Wine (OIV), making the city the sole winner of this honor in Asia.

Yantai is a major producer of wine grapes and the largest Chinese wine production facility. Yantai has gathered more than 150 renowned wine companies, including Changyu, Greatwall and Grand Dragon. Over 50 wine chateaus, including Chateau Changyu Castel, Chateau Junding, Chateau Huadong Parry, Chateau Lafite and Chateau Scotland, have been built in the city, while some are currently under construction.

In recent years, Yantai's wine production has accounted for one-third of the country's total. In 2013, Yantai's wine sales revenue accounted for 53.5 percent of the country's total, and accounted for 66.9 percent of profits.

Jointly sponsored by the Yantai Vine and Wine Office and the Yantai Vine and Wine Association, the promotional event also took place in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, and Changsha, capital of Central China's Hunan province, from Nov 4 to 7.