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[chanhonam]

Great info from this topic but maybe out-dated. Anyone have any newer recommendations? I am not in a tier one city so widely available suggestions welcomed. I am wanting to cook with wine as well as drink and all the chefs on tv say cook with a wine you would drink.

[Fozzwaldus]

Xintian have a new range called NiYa that all the cats in XJ are drinking right now... I've seen it advertised in NB too.

Very quaffable

[Nolefan]

The choices in Beijing are through the roof nowadays. It's become very easy toget quality imported wines for under 50 rmb a bottle at places like Jenny Lou and April Gourmet. At those prices, Chinese wines don't stand a chance in terms of value. They're way too expensive.

Also in Beijing, there is a new company called Cheers that does wines at wholesale prices in their shops. Their selection is some of the best value I've seen in a long time with decent stuff from USAnia, South Africa, France, Spain, Oz and more. You can taste stuff for free in their shops and they also deliver if you order more than 200rmb worth.

I've given up on Chinese wines at the moment except as a novelty item when i have out of the country guests. In that case, I usually get something from GRace Vineyards or from 1421, both of which make reasonable labels that are drinkable and don't cost an arm and a leg.

Those lucky enough to be in ningxia should be on the lookout for wines from helan shan. The region has some amazing grapes and a couple of small labels have been winning awards worldwide, even with decanter magazine.

[zero]

Unfortunately, wine is a scam. It's probably the biggest "Emperor's new clothes" case of our time.

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/cheeky-little-test-exposes-bad-taste-of-wine-experts-319945.html

The other big one is violins.

[ericthered]

They needed a study for that??? Come on...I have even been paid to be a wine expert in China (I don't drink and my palate has been destroyed by way too much coffee)...you go online, find sites about wine, jot down words like oaky and bouquet and such rot...I do highly doubt that fine wine and the intricate nature of the taste of such beverage can be fully appreciated by the same population that gave us Moonshine Baijiu.... I aim not to belittle them...all wine to me is just bitter....which is why I stick to coffee 

[kitano]

My local Lianhua seems to have a deal with Great Wall, they have sine if their wines on permanent half-price
There is a cabernet in a black bottle which isn't that tasty but does have the sweetness of proper wine

I avoid French wines because what you drink in France and what you drink outside of France are totally different things in my experience. The French still have the best 'peasant wine' as in going to a cheap cafe in France and the house wine will be perfect cheap wine, no idea about expensive wines

I have been living on Great Wall though because a 30rmb bottle of great wall iis the only drinkable thing at that price and i have a bottle a day
It's really embarassing when I tell people I like wine and they think I will know about it but the truth is I just drink cheap wine all the time

If I'm paying 100 or something like that for a bottle I will get Italian or Spanish

Final thought, have you noticed how when you are on the cheap wine it tastes like wine but then when you buy nice wine you get really drunk. It's a bit like chinese beer, it tastes like beer....