Kanaan Winery
Kanaan Winery Riesling 2022
Kanaan Winery Riesling 2022
Character: Medium-bodied
Varietal: Riesling
ABV: 13.5%
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100% Riesling
VINTAGE
The 2022 vintage saw plenty of sunshine in Ningxia, but not quite
enough rain, even for an area that typically has a dry climate.
While this led to drier soil than seen in previous years, there were
also fewer pests and diseases which had a favourable impact on
this vintage.
VINIFICATION
The grapes were hand-picked and whole-bunch pressed. After
being cold-soaked for 3 to 5 days, the free-run juice underwent
alcoholic fermentation, which took place in temperature
controlled stainless steel tanks and lasted for one week. Finally, the
juice was filtered and then bottled.
TASTING NOTES
This crisp, clean, dry Riesling has delightful notes of lime, green
apple, nectarine, and white flowers. On the palate the wine has a
lively acidity and a soft, moderate finish.
Janet Z. Wang
The Chinese Wine Renaissance: A Wine Lover’s Companion
About Kanaan Winery.
Considered one of China’s top wineries, Kanaan was founded in 2011 by Fang Wang, whose father Wang Feng Yu was a pioneering viticulturist in the Ningxia region, about 1,000 kilometres west of Beijing. Fang is nicknamed ‘Crazy Fang’ due to her ‘crazy’ idea of establishing a winery with no prior experience and embarking on the near-impossible mission of growing Riesling in Ningxia.
Kanaan is located in the foothills of Ningxia’s Helan Mountains and translates to ‘the land of milk and honey’, signifying the hope for Ningxia to be one of China’s leading fine wine regions. The horses on the label reference the Helan Mountains, as ‘helan’ translates to horses in ancient Chinese. Ningxia has harsh winters that require individual vines to be buried manually in November, before being dug up the following April. Temperatures can fall to -20°C, and the annual rainfall is 200mm. Due to Ningxia’s sandy soils, phylloxera can’t survive in the vineyards, allowing the vines to be planted on their own roots.
Kanaan comprises 16.8 hectares of vineyard, planted with 10 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.3 hectares of Riesling, 1.2 hectares of Merlot and the rest of Chardonnay. The vines are trained in the upturned ‘L’ training system, where the cordon is kept close to the ground to facilitate vine burial. All vineyard work is done by hand as this training system is unsuitable for mechanisation.
Fang spent 12 years abroad, including a significant period in Germany, where she acquired her love of Riesling.