Chinese wines from Ningxia are displayed at a bottle shop in Perth, the capital of Western Australia. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Experts impressed

Gianmattia Giordano, group sommelier for Hunter Street Hospitality, which is behind award-winning, high-end restaurants in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth, said the company recently introduced a selection of Chinese wines. Diners can explore not only Ningxia's wines but other leading Chinese products.

While it is a relatively new category, awareness is growing and Chinese wines have generated strong interest, particularly in Australia's sommelier community, he said.

"We believe it's important to showcase outstanding wines regardless of where they come from, and Ningxia has established itself as one of the world's most exciting emerging wine regions," he said.

"Ningxia's high altitude, dry climate and significant day-to-night temperature variation produce wines with concentrated fruit, fresh acidity and well-structured tannins," Giordano said.

The region is best known for its cabernet sauvignon and French Bordeaux-style wine blends, although varieties such as marselan are also showing great promise, he said.

"One of Ningxia's greatest strengths is that it combines exceptional natural resources with the expertise of leading winemakers and viticulturists from around the world, many of whom have been drawn to the