Kanaan Winery, `Pretty Pony` Ningxia Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot

Considered one of the top wineries in China, Kanaan is located at the foot of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia, about 1,000 kilometres west of Beijing. Kanaan means the land of milk and honey, signifying the hope for Ningxia to be one of Chinas leading regions for the production of fine wine. The horses on the labels represent the Helan, which means horses in ancient Chinese. The winery was established in 2011 by Fang Wang, daughter of Wang Feng Yu, a pioneer of viticulture in Ningxia. Fang is nicknamed Crazy Fang for her boldness to start a winery with no prior experience, and for embarking on the near impossible mission of growing Riesling in Ningxia. Fang spent 12 years abroad, some of which were in Germany, where she acquired her love for Riesling.

Ningxia is known for having harsh winters that require individual vines to be buried manually in November before being dug up the following April. Temperatures can fall to -20C and the annual rainfall is 200mm. Due to the sandy soils, vines are planted on their own roots as there is no need for protection against phylloxera. Kanaan has 16.8 hectares of vineyard, with 10 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.3 hectares of Riesling, 1.2 hectares of Merlot and the rest 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 not suitable for mechanisation.

Vineyards

Kanaan has 16.8 hectares of vineyard near the Helan Mountain, with 10 hectares planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. Due to the sandy soils, vines are planted on their own roots as there is no need for protection against phylloxera. The vines are trained in the upturned L training system, where the cordon is kept close to the ground to facilitate vine burial, and drip irrigation is used. All vineyard work is done by hand as this training system is not suitable for mechanisation.

Vinification

90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Merlot

The hand-harvested grapes were destemmed and cold soaked for five days, before they underwent maceration at 8-10C in stainless-steel tanks. Pretty Pony was then fermented in stainless-steel tanks for 10 days, at controlled temperatures between 24-29C. Malolactic fermentation lasted two weeks, before the juice was transferred to used French barriques to age for 12 months.

Tasting Notes

`Pretty Pony` is the flagship wine from Kanaan. Bright ruby red in colour, this wine is characterised by fresh notes of blackcurrant, coffee, cinnamon, and chocolate, which give way to an elegant and refined palate, with finely structured tannins.