Ningxia – a winemaker's view

Carl van der Merwe, winemaker and general manager of De Morgenzon in South Africa, shares his impressions of the Chinese wine province of Ningxia, adding to those of wine merchant Marcus Ford and a report on the international winemakers' competition published yesterday. Here he points the way to a half-built 'chateau'.
 
Below are my thoughts after completing the vintage in 2012. Given my responsibilities at home and at work, I have not returned to Ningxia since the competition, but keep in regular contact with the participants. Three of the seven who took part in the competition now work in...