Yantai, birthplace of China`s wine industry, is now the biggest producer in the nation, topping the field and leading the industry`s progress.

Zhang Jiangting, mayor of Yantai, said development of city`s wine industry reflects China as a whole. It is in the 21st century that Yantai`s wine has grown into an industrial cluster with broad perspective, though it started 116 years ago.

In 1892, Changyu Pioneer Wine Co was established in Yantai, Shandong province, by a well-known overseas Chinese merchant, Chang Pi Shih.

Today, the highway along the coast from Yantai and Penglai showcases the glamour of the "Oriental Bordeaux". Along the road is 300,000 mu (20,000 hectares) of modern vineyards with picturesque chateaux dotting the landscape.

Yantai`s grape and wine industry has been on fast track to development since 2000. Prestigious wine enterprises from other countries and regions like the United States, France, Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand have arrived to invest, start wineries and develop vines.

According to the latest statistics, over 140 domestic and foreign wine corporations have settled in Yantai, including 29 large operations and 101 with QS certification. The city has formed wine industry cluster with famous brands like Changyu, Great Wall, Xintian and Weilong leading the way. Annual wine output in Yantai is about 193,500 kiloliters, accounting for 75.7 percent of the production in Shandong province and 29.1 percent in China. Sales revenue, tax and profits count over 50 percent of China`s wine industry.

Changyu Wine Group Co Ltd has become China`s biggest wine company with a 19 percent market share and 40 percent of industry-wide profits.

The local government has taken a series of measures to speed up and internationalize the wine industry, including attracting famous wine companies from home and abroad to invest, developing a large area to grow grapes, strengthening cooperation with domestic and foreign experts and holding international wine festivals.

During the 2nd International Wine Festival this September, renowned brands from major wine regions in France, Germany, Italy and Chile gathered in Yantai along with some 200 others to seek cooperation and business opportunities.

"Yantai`s wine is an important part of the world`s wine industry and is becoming more so," said Peter Hayes, president of International Office of Vine and Wine (OIV). "We aim to build Yantai into the hub of world-renowned wine brands, and to make Yantai`s wine well-known globally," noted Mayor Zhang.

Yantai is on the central part of the Shandong Peninsula, where both winter and summer are moderate. It is at the same latitude as major vine regions in France and Italy. Influenced by its maritime climate, Yantai is reputed to be the best place in China to grow vines due to plentiful rain and abundant sunshine meeting the demands of soil, sunlight and humidity.

After Chang Pi Shih set up Changyu Pioneer Wine Co, Dr Sun Yat-sen granted an epigraph of "Pin Zhong Li Quan" in 1912 to show his great appreciation for the wine.

In 1915, Changyu`s Keya brandy, Chefoo red wine, vermouth and Riesling dry white wine were awarded gold medals and prime quality certificates at the Pacific Fair in Panama.

Vine and wine city

Robert Tinlot, president of OIV, officially announced the 116 cities from 28 countries and regions as "International Vine and Wine Cities" on October 31, 1987, with Yantai as the only one listed from Asia. The prestigious title was a key that helped its grapes and wine go global.

In September 2008, Yantai successfully held the 2nd International Wine Festival, which showcased the glamour and romance of world wine. Now over 30 prestigious masters of wine from OIV visit the city to taste Yantai`s wine every September. They say Yantai`s Changyu wine can compare with famous wine brands in the world.

Today visitors from home and abroad can go into the huge vineyard, pick vines and work in the winery themselves. They can also see Changyu`s 100-year-old cellar while visiting modern chateaus built in European styles.

The tourism in Yantai featuring wine history has been developing fast in recent years. As China`s largest base to grow vine, Yantai has forged its unique tourist brand featuring vineyard, chateau, wine cellar, wine museum, wine producing and processing.

Changyu`s Great Hall and the Wine Culture Museum host more than 6 million domestic and foreign visitors coming a year. The museum`s cellar, the largest in Asia, has more than 500 oaken casks of wine.

International Wine City, newly opened in September this year, gives visitors a chance to know the brand story and history of world-renowned wines and to see China`s first chateau.

"You can experience it yourself, from picking vines, processing and winemaking. More than 900,000 visitors came in only three months, demonstrating the wine`s charm," said Hong Luyan, manager of Changyu Castel Chateau.

Junding Chateau stands alongside the lakes in Penglai surrounded by over 5,000 mu (333 hectares) of vineyards. The setting is attracting more young couples for wedding ceremonies, organizers for holding business meetings and visitors coming from home and abroad.

Yantai`s vine and wine are a big magnet for domestic and foreign guests.