The Fifth International Wine Festival is scheduled to kick off on Sept 23 in Yantai, Shandong province. The festival will run until Sept 26.

This year`s festival features 20 activities including wine-themed sightseeing, products exhibition, forums on the wine industry and trade talks.

Overseas delegations from Malaysia, Thailand, Portugal, France, Britain, Spain, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have confirmed their attendance.

Domestic wine powerhouses including Yantai-based Changyu will also join the wine gala to showcase their premium products.

Yantai is regarded as one of the world`s top seven coastal grape planting areas. The city is the only Asian city that is honored as an International Grape and Wine City by the International Office of Vine and Wine (OIV).

The city has held the wine festival for the four past consecutive years. The latest wine festival drew 3,000 overseas business people who were able to visit 1600 wine booths at the show.

By Zhao Ruixue (China Daily Shandong Bureau)