2018 DAWA: Award-winning Chinese wines – Platinum and Silver

2018 Decanter Asia Wine Awards, the 7th edition of the awards, received 3,138 entries from 37 countries. Only 39 (1.25%) wines were awarded a Platinum Medal or Best in Show, the highest accolade of the competition.

A wine made from 100% Marselan in Xinjiang, China was awarded a Platinum Medal at the 2018 Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA), providing further evidence of this variety’s potential as China’s ‘signature grape’.

Fifty-seven percent of the 123 Chinese wines that entered DAWA 2018 were awarded a Platinum (1), Silver (17) or Bronze (52) medal, with an additional 17 granted a Commended Seal of Approval.

Thirty-three of these winners are from Ningxia, which is closely followed by Xinjiang with 28 wins. Benefiting from sufficient sunshine and an arid climate, both Northwest regions are currently regarded as China’s top sources of fine wines.

Read the overview of this year's competition>>

Click for more information and bottle shots of the Chinese award-winning wines in the DAWA 2018:

2018 DAWA: Award-winning Chinese wines – Bronze Part One

2018 DAWA: Award-winning Chinese wines – Bronze Part Two

2018 DAWA: Award-winning Chinese wines – Commended

Wines

Shandong Taila Winery Co., Petit Manseng Doux, Weihai, Shandong, China, 2017 Shandong Taila Winery Co., Petit Manseng Doux, Weihai, Shandong, China, 2017

Shandong Taila Winery Co., Petit Manseng Doux, Weihai, Shandong, China, 2017

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Aromas of melon and apricot with notes of white mushroom and truffle on the palate. Finishes pleasant and lengthily.

Li's, Cabernet Gernischt, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016 Li's, Cabernet Gernischt, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016

Li's, Cabernet Gernischt, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Intense aromatics of chocolate, blackberry and dark plums, with a very broad and voluptuous mouthfeel and a long, smoky finish.

Baoto, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2014 Baoto, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2014

Baoto, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2014

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Blackberry jam, cassis, prune and smoke flood the nose. The finish is long and smoky. A muscular example that will undoubtedly evolve prettily over the next five or so years.

Ningxia Dongfangyuxing Winery, Ge Rui Hong Winery Owner, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2015 Ningxia Dongfangyuxing Winery, Ge Rui Hong Winery Owner, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2015

Ningxia Dongfangyuxing Winery, Ge Rui Hong Winery Owner, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2015

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Liquorice, blueberry and plum aromas, intermingling with ripe black fruits and liquorice spice. A cracking wine for grilled steaks, with a long and toasty finish.

Helan Mountain, Premium Collection Chardonnay, Ningxia, China, 2016 Helan Mountain, Premium Collection Chardonnay, Ningxia, China, 2016

Helan Mountain, Premium Collection Chardonnay, Ningxia, China, 2016

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Lovely melon and apple nose. The palate is impressive both in terms of intensity and density, ending on a very long finish. A very serious Chardonnay indeed!

Helan Mountain, Premium Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Ningxia, China, 2015 Helan Mountain, Premium Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Ningxia, China, 2015

Helan Mountain, Premium Collection Cabernet Sauvignon, Ningxia, China, 2015

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Ripe red fruit and lightly smoky aromas. Medium-bodied on the palate with mouth-coating, powdery tannins, ending with a long, smoky finish.

Domaine Pu Shang, Marselan, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016 Domaine Pu Shang, Marselan, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016

Domaine Pu Shang, Marselan, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Very pronounced oak aromas with a strong soya sauce-like savoury edge. Sweet herbs and integrated oak characterise the palate. Long, spicy finish.

Tonghua Winery, Yasay Oak Aged Ice Wine, Tonghua, Jilin, China, 2016 Tonghua Winery, Yasay Oak Aged Ice Wine, Tonghua, Jilin, China, 2016

Tonghua Winery, Yasay Oak Aged Ice Wine, Tonghua, Jilin, China, 2016

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Expressive bouquet and a complex palate full of melon, apricot and honey characters, plus crisp acidity, which run through the long finish and aftertaste.

Qingyu Chateau, Moqiong Selection Château de Mélodie Cabernet Sauvignon, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2015 Qingyu Chateau, Moqiong Selection Château de Mélodie Cabernet Sauvignon, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2015

Qingyu Chateau, Moqiong Selection Château de Mélodie Cabernet Sauvignon, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2015

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

This wine boasts a warm black berry nose and briary attack, with a concentrated palate, all concluding with a pleasant but firm finish.

Chateau Junding, Petit Manseng, Penglai, Shandong, China, 2015 Chateau Junding, Petit Manseng, Penglai, Shandong, China, 2015

Chateau Junding, Petit Manseng, Penglai, Shandong, China, 2015

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Ripe pear, chamomile and yellow floral aromas with delightful pineapple flavours, bright acidity and a gloriously long finish and vibrating aftertaste.

Citic Guoan Wine Industry, Niya Petit Manseng, Manas, Xinjiang, China, 2017 Citic Guoan Wine Industry, Niya Petit Manseng, Manas, Xinjiang, China, 2017

Citic Guoan Wine Industry, Niya Petit Manseng, Manas, Xinjiang, China, 2017

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

The scented bouquet of white peach and honey leads into a beautifully balanced and crisp palate building on the flavours of the nose, before an attractively fresh finish.

Citic Guoan Wine Industry, Niya Berries Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Manas, Xinjiang, China, 2014 Citic Guoan Wine Industry, Niya Berries Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Manas, Xinjiang, China, 2014

Citic Guoan Wine Industry, Niya Berries Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Manas, Xinjiang, China, 2014

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Delicate aromas of spicy black fruits, followed by a sleek, polished palate with tobacco and fine tannins. A supple, rich and attractive style.

Tiansai Vineyards, Skyline of Gobi Chardonnay Reserve , Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016 Tiansai Vineyards, Skyline of Gobi Chardonnay Reserve , Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016

Tiansai Vineyards, Skyline of Gobi Chardonnay Reserve , Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

A pretty wine with restrained citrus aromatics and elegant flavours of tropical fruit, nuts and cream. Pure and well-made.

Chateau Zhongfei, Caring Nature Jin Huan Merlot, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016 Chateau Zhongfei, Caring Nature Jin Huan Merlot, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016

Chateau Zhongfei, Caring Nature Jin Huan Merlot, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016

90
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Plum, blackberry and lightly medicinal scents and flavours. The palate crackles with lively acidity and sculpted tannins. A very accomplished wine.

Helan Mountain, Xiao Feng Chardonnay, Ningxia, China, 2015 Helan Mountain, Xiao Feng Chardonnay, Ningxia, China, 2015

Helan Mountain, Xiao Feng Chardonnay, Ningxia, China, 2015

92
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Apricot, flint and oaky nose with quite an intense ripe peach character on the palate. Juicy, succulent and classy.

Chateau Junding, Oriental, Penglai, Shandong, China, 2015 Chateau Junding, Oriental, Penglai, Shandong, China, 2015

Chateau Junding, Oriental, Penglai, Shandong, China, 2015

92
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Engaging blackcurrant and cedar aromatics; the palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins adding sound texture and structure. An elegant and fantastic wine.

Li's, Shiraz, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016 Li's, Shiraz, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016

Li's, Shiraz, Helan Mountain East, Ningxia, China, 2016

93
DAWA Silver

Silver
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

Floral and spicy notes leap from the glass, leading onto spicy black fruits, elegant tannins, vibrant acidity and an energetic finish.

Chateau Zhongfei, Caring Nature Barrel Aged Marselan, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016 Chateau Zhongfei, Caring Nature Barrel Aged Marselan, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016

Chateau Zhongfei, Caring Nature Barrel Aged Marselan, Yanqi, Xinjiang, China, 2016

97
Platinum

Platinum
Decanter Asia Wine Awards

An outstanding example with an exquisite floral and plummy nose. The palate is medium-bodied with a pretty cherry, plum and gently saline character; the tannins are soft and the oak is savoury and well integrated. In short, it sings.