Vidal Blanc

Changyu's Blue Label Ice Wine is made from the second press, and reaches 160g/l. A more intense wine than the Gold label, with a spicy honey note and a richer viscosity, with aromas of lychee and pear. Almost any flavour of ice cream works well (the acidity acts as a counterpoint) or cream cheeses.
Mark Pardoe - Wine Director

The Changyu Golden Ice Wine Valley is situated in the far north-east of China, in the Liaoning Province, close to the borders of North Korea and Russia. No, honestly. In particular it is the area around Huanlong Lake that has attracted the company’s attention; at an altitude of 380m and with the temperature moderated by that large body of water.

The grapes ripen well in summer but when the winter temperature drops to -8C (as required for ice wine production), this can be held naturally for 24 hours. The vineyards have been developed in partnership with Aurora, a Canadian wine company, themselves no strangers to ice wine.  Initially the Vidal grape variety has been planted, a hybrid cross of Ugni Blanc and Seibel, chosen for its hardiness. It would be interesting to see how Riesling would fare. This is the largest, commercial, regular production of ice wine in the world.