Hebei
河北
Straddling the Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, Hebei has enjoyed some sucess as a wine and tourism region producing high volumes for state-owned wineries.
Whilst proximity to Beijing made it a significant agriculture producer in the past, the establishment of Great Wall Wine Co. and Domaine Franco Chinois shaped Hebei as the ‘gateway’ for China’s wine industry - becoming the primary region where new varieties were introduced, planted and distributed throughout the country. More recently, established growers have produced and sold wine under their own independent labels.
Hebei is part of the Northern Chinese culinary tradition that emphasises wheat-based, savoury, hearty dishes including Zhajiangmian, dumplings, steamed buns, and savoury pancakes. On the coast, seafood and refined courtly food further influence the cuisine.
Climate: Moderate continental monsoon
Temperature: Average of -3°C in winter, 26°C in summer
Altitude: 300m-700m
Rainfall: 600mm p/a (moderate)
Sunlight: 2800p/a
Soil: Sandy loam, granite
Key varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Gernischt, Marselan, Longyan, Chardonnay
Notable Viticultural Practices: Vines must be buried in Zhangjiakou prefecture. Irrigation?
Geography
As China’s sixth-most populous province, Hebei covers a variety of climates from the seaside floodplains in the east leading to the Bohai (渤海) Sea, to the Taihang (太行山) and Yan Mountains (燕山) to the northwest.
Despite being in the same province, the two major wine-producing regions - Huailai and Changli - provide differing growing conditions. In Huailai, the cold, dry Siberian winds reduce disease pressure, but force vines to be buried , whilst the humid summers increase the risk of fungal disease on the coast in Changli. Unlike some continental regions, Hebei’s extended growing season provides ample time for late-ripening varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon.
Key subregions (west to east) include:
Zhoulu county (Zhangjiakou prefecture)
涿鹿县, 张家口
Huailai county (Zhangjiakou prefecture)
怀来县, 张家口
Changli county (Qinhuangdao prefecture)
昌黎县, 秦皇岛
Size
As of 2025, Hebei is home to approximately 50 wineries over 9,000 hectares.
Styles
Wines from Hebei are typically Bordeaux blends, or single-varietal wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Gernischt, or Marselan. Wines tend to be riper than other continental regions, with a distinct maritime acidity.
Hebei has widespread plantings of Longyan, a grape with at least 800 years of history in China.
Also known as Dragon’s Eye, Longyan is a vitis-vinifera, frost-resistant, late-ripening, high-yielding table grape that turns red as it matures, like Gerwurztraminer. It is suitable for simple white wines and was the grape picked for China’s first dry white wine, the ‘Great Wall Dry White’.
Shofang Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% neutral French oak for 10 months.
Domaine Franco-Chinois Réserve Marselan 2017
100% Marselan aged in 100% new French oak for 18 months.
Gloriville ‘Villages Heart of the Plain’ MV
Longyan, Chenin Blanc & Petit Manseng macerated on skins for 45 days, aged in 100% neutral oak barrels.
Notable Wineries:
Imported:
Shofang
Gloriville 橙照葵然
Xiao Pu 小圃
Notable Producers:
Domaine Franco-Chinois
Canaan Winery
COFCO Great Wall
Chateau Martin