Climate
Turpan is sunny and dry all year-round with little rain of only 16-20mm per year. Average temperature is 14.4°C with extreme diurnal temperature variations. Growing season is around 270 days, 3000-3200 sunshine hours per year. The dramatic swing in temperature variation means that our grapes’ exposure to sunlight increases the ripening qualities while the sudden drop in temperature at night preserves the balance of natural acids in the grapes, resulting in more resilient and intense flavoured grapes with high acid and high sugar contents.
Terroir
Vineyards lie on a bed of alluvial soil of Gobi gravel, sand and silt. South-facing on a slope at 1100m above sea level. Vines are 21 years old. Grapes are watered naturally with melting snow from Tian Shan Mountain. Untouched by men and free from pollution, it channels through the underground Karez water system to their vineyards, keeping the water source naturally pure.
Ageing
Soft pressed and fermented in stainless steel tank. Then aged for 12 months: 45% in 2nd and 3rd fill French oak barrels, 20% in new 20hl wood cask and 35% in stainless steel tank. Blended and light filtration before bottling. No malolactic fermentation.
