French wine makers discuss grape breeding cooperation in Ningxia

On Monday, French wine industry leaders visited a grape germplasm garden in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region to discuss joint breeding of varieties that can withstand both Ningxia's harsh winters and the heat and drought that climate change is bringing to French vineyards.

The delegation, including Christophe Riou, director general of the French Wine and Vine Institute, and Miguel Mercier, CEO of Groupe Mercier, toured Dulaan Wine Town at the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains. Planned to cover about 67 hectares, the garden aims to preserve more than 1,000 wine grape accessions from around the world.

Zheng Zifeng, owner of Dulaan Winery, said most wine grapes grown in China are imported varieties that struggle with Ningxia's winters, forcing growers to bury vines under soil every year. He said the garden aims to develop hardy native varieties and host foreign experts for joint trials.