Grace Vineyard

Corporate brand

Grace Vineyard is a Chinese winery brand founded in 1997 in Taigu, Shanxi, producing wines from vineyards in Shanxi and Ningxia.

Last updated November 4, 2026

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Overview

Grace Vineyard (怡园酒庄) is a Chinese winery and wine brand founded in 1997 in Taigu, Jinzhong, Shanxi. Its founders were Chen Jinqiang, a returned overseas Chinese entrepreneur with roots in Fujian, and Frenchman Sylvain Janvier, with assistance from Bordeaux wine scholar Denis Boubals. The name, meaning a tranquil or delightful garden, reflects the founders’ ambition to create a welcoming place associated with enjoying wine. The winery planted its first vineyards in Taigu in 1998, using more than 100,000 imported vine plants. The varieties listed by the company include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir. Its Shanxi vineyards are spread among villages near the winery. The company later developed vineyards in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia, and its product and company materials describe operations in both Shanxi and Ningxia. The wider group also has a Fujian winery producing spirits, which is distinct from Grace Vineyard’s wine-focused brand identity. Grace Vineyard’s portfolio includes wines under names such as Deep Blue, Blanc de Noir/留白, De Xi Reserve, De Ning sparkling wine, Nianhua, Grace Vineyard Special Selection, Grace Vineyard Selection, Qingchun, Sonata and Overture. The official site also presents winery visits, tasting activities, vintage reports, online sales and an authenticity-checking service. Its stated ambition is to make Chinese wines that express local terroir and can be compared with fine wines internationally, while emphasizing traceability and sustainable development. The winery became part of a publicly listed group when Grace Wine Holdings Limited listed in Hong Kong in 2018. The official history identifies Chen Fang (Judy), daughter of founder Chen Jinqiang, as taking over management in 2002 and guiding the business toward sustainable development. The brand remains active and presents itself as a Chinese fine-wine producer with a visitor-facing winery experience and a range spanning still and sparkling wines.

History

Grace Vineyard was established in 1997 in Taigu, on the Loess Plateau in Shanxi, by Chen Jinqiang and Frenchman Sylvain Janvier, with help from Bordeaux wine scholar Denis Boubals. Chen, whose family originated in Fujian, had studied at Taiyuan Institute of Technology and built his career in Shanxi. The official account describes his founding motivation as a desire to undertake a lasting project for the land where he had made his life. The name Grace Vineyard, rendered in Chinese as 怡园, evokes a peaceful, pleasant garden and the founders’ idea of making the estate feel like a welcoming retreat. In 1998, the winery planted more than 100,000 vine plants imported from France. The company identifies Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir among its varieties. The vineyards covered more than 3,000 mu and were distributed across Dongjia, Dongbu, Neijia and Hao villages within roughly ten kilometres of the winery, according to the official introduction. In 2002, Chen Jinqiang handed the winery to his daughter Chen Fang, known as Judy. After studying in the United States, she returned at her father’s request and took over management, beginning a new phase in the winery’s development. The official company account associates her leadership with a renewed focus on sustainable development. In 2008, Grace Vineyard’s business case was selected by Harvard Business School for MBA teaching materials. That year, its Deep Blue wine was selected for Cathay Pacific first- and business-class service, according to the company’s history. The business expanded beyond Shanxi in 2012, opening a 1,000-mu vineyard in Ganchengzi, Qingtongxia, in the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia. The official site’s account of the group describes Shanxi Grace Vineyard and Ningxia Grace Vineyard as wine-growing and winemaking operations, and also mentions Fujian De Xi Winery as a spirits producer. In 2018, Grace Wine Holdings Limited listed in Hong Kong. The company describes this as the transition from a family-controlled business to a public company. Grace Vineyard’s present brand materials show a portfolio that includes Deep Blue, Blanc de Noir, De Xi Reserve, De Ning sparkling wine, Nianhua and several Grace Vineyard selection and series wines. The website also supports winery visits, tastings, vintage reports, online purchasing and product-authentication checks. The brand’s stated purpose is to make Chinese wines with a sense of local terroir that can stand alongside fine wines from around the world. Its official account emphasizes high standards, traceability, respect for nature and sustainable development. The winery reports awards at several international wine competitions and says it was included among the World’s 100 Best Vineyards in 2023. These are company-reported claims. Grace Vineyard continues to operate as a Chinese fine-wine brand associated with vineyards and wineries in Shanxi and Ningxia.

2023
Reported inclusion among the World’s 100 Best Vineyards
2018
Grace Wine Holdings listed in Hong Kong
2012
Vineyard established in Ningxia
2008
Business case selected for Harvard Business School MBA teaching
2002
Chen Fang takes over management
1998
First vineyards planted in Taigu
1997
Grace Vineyard founded in Taigu, Shanxi

Products and positioning

A Chinese fine-wine producer focused on wines expressing local terroir, with an stated ambition to compete with fine wines internationally and a commitment to traceability and sustainable development.

Wine
Deep Blue
Wine
Blanc de Noir
Wine
De Xi Reserve
Sparkling wine
De Ning sparkling wine
Wine
Nianhua
Wine
Grace Vineyard Special Selection
Wine
Grace Vineyard Selection
Wine
Grace Vineyard series
Wine
Qingchun series
Wine
Sonata
Wine
Overture

Controversies

2024
Sale of Whisky Assets to Controlling Shareholder Questioned as 'Left Hand to Right Hand' Deal
In 2024, Yiyuan Wine sold whisky and other spirits assets to then-controlling shareholder Chen Fang, involving a related-party transaction and asset impairment. The industry questioned it as 'left hand to right hand' and a transfer of benefits to the major shareholder. Chen Fang said it was to reduce the listed company's burden; the company also took some winery assets private to survive. No regulatory penalty was seen.
Source

Sources6 sources

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