As early summer settles in, the vineyards at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain in northwest China spring to life. Here, wine grapes flourish under the sun, and technology is playing a pivotal role in transforming the region’s wine industry.
At one of the grape plantations, smart drip irrigation systems dangle along the vines, all controlled by a simple smartphone app. “This integrated drip irrigation system allows for precise water and fertilizer management,” says Liu Huibin, deputy manager at GreatWall Terroir’s grape planting base. “Sensors transmit key data like soil temperature, humidity, weather conditions, and irrigation flow to our intelligent control platform.”
This advanced system has revolutionized traditional farming methods. Previously, flood irrigation consumed 700 to 800 cubic meters of water per mu (about 0.07 hectares) annually. Now, the smart system requires only 220 to 260 cubic meters, conserving water and enhancing fertilizer efficiency. “Smart irrigation also saves labor,” Liu adds. “Flood-irrigating 300 mu used to need at least five workers. Now, with drip irrigation over 7,000 mu, only five workers are required. It’s efficient and convenient.”
The eastern foot of Helan Mountain, located in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, is hailed as a “golden zone” for grape cultivation. With abundant sunshine, well-aerated soil, significant day-night temperature differences, and access to Yellow River irrigation, it’s ideal for producing high-quality wine.
By the end of last year, the region boasted over 600,000 mu of wine grape plantations, producing 140 million bottles annually. Ningxia’s wines have made their mark globally, exported to more than 40 countries and regions.
In recent years, Ningxia has embraced technology to revolutionize its wine industry. The region has established over 30 scientific research platforms, making breakthroughs in virus-free seedling propagation, soil and water management, ecological planting, and modern winemaking techniques. Digitalization is steering the industry towards greater integration and high-end development.
Huangkou Winery, a renowned local producer, has adopted a digital fermentation control system. “With the mobile app, we can monitor and adjust fermentation conditions in real time, avoiding inaccuracies from manual checks and ensuring stable wine quality,” explains Li Dan, a lab technician at the winery.
The winery also leverages Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to monitor vineyard conditions, deploys drones for rapid inspections and eco-friendly pest control, and uses blockchain for transparent product traceability. Consumers can access detailed production information by scanning QR codes on the bottles.
“Our innovations have significantly improved production efficiency and product quality,” says Zhang Xueyan, the winery’s director. Through collaborations with universities, they’ve secured over 20 technological patents, including novel fermentation tanks and oxygen-permeable polymer barrels.
To further advance the industry, Ningxia established the Wine Industry Technology Collaborative Innovation Center at the eastern foot of Helan Mountain. As China’s first open and shared platform for the wine industry, it aims to enhance the innovation system and promote intelligent management across vineyards and wineries.
“We will continue to prioritize innovation,” says Li Jun, director of the management committee of the wine industry park. “By integrating resources and building a digital platform covering the entire wine industry chain, we aim to create smart vineyards and boost the global competitiveness of Ningxia’s premium wines.”
