The award list of the 14th (2024) Asian Wine Competition was officially announced recently. Jiahe Snow Leopard Series Oak Barrel Dry Red Wine, under LAUMEAD (Ningxia) Industrial Co., Ltd., stood out among massive wine samples from all over the world and claimed the Gold Medal for outstanding quality. This marks another prestigious honor for the Qiehe brand, following the Silver Medals won by Jiahe Li Dry Red at the 2023 Brussels International Marselan Wine Competition and the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain International Wine Competition. It is also LAUMEAD’s first Gold Medal achievement of 2024.
Authoritative Competition: The Industry Benchmark for Asian Wine
Hosted on April 18, 2024, in Yangling, Shaanxi Province, the 14th Asian Wine Competition was co-organized by the College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, the OIV Asia Center for Viticulture and Oenology Science & Technology Development and other authoritative institutions.
The expert jury was chaired by Professor Li Hua and vice-chaired by Professor Zhang Junxiang, consisting of 15 international professional judges, 30 consumer judges and 30 distributor judges. It ranks among Asia’s most professional and authoritative wine tasting contests. After blind evaluation, the panel awarded a total of 172 Gold Medals across 12 product categories and 135 Silver Medals.
An innovative competition rule was introduced this year: a distributor judging panel was added to evaluate market adaptability, with separate Consumer Gold and Market Gold awards established. This multi-dimensional judging system makes the competition results highly valuable for industry market reference. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the founding of the College of Enology, Northwest A&F University, a grand wine exhibition was held on campus, where thousands of students and domestic & overseas guests witnessed the remarkable achievements of China’s wine industry.
Amid fierce competition with numerous outstanding entries, Qiehe Snow Leopard Series Oak Barrel Dry Red Wine secured a Gold Medal in the Marselan category thanks to its consistent premium quality, fully demonstrating the exceptional terroir and meticulous winemaking craftsmanship of the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain wine region.
Golden Terroir: A Natural Gift from the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain
Jiahe Snow Leopard Series Oak Barrel Dry Red Wine originates from the core terroir zone of the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain in Ningxia. Located on the golden viticulture latitude belt of 37°N–39°N, the region boasts annual sunshine hours of 2,851 to 3,106 hours, an effective accumulated temperature above 10°C of roughly 3,300°C, a diurnal temperature range of 12–15°C, and annual precipitation below 200 mm. Irrigation water from the Yellow River enables precise water regulation for vineyards.
Certified by the China Meteorological Administration as a "golden climate belt for wine grapes", this area was designated a National Geographical Indication Product Protection Zone in 2003. The soil is mainly light sierozem, alluvial sand and gravel composite earth, loose, highly permeable and rich in minerals, creating ideal conditions for grape roots to stretch deep and absorb abundant nutrients.
Endowed with such unique natural advantages, wine grapes grown here feature fully developed aromas, rich pigment formation and well-balanced sugar and acidity, laying a solid foundation for crafting high-quality wine.
Quality Highlights: Double Value of Outstanding Flavor & Accessible Price
Jiahe Snow Leopard Series Oak Barrel Dry Red Wine is made from 100% Marselan grapes and matured in oak barrels. It delivers a full-bodied palate with silky fine tannins, layered with rich dark berry and violet fruit aromas alongside oak toast and spice notes developed during barrel aging.
As the core mid-range product line under LAUMEAD’s Jiahe brand, the series holds the brand philosophy: Every glass encapsulates grand landscapes and warm daily homeliness. Committed to presenting the premium terroir of the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain to more consumers at an approachable price point, this wine is produced at the Minning Town Production Base. Under the precise craftsmanship and strict quality control of senior winemakers, the vibrant fruit character and structural texture of Marselan are perfectly integrated in every bottle.
Winning the Gold Medal at the Asian Wine Competition is not only high recognition of the superior quality of Jiahe Snow Leopard Series Oak Barrel Dry Red Wine, but also powerful proof of the comprehensive strength of the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain wine region. Taking this honor as a new starting point, LAUMEAD will uphold its brand spirit Born for Dreams, launch more fine wines with outstanding quality and cost performance, and bring the distinctive oriental charm of Chinese wine to broader global markets.
