311 Awards! Ningxia Wines Shine at 2026 Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards, Showcasing China’s "Purple Business Card" to the World

2026-04-28 10:56

36 gold medals, 139 silver medals, and 136 bronze medals—totaling 311 honors. The Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain once again took center stage in Macao, China. Once a barren Gobi Desert, this land is now conquering the world with its "purple business card."

On April 24, 2026, an annual gala dedicated to Chinese wines concluded in Macao, China. At the awards ceremony of the 2026 Wynn Signature – Chinese Wine Awards, wines from the Ningxia Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain wine region achieved an outstanding sweep, taking home 36 gold, 139 silver, and 136 bronze medals—311 awards in total—ranking first among all wine regions in China for both quantity and quality of awards.

From Cabernet Sauvignon, Marselan, and Chardonnay to various blended wines, award-winning Ningxia products covered nearly all major wine varieties, reaffirming the extraordinary strength of the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain as a world-class golden wine region.

From 4 to 36 Gold Medals: The Leap of Ningxia Wine Brands

In April 2024, at the same competition, Ningxia won 4 gold medals. Just one year later, in 2025, it claimed 16 gold medals. Now in 2026, the number has soared to an impressive 36—a 9‑fold increase in gold medals for Ningxia wines in just three years.

With the core philosophy of "International Standards, Chinese Expression," the Wynn Signature – Chinese Wine Awards has become one of the most influential professional competitions in China’s wine industry. The judging panel was led by 11 Masters of Wine (MW), 2 Masters of Sommeliers (MS), and 1 expert holding dual MW and MS certifications, with 23 world‑renowned authorities from around the globe. They conducted strict blind tastings scored out of 100 points on more than 800 entries from nearly 180 top Chinese wineries.

Gold, silver, and bronze awards judged by such masters carry exceptional weight. Under this rigorous system, Ningxia wines stood out for their exceptional quality and unique terroir‑driven flavors, winning gold medals time and again and demonstrating the region’s growing international credibility.

Quality Recognized by Masters: More Ningxia Brands Step onto the World Stage

Another highlight of this year’s competition: Ningxia wineries also performed strongly in the 36 annual top awards announced earlier, including Outstanding Variety Awards, Regional Champion Awards, and Wynn Sommelier Selections.

Helan Red Dry Red 2019 won four prestigious annual titles: Best Ningxia Wine, Best Red Blend, Best Value Wine, and Best Cabernet Sauvignon Blend. Produced by Ningxia Hejinzun Winery, this acclaimed vintage—hailed as a collector’s item for the 70th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China—was designated as the official wine for procurement by the United Nations in 2019. Its crowning achievement in Macao further confirms its unrivaled quality.

In addition, outstanding local winemaker Kang Kai was honored as Outstanding Young Winemaker in 2025. The award‑winning Helan Red series has been featured on wine lists of many top restaurants under the Wynn portfolio, entered premium international channels such as Cathay Pacific, and been used as academic case studies at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Supported by the global platform of Wynn Signature and its extensive promotion network covering mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, and other overseas markets, more and more Ningxia wineries are gaining global visibility.

Gold Medals Drive Exports: Asia‑Pacific Hub Accounts for Over 50% of Exports

Successive victories at international professional competitions have directly fueled explosive growth in Ningxia’s wine exports. According to Yinchuan Customs, from January to February 2026, Ningxia exported 26,000 liters of wine, valued at 2.078 million RMB—representing year‑on‑year surges of 234.7% in volume and 136.1% in value.

Notably, backed by the strong influence of the competition in Macao and Hong Kong, the two special administrative regions have become the most important "super intermediaries" for Ningxia’s global wine trade, accounting for more than 50% of total exports.

Quality speaks for itself. While global perceptions of Chinese wines were once stereotypical, Ningxia—with its stepped‑up success over three consecutive editions of the Wynn Signature Awards—has delivered an impressive performance to top wine experts, master sommeliers, buyers, and industry media worldwide with tangible results and a string of gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Backed by continuous recognition from high‑end professional events such as the Wynn Signature – Chinese Wine Awards, the Ningxia region is accelerating its brand strategy: opening high‑net‑worth markets with premium wines and achieving global layout through exports.

Today, the wine planting area in the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain accounts for nearly 40% of China’s estate‑bottled wine acreage. As Chinese wine brands continue to "go global," this once‑called "Oriental Golden Land" has become an essential name for wine lovers worldwide.

Looking Ahead

More award‑winning wines will join the regular wine lists of top Wynn restaurants for global guests to taste and participate in diverse themed dining events hosted by Wynn in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and other international cities—accelerating the commercialization of China’s premium wine brands.

The once barren Gobi wasteland has transformed into one of the world’s largest and most fruitful green vineyards. Step by step, Ningxia wines are emerging from this "golden zone" and becoming a new iconic business card for China through exceptional quality.

As Chan Chi Ling, President of Wynn Macau, Limited, stated at the Macao awards ceremony:

"Wynn will continue to use Macao as a window to promote Chinese culture and industries to the world, turning Hong Kong and Macao’s global gateway into China’s international exhibition stage."

Lumead Winery: Double Gold Medal Winner

Two flagship wines from Lumead (Ningxia) Winery Co., Ltd.—Huanfu · Spring & Autumn Cellared Syrah Dry Red and Huanfu · Mountains & Rivers Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Oak Dry Red—both won gold medals at the 2026 Wynn Signature – Chinese Wine Awards.

As one of the elite representatives from the Ningxia region, Lumead Winery impressed the judging panel—composed of 23 top global wine authorities led by 11 MWs, 2 MSs, and 1 dual MW‑MS expert—with superb winemaking techniques and international‑level quality control. Both wines scored between 95 and 100 points in the strict 100‑point blind tasting to claim gold.

Huanfu · Spring & Autumn Cellared Syrah Dry Red

Made from distinctive Syrah grapes from Ningxia’s Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain and carefully aged, this wine presents intense blackberry and berry aromas typical of Syrah. It boasts a full, powerful structure with silky tannins, perfectly balancing terroir and craftsmanship.

Huanfu · Mountains & Rivers Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Oak Dry Red

Crafted with a classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend formula and softened by aging in French and American oak barrels, this wine features refined tannins and exceptional balance. It carries the signature structure and power of Cabernet Sauvignon, layered with complex notes of smoke, vanilla, and cedar, leading to a long finish.

Competition Overview

To date, the 2026 Wynn Signature – Chinese Wine Awards has attracted nearly 180 Chinese wineries and over 850 wines. A total of 74 wines were awarded gold medals this year. Ningxia took home 36 gold, 139 silver, and 136 bronze medals—311 honors in total—ranking first nationwide.

In the three years since the competition’s launch, gold medals for Ningxia have increased 9‑fold, and wines exported via Hong Kong and Macao now account for over 50% of the region’s total exports. Once again, Ningxia has polished China’s "purple business card" with true strength.

Lumead Winery · Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain · Interpreting Award‑Winning Terroir
Touching the world’s taste buds with craftsmanship.