Castaly winery: One man's 'purple dream' | investinchina.chinadaily.com.cn

Castaly winery: One man's 'purple dream'

By Hu Dongmei in Ningxia chinadaily.com.cn Updated: 2021-11-17

This man, with gray hair, plain clothes and the occasional spot of dirt, is winery owner Zheng Yongjin, 73.

Despite his age, he insists on doing everything: from planting to brewing.

Now, workers prune vines before winter burial in Castaly's 1,334-hectare vineyard.

Every morning, Zheng Yongjin comes to the vineyard and gives instructions.

As the southernmost wine producing area in Ningxia, Hongsibu is far from the shelter of Helan Mountain.

It will face strong winds from the west.

Eighteen years ago, without modern farming machinery or much experience, with his bare hands, Zheng Yongjin led workers to push sand dunes, build canals and improve the soil.

In three years, he led workers to turn more than 1,334 hectares of sandy land into fertile farmland, planting nearly a million grape seedlings.

Now, the winery has been around for 18 years.

For Zheng Yongjin, time is not short, but for a winery, it is not long.

The potential of Castaly winery and Hongsibu producing area has not been fully explored.

[Video by Xin Yang and Ma Lina]