2023 (Xinjiang·Changji) Belt & Road Wine and Spirit Competition held

On the morning of May 20, 2023 (Xinjiang·Changji) Belt & Road Wine and Spirit Competition (BRWSC) officially opened in Changji Hui autonomous prefecture. The competition, under the theme of "Identity·Innovation·Dialogue", was hosted by the People's Government of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, and organized by Industry and Information Technology Bureau and Forestry, Grassland Bureau of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, and Beijing International Wine & Spirit Exchange.

The occasion brought leaders of the Party Committee, the People’s Government, departments and bureaus of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, as well as the People’s Government of Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture, together to attend the event. Judge representatives from all over the world, distinguished guests, specially invited associations and excellent winery representatives from the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, gathered together to witness the grand opening of this international wine event.

After viewing the promotional video showcasing the unique charm of the wine region at the northern foothills of Tianshan Mountains, Zheng Min, deputy secretary of the Party Committee and acting governor of Changji Hui autonomous prefecture; Yusupjan Mamat, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee, and vice-governor of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region; and John Herman ISACS, chairman of the Judging Panel of BRWSC 2023, delivered welcoming speeches to the guests. Wang Pengyu, Party secretary and chairman of Beijing International Wine & Spirit Exchange, introduced the wonderful activities available to experience during the competition.

The competition collected and evaluated over a thousand wines from 22 countries and regions globally. The organizing committee invited 52 Chinese and international experts from 14 countries and regions to strictly evaluate the samples by blind tasting according to international wine competition standards, and then award the Grand Gold, Gold and Silver prizes.

BRWSC had successfully been held in Fangshan district of Beijing and Yinchuan city of Ningxia Hui autonomous region, since its establishment in 2016. Driven by the proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), strong momentum of China’s huge wine market and the implementation of the development plan for the wine industry at Tianshan Mountains’ northern foothills, this year the competition came to Changji, Xinjiang, the core development area according to BRI and the earliest grape-planting and wine-producing region in China. It traced the roots of China’s wine history, showcasing the achievements made by the wine region and the wine industries of the countries along the Silk Road; it expanded and deepened cooperation and exchanges between Xinjiang and other domestic and foreign regions in areas such as grape planting, brewing technology, wine trading, and cultural tourism. The competition’s success will help further tap into the resource advantages of the wine industry at the northern foothills of Tianshan Mountains and further enhance the brand awareness and influence of the wine region here, laying a solid foundation for open communication and cooperation between wine regions both at home and abroad. All in all, the competition will become a world-class standard event with a global impact.

During the competition, activities such as the "Open Wine Tasting Party" and "Workshop on the Wine Region at Tianshan Mountains' Northern Foothills" were also held, allowing more visitors to experience the beauty of the wine region, presenting a wine-themed cultural feast combining international standards, Xinjiang characteristics and Changji impressions.