For Changyu, recognition was not slow to come, at home or abroad. At the San Francisco World Expo in 1915, Changyu took home four gold medals; it was the first time for Chinese wine to win such important world recognition. In China, it was well on its way to becoming the best-known wine brand; with many film stars of the time rushing to adorn their advertisements in the early 1900s. Even Sun Yat-sen, provisional president of the Republic of China and a close friend of Chang Bishi, on many occasions praised Chang's contribution to China's winery development and his other achievements.

At the castle, one can sample the very special and rare Cabernet Gernischt, an ancestor of the Cabernet Franc that was wiped out in Europe in the late 1800s after the Phylloxera epidemic destroyed most of the French vineyards. The vine made its way to Shandong when Chang Bishi began cultivating it in 1892 . Today the wine is unique to China. Another of Changyu's prize-winning products is the top selling Ice Wine, grown at the Liaoning vineyards in Northeast China. Changyu has been honored across all aspects of the food & wine industry, no doubt owed to working closely with experts from around the world since the time of its founding in a determined effort to produce the highest quality wines. Many of the standard reds are produced here, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc, along with a full line of whites such as Chardonnay, Weiper Riesling, Ugni Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Semillons. The Cabernet Sauvignon and the Chardonnay remain two of the company's best sellers.

A Little Europe in Beijing

The Château Changyu AFIP Beijing is the latest holding in Changyu's growing empire of wine, proudly following in the tradition of the original château in Yantai, Shandong Province, and its sister operations in Liaoning Province and the Château-Changyu Kely in New Zealand.

As you stroll out of the main castle that overlooks the vineyard, you encounter a faithful reproduction of a classic French village: a white European style church sits in the village square. "This is not a functioning church," kindly stated the director of marketing, but we found that the building delivers an additional stamp of authenticity and provides the ultimate backdrop for those looking to create a European style wedding in the heart of Beijing. Meander down Bacchus Avenue and Dionysos Avenue, and stop in and enjoy one of the quaint cafés like the darling Café le Magicien, or spoil oneself with an authentic Cuban cigar in the Cigar bar, or an aged scotch sipped in an appropriately elegant atmosphere. One can become the envy of friends and family by sending a postcard from the fully functioning post office. In the town's shops, there are various Changyu-related souvenirs and commodities to remind you of your enchanting visit to the vineyards. Although the buildings bear no authentic historical traces, visitors to the village are still treated to the atmospherics of a true European town.

During summer, guests can pick and eat the grapes directly off the vines in a special area. Outside the harvest season, people can visit the wine museum in the castle, along with its impressive wine cave and extraordinary collection. The museum presents the history of Changyu, its production facilities and abilities. The cave, covering over 3,000 square meters, is kept at a constant temperature of around 14 degrees Celsius and the humidity to 70 to 80 percent in order to perfectly preserve the thousands of liters of wines that it stores. It has about 550 oak barrels imported from France, each containing up to 225 liters, enough to fill around 300 bottles. Around the perimeter are the locked private cellars, where many well-known personalities – famous actors, entrepreneurs and television presenters – keep their collections. The curious will find a list of their names here. Above the cellar on the ground floor is a Western-style restaurant, which directly overlooks the magnificent wine cellar, so you can sip the products while learning the secrets of their storage.