Grace Vineyard is one of the names Chinese wine lovers mention early in any conversation, and it is a good place to start if you are new to the category. This guide covers the winery’s setting in Taigu, Shanxi, a little of its story, and the four Grace wines on the list at Vinflow Wine Bar & Bistro in Singapore.
Shanxi is not as widely known as Ningxia, but it has a quiet and distinctive wine identity. Grace is the producer that brings it into focus. It is part of our wider Chinese wine collection in Singapore, and we have tried to keep this guide practical: what the wines are, how they are described, and how we suggest tasting them.
What is Grace Vineyard?
Grace Vineyard (怡园酒庄, Yiyuan) is a family-founded winery in the Taigu district of Jinzhong City, Shanxi province. According to the estate, it was founded in 1997 by Chan Chun Keung. His daughter Judy Chan took over its running in the early 2000s. The family and the estate’s own accounts describe a start with little prior knowledge of wine, which makes the winery’s growth since then all the more notable.
The winery’s own materials say its main vineyard grows chiefly Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in sandy soil. Grace also reports a vineyard in Ningxia, on the eastern foothills of the Helan Mountains, so it works in two of China’s well-known regions. Our own list focuses on the Shanxi estate and the wines it makes.
Where is Grace Vineyard in Shanxi?
Grace is in Taigu, about 40 km south of Taiyuan, the provincial capital, on the loess plateau. The loess plateau is a vast area of fine, wind-deposited soil in northern China. In Taigu, the setting is a dry continental climate with sandy loam and wide day-night temperature swings, all of which suit quality wine. In practical terms, that means plenty of sunshine for ripening, with cooler nights that help grapes hold on to freshness.
Winters in this part of China are cold and summers can be hot, so the climate has real extremes. That is part of what makes wine from Shanxi interesting to compare with, say, Ningxia’s Helan Mountain foothills. If you would like the bigger map, our guide to Chinese wine regions places Shanxi alongside the other six regions on Vinflow’s list, and our Ningxia wine guide covers the region Grace also farms.
Why is Grace Vineyard well known?
Several things have drawn attention to the estate. Grace’s wines have been praised by Jancis Robinson, James Halliday, Wine Spectator and Decanter. The winery also reports that it was the subject of a Harvard Business School case study in 2008 and that it was included in the 2023 World’s Best Vineyards list. These are the estate’s and published accounts of its profile, not our own judgement, and we mention them for context rather than as a promise of what is in your glass.
The names of its wines tell a family story too. The winery says its signature wine, Deep Blue, is named to symbolise Judy Chan’s voyage of discovery and the oceanic challenges she faced, and that its sparkling Chardonnay is named after her daughter Angelina. It is a small, human detail that makes the bottles easier to remember.
Where to try Grace Vineyard wine in Singapore
Vinflow lists four Grace wines. Tasting cues below are the published or typical profiles, not our own tasting assessment, and we do not show bottle prices here. Please check the full wine list or ask the team how each wine is served, as wine selection, vintages and availability are subject to change.
Angelina Brut Reserve 2014
A sparkling wine made from Chardonnay, with cues of pineapple, toast and honey. It is the wine Grace names after Judy Chan’s daughter. If you want to begin an evening with something celebratory, this is the Grace wine to ask about.
Recalling The Year 2025
A red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Marselan, with fresh fruit and a supple texture. It is also one of the four wines in the Premium Chinese Wine Flight, which makes it the easiest Grace wine to try by the glass; more on that below. For a closer look at one of its blend partners, see our guide to the Marselan grape.
Deep Blue 2021 (Deep Blue Grace Vineyard)
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Marselan, with plum and dark berries. Deep Blue is the wine Grace presents as its signature, so it is a natural pick if you want to understand what the estate is about.
Chairman’s Reserve 2018 (Chairman’s Reserve Grace Vineyard)
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with cherry, cassis and dried herbs. It is a good candidate for a longer dinner with several shareable plates. If you enjoy Cabernet-led reds, our guide to Chinese Cabernet Sauvignon shows how Grace’s blends sit among the others.
How to taste Grace Vineyard at Vinflow
Here is a simple way to explore, based on how the wines are listed:
- Start with the flight. The Premium Chinese Wine Flight is a +$20++ top-up to regular-priced free-flow ordered 5–8 pm. It brings four different Chinese wines, one glass each: Kanaan Riesling 2024, Tiansai Skyline of Gobi Chardonnay Muscat 2023, Grace Vineyard Recalling The Year 2025 and Fei Tswei Lava Cabernet Franc 2021. Refills are not included, promotional packages are excluded, and the flight is subject to change. See current free-flow packages.
- Taste Grace beside a neighbour. In the flight, Recalling The Year sits next to Ningxia’s Fei Tswei Lava Cabernet Franc, so you can compare Shanxi’s supple red fruit with Ningxia’s mint, plum and raspberry.
- Go deeper with Deep Blue and Chairman’s Reserve. Ask the team how each is served that evening, and whether it suits your table better by the glass or by the bottle, depending on availability.
- Finish with sparkling, or open with it. Angelina Brut Reserve works at either end of a meal.
Pair them with a few shareable plates and let the table decide. Pairings are only suggestions: the fresh, supple reds tend to be easy with a range of savoury dishes, and the sparkling Chardonnay is a natural partner for something fried or salty. Our guide to Chinese wine and food pairing has more ideas, and Chinese wine tasting in Singapore explains how to run a tasting with friends.
Is Grace Vineyard a good place to start with Chinese wine?
For many guests it is, because the grapes are familiar: Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, with Marselan as the less familiar addition. That makes it easier to place the wine, and easier to see what is different about the place it comes from. If you are still deciding whether to try Chinese wine at all, read is Chinese wine good? for a straightforward answer, or see the most acclaimed Chinese wineries for other producers whose reputations travel well.
Thinking of giving a bottle? Our Chinese wine gift guide has ideas. Planning a group evening around Chinese wine? See private events.
Plan your visit
Vinflow is at 55 Keong Saik Road, #01-01, Singapore 089158, and open daily from 3 pm. Reservations are recommended and handled through OpenTable; you can also message us on WhatsApp. Ask the team which Grace wines are available that day, since selection and vintages change. Wine service is for guests of legal drinking age; please drink responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grace Vineyard in Singapore
What is Grace Vineyard?
Grace Vineyard (怡园酒庄) is a family-founded winery in Taigu, Shanxi, in northern China. It was founded in 1997 and makes still and sparkling wines. Vinflow Wine Bar & Bistro lists four Grace wines. Selection, vintages and availability are subject to change.
Which Grace Vineyard wines can I try at Vinflow?
Vinflow lists Angelina Brut Reserve 2014, Recalling The Year 2025, Deep Blue 2021 and Chairman’s Reserve 2018. Recalling The Year is one of the four wines in the Premium Chinese Wine Flight. Please ask the team how each wine is served on the day.
What is in the Grace Vineyard Deep Blue blend?
The Deep Blue 2021 on Vinflow’s list is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Marselan, with published tasting cues of plum and dark berries.
Where is Grace Vineyard?
In Taigu, about 40 km south of Taiyuan on the loess plateau in Shanxi. Its dry continental climate, sandy loam and wide day-night temperature swings suit quality wine.
Has Grace Vineyard won recognition?
Its wines have been praised by Jancis Robinson, James Halliday, Wine Spectator and Decanter. The winery also reports being featured as a Harvard Business School case study in 2008 and being included in the 2023 World’s Best Vineyards list.