Silver Heights is a family-run estate at the foot of Ningxia’s Helan Mountains, and a name that regularly features in international wine coverage. This is a short guide to Silver Heights wine: who is behind it, where the vines grow, what its wines are like, and how to taste five of them at Vinflow Wine Bar & Bistro on Keong Saik Road.
Silver Heights is one of seven Ningxia producers in our wider Chinese wine collection in Singapore, and it is represented on our list by five wines. Below we cover the story first, then the wines one by one.
What is Silver Heights winery?
Silver Heights (银色高地) is a family-run winery in Ningxia, in north-central China. Published profiles credit Emma Gao and her father, Gao Lin, with founding it in 2007, on land he was already cultivating. Emma is the chief winemaker. Wine writers often describe it as a boutique producer, meaning a small estate focused on quality rather than volume.
Emma Gao’s route to the winery was unusual. She was born in Ningxia’s capital, Yinchuan, and later moved to France to study oenology at the University of Bordeaux. She also trained at Château Calon-Ségur in Saint-Estèphe, among other Bordeaux estates, before returning to China. Jancis Robinson has described Silver Heights as a rising star of Chinese wine.
For anyone new to the category, that is a useful point: this is a young wine story, not an ancient one. The first Silver Heights vintage was 2007, and Emma has said in interviews that the first vintage was ten barrels. If you are still deciding whether Chinese wine is for you, our guide Is Chinese wine good? is a straightforward place to start.
Where is Silver Heights, and why does the Helan Mountain location matter?
Silver Heights sits on the eastern slopes of the Helan Mountains (Helan Shan), about 48 km from Yinchuan, with vineyards at around 1,200 metres. That is the Silver Heights Ningxia address in a sentence: high ground, at the foot of a long mountain range, in a dry part of China.
Why does that matter in the glass? A few points, drawn from the winery’s own description and Emma Gao’s interviews:
- Altitude and sunshine. High vineyards with abundant sunshine help grapes ripen fully. Emma Gao has described Ningxia as having big differences in temperature between day and night, which help keep freshness while building ripeness.
- Stony soils. The winery attributes the spicy style typical of Helan Mountain to abundant sunshine and stony soils.
- A mountain shield. In an interview, Emma Gao explained that the Helan Mountains give some protection from cold winds blowing in from the north, which lengthens the time available to harvest.
- Cold winters. Like other growers in north-western China, Ningxia producers commonly bury their vines in winter to protect them from frost. It is hard work, and part of why every bottle from the region carries a story.
For the bigger picture, including the other Helan Mountain estates, read our Ningxia wine guide. To compare Ningxia with the other provinces we carry, see Chinese wine regions.
How does Silver Heights farm?
Press profiles report that Silver Heights began introducing biodynamic practices in 2017, and some retailers describe the estate’s approach as organic as well. Biodynamic farming is a holistic, calendar-led approach to the vineyard. We are not claiming certification here; if farming practice matters to you, please check with the winery directly. Wine selection, vintages and availability at Vinflow are subject to change, but the philosophy behind the wines is worth knowing before you taste.
Where to try Silver Heights wine in Singapore
Vinflow lists five Silver Heights wines: one white and four reds. Tasting cues below are the published profiles for each wine, not our own tasting assessment. Wine selection, vintages and availability are subject to change, so please check the full wine list or ask the team on the day.
Silver Heights Chardonnay Reserve 2024
The only white from Silver Heights on our list. Chardonnay Reserve 2024 is described with citrus and orchard fruit notes. If you usually reach for a Chardonnay from elsewhere, this is a good way to see how the same grape reads in the Helan Mountain foothills. It is an easy starter before the reds.
Silver Heights Jiayuan Marselan 2023
Marselan is a Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache cross created in France, and it has become one of China’s signature red grapes. This Jiayuan bottling is described with dark berries and floral notes. For more on the grape, read Marselan: China’s signature red. We also pour HUWEI “Zhuan” Marselan 2021 on the wine wall, which makes a neat side-by-side when it is available.
Silver Heights Jiayuan Pinot Noir 2023
Pinot Noir is not what most people expect from Ningxia, which makes this bottle a curiosity worth trying. The published notes are cherry and red berries. A lighter-feeling red can suit a table of varied shareable plates.
The Summit 2022: Silver Heights’ Cabernet Sauvignon
The Summit is often named as one of Silver Heights’ most recognised reds. Our 2022 is a Cabernet Sauvignon with blackcurrant and dark fruit notes. If you have searched for “the Summit Silver Heights”, this is the wine: a good place to meet the estate’s approach to Cabernet.
Emma’s Reserve 2021: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
Emma’s Reserve is named for the winemaker and is, with The Summit, often cited as one of the estate’s best-known reds. Our 2021 is a Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with dark fruit, freshness and oak. A Cabernet-led blend is a natural choice for a table that wants a classic red to share.
Want to compare Ningxia Cabernets more widely? Our guide to Chinese Cabernet Sauvignon sets Silver Heights alongside other producers. For a look at how another Chinese estate works, try our profile of Grace Vineyard in Shanxi.
What food goes with Silver Heights wine?
Pairings are suggestions, not rules. As a starting point:
- Chardonnay Reserve: light seafood or poultry dishes, where citrus and orchard fruit can lift the plate.
- Jiayuan Pinot Noir: roast duck or mushroom dishes, a classic match for the grape.
- Jiayuan Marselan: grilled or barbecued meats, such as char siew.
- The Summit and Emma’s Reserve: richer red-meat dishes, where blackcurrant and dark fruit meet savoury flavours.
Our guide to Chinese wine and food pairing goes further, with ideas for local favourites and our shareable plates.
Silver Heights wine as a gift or a group tasting
A bottle from a well-known estate can be a thoughtful present. Our Chinese wine gift guide has ideas. If you would rather taste with friends or colleagues, Chinese wine tasting in Singapore explains how to run a small tasting, and our private events page covers group evenings. For wider acclaim, see Best Chinese Wine: The Most Acclaimed Wineries.
Try more Chinese wine by the glass
If you would like a wider taste of China before committing to a bottle, ask about the Premium Chinese Wine Flight. It is a +$20++ top-up to regular-priced free-flow ordered between 5 and 8 pm, with four different Chinese wines, one glass of each. Refills are not included, promotional packages are excluded, and the line-up is subject to change. See our promotions page for free-flow details. Silver Heights is not part of the current flight, so the bottle list is the route to these wines.
Plan your visit
Vinflow is at 55 Keong Saik Road, #01-01, Singapore 089158, and open daily from 3 pm. Reservations are recommended through OpenTable, and you can also message us on WhatsApp. Ask the team which Silver Heights wines are available that day. Wine service is for guests of legal drinking age; please drink responsibly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Silver Heights wine
Who owns Silver Heights winery?
Silver Heights is a family estate in Ningxia. According to published profiles, it was founded in 2007 by Emma Gao, the chief winemaker, and her father, Gao Lin.
Where is Silver Heights winery?
Silver Heights is on the eastern slopes of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia, north-central China, about 48 km from Yinchuan, with vineyards at around 1,200 metres.
What are Silver Heights’ best-known wines?
Emma’s Reserve and The Summit are often cited as two of Silver Heights’ best-known reds. Vinflow also lists its Chardonnay Reserve, Jiayuan Marselan and Jiayuan Pinot Noir. Selection, vintages and availability are subject to change.
Can I taste Silver Heights wine in Singapore?
Yes. Vinflow Wine Bar & Bistro at 55 Keong Saik Road, #01-01 lists five Silver Heights wines as part of its collection of 32 Chinese wines. Ask the team which are available on the day.