Ao Yun

History of Ao Yun

The story of Ao Yun begins in 2008, when the LVMH group entrusted Australian oenologist Tony Jordan with the ambitious mission of finding a Chinese terroir capable of rivaling the world's greatest wines. After four years of intense exploration across China's provinces, armed with soil analyses and meteorological data, Jordan identified northern Yunnan, at the gateway to Tibet, as the ideal viticultural paradise. This mythical place, nestled near the legendary city of Shangri-La and at the foot of the sacred Meili mountains, had already seen its first vines take root in the 19th century, planted by French missionaries along the Mekong.

In 2012, Maxence Dulou, drawing on his experience at Château Quinault l'Enclos in Saint-Émilion and his ventures in Chile and South Africa, took the reins of the project. He settled with his family in this isolated region, facing colossal logistical challenges — steep roads, lack of stable electricity and extreme altitudes — to build a winery in Adong in 2014. The first vintage, unveiled in 2013, marks the official birth of Ao Yun, meaning "flying above the clouds" in reference to the enveloping mists of the Himalayan ranges. Since then, this great Chinese wine has won over international palates, triumphing at the "Judgment of Hong Kong" in 2020 and establishing itself as a cult wine, produced in limited quantities for discerning collectors.

Terroirs and Vines of Ao Yun

The terroir of Ao Yun is a living mosaic, spread over approximately 30 hectares divided into 314 parcels within four enchanting villages: Adong, Xidang, Sinong and Shuori. Bordered by the banks of the Mekong in the UNESCO Three Parallel Rivers region, these vineyards benefit from an exceptional microclimate, protected from monsoons by peaks reaching 6,800 meters. At altitudes ranging from 2,200 to 2,600 meters — Adong being the highest in the world for a vineyard of this scale — the vines benefit from cool nights, temperate days similar to Bordeaux, and sunlight filtered by mountain shadows, extending ripening until December.

The soils, uncompacted and rich in diversity — sands, clays, schists, granites and calcareous alluvium — allow roots to plunge up to 3 meters deep, fostering complex and elegant wines. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (approximately 90–95% of plantings), the grape varieties include Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah and Petit Verdot, planted ungrafted on slopes too steep for any mechanization. Cultivated organically by 110 Tibetan peasant families, these ancestral vines — from state plantings of the 2000s, supplemented by those of the estate since 2012 — require 3,500 hours of manual labor per hectare per year. This artisanal work, enriched by a virtuous ecosystem (yak manure, nocturnal drip irrigation), gives the grapes a skin thickened by intense UV rays, promising silky tannins and a saline freshness that is the signature of the Himalayan terroir. For an authentic terroir wine purchase, these subtle parcels, subdivided into 900 sub-units for tailor-made management, guarantee a pure and nuanced expression.

Vinification at Ao Yun

Vinification at Ao Yun is a symphony of ingenious adaptations to an extreme environment, where oxygen is reduced by 25% at 2,600 meters. Each parcel is vinified separately in small stainless-steel tanks, with manual harvests spread over 30 to 68 days to pick the grapes at optimal ripeness. Extended macerations, aerated to compensate for the altitude, and alcoholic and malolactic fermentations in new barrels or Chinese stoneware jars preserve the freshness and concentration of the fruit. The aging, minimalist and non-interventionist, favors large casks, wineglobes and one-wine barrels to soften the powerful tannins without masking the mineral character, with a progressive reduction of sulfur and natural micro-oxygenation.

Inspired by Bordeaux expertise tinged with Burgundian touches in the blending, this exclusive organic approach integrates precise weather forecasting and rigorous grape sorting (elimination of copper and sulfur residues). Since 2016, sea-level tastings have refined the blends, while the inaugural addition of Syrah and Merlot in 2017 brings roundness and exoticism. The result: velvety, persistent red wines with a salty and airy finish, ideal for long aging.

The Cuvées of Ao Yun 

The cuvées of Ao Yun, produced in limited editions, capture the Himalayan essence through iconic vintages, each a variation on the theme of fresh concentration and fine tannins. 

Ao Yun 2013 (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc): Pioneer first vintage, vinified at the Shangri-La cooperative. Deep garnet color, mentholated nose of red fruits, blackcurrant and smoky cedar evolving toward prune and dried fig. Lively, tonic and saline palate, with fine tannins and a cherry brandy-zested freshness. Round and fresh, it expresses the nascent finesse of the terroir.

Ao Yun 2014 (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc): Structured and wild vintage, the first to benefit from a pedological study. Aromas of cedar, cinnamon, meat and dark berries; powerful, taut palate with a creamy and tangy finish. Elegant and energetic, marked by an early and modest harvest.

Ao Yun 2015 (79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc): Voluptuous and spiced icon, victorious at the Judgment of Hong Kong. Bold nose of candied cherry, soy sauce and incense; broad, saline and mentholated palate, tannins sculpted over a gourmand length of cherry coulis. Sunny yet fresh, from compact harvests favoring Adong and Shuori.

Ao Yun 2016 (74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 4% Syrah, 2% Petit Verdot): Persistent and exotic, a renaissance after rainy seasons. Smoky nose of cedar and yellow fruits; elegant palate with dense, mineral tannins and a signature salty finish. First inclusion of Syrah for complexity, blends refined in Hong Kong.

Ao Yun 2017 (72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 4% Syrah, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Merlot): Concentrated, fresh and velvety, despite a wet summer. Aromas of fresh dark fruits, game and cold fireplace; round palate, micro-oxygenated for silky tannins, with a touch of Merlot for roundness. Record late harvest extending to November 22.

Ao Yun 2018 (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 7% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot): Precise and sensual, following water stress constraints. Warm nose of graphite, blackcurrant and violet; creamy, vibrant and mineral palate, with a blood orange-zested finish. Advances in viticulture: weather forecasting and grape sorting, less wood-influenced aging.

Ao Yun 2020 (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, 6% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot): Reference vintage, consistent despite unsettled weather. Dense nose of dark fruits, incense and rose; airy, velvety tannic palate, with a licorice and salivating finish. Eighth lucky cuvée, with staggered harvests for perfect ripeness.

Ao Yun 2021: Robust and vigorous, bottled in 2023, spring 2025 release. Fiery nose of grilled black fruits and tobacco; imposing, fresh palate with integrated gripping tannins and a seductive sweetness. Extreme dry climate, tense but successful ripening.

These cuvées, rated up to 97/100 by critics such as James Suckling, pair beautifully with the exclusive Riedel glass designed in 2018 to enhance bouquet, texture and finish.

Ao Yun is a Himalayan odyssey, a great Chinese wine that blends local heritage and world expertise for unforgettable cuvées. Take advantage of our exclusive selection on Vins & Millésimes right now to acquire Ao Yun at the best price! Order now and let yourself be carried above the clouds!