Argentine winemaker and author Dr Laura Catena has released a Mandarin-language edition of her illustrated wine book, Gold in the Vineyards, now adapted specifically for the growing Chinese wine market. Titled “百酿成金” (Bai Niang Cheng Jin), this is the fourth language version of the book following English, Spanish, and Portuguese editions.

The Mandarin edition includes three new chapters spotlighting major Chinese wineries: Domaine Franco-Chinois, Silver Heights, and Puchang Vineyard. These additions aim to make the book more relevant to Chinese readers while celebrating the nation’s growing influence in the global wine landscape.

Catena co-authored the latest edition with Professor Li Demei, a respected Chinese winemaker and consultant who has worked with numerous wineries across China. The updated version was officially launched at the Chengdu wine fair in March, in collaboration with Fangsuo Bookstore.

Capturing vineyard stories from around the world

Catena, who serves as managing director of Catena Zapata, explained her motivation behind the book. “I wrote Gold in the Vineyards because I couldn’t find a resource that shared the family stories, joyful moments, tragedies, and journeys of the world’s most famous vineyards in a fun format with illustrations,” she said. “I wanted to highlight that exceptional vineyards exist globally, not just in France.”

The book pairs vibrant illustrations with compelling narratives that blend history, geography, and family heritage. Catena emphasized that the most iconic vineyard sites are often found in unexpected places, saying, “Much like finding gold, you can’t always predict where exceptional sites will be discovered.”

Showcasing China’s most influential wineries

The decision to include Chinese wineries was not taken lightly. Catena spent four years researching the Chinese wine market—consulting with importers, journalists, and reading every available book on Chinese wine—before writing the new chapters.

Each of the three featured Chinese wineries was selected for its distinctive contribution to the industry:

• Domaine Franco-Chinois is known for pioneering the Marselan grape in China, a variety now closely associated with the country’s wine identity.
  

• Silver Heights, based in Ningxia, gained recognition as one of the first Chinese producers to make a Bordeaux blend that garnered international attention.
  

• Puchang Vineyard, located in Xinjiang, stands out for producing sulfite-free wines using the unique Beicgun hybrid variety.
  

“These wineries have unique stories to tell and highlight the diversity and quality of Chinese winemaking,” Catena noted.

A timely move for China’s wine evolution

Catena believes the new edition arrives at a pivotal moment for Chinese wine. “Given China’s growing wine market and the increasing recognition of Chinese wines, I believed including Chinese wineries would make the book more relevant,” she explained.

Gold in the Vineyards now serves not only as a global tour of iconic wine regions but also as a testament to the evolving identity of China’s wine scene. By incorporating Chinese narratives into the larger story of world wine, Catena’s latest edition encourages greater appreciation and curiosity about wine’s global reach—especially in a country where wine culture is still in rapid development.

With its vivid artwork and compelling storytelling, the Mandarin edition of Gold in the Vineyards invites a new generation of Chinese wine lovers to explore the magic and mystery of legendary vineyards—both abroad and at home.