Interview Winery Owner
Follow your heart, keep going

Emma Gao, Owner and winemaker of Silver Heights Winery, Ningxia, China

Owner and winemaker of Silver Heights Vineyard, Emma Gao has been a leading figure of Chinese modern wine scene. She studied in Bordeaux, and was Ningxia’s first female winemaker with the accreditation Diplome National d’Oenologue. Additionally, she honed her expertise working in some of the world’s most prestigious wine regions. Her Silver Heights Vineyard, where their

organic approach to viticulture and purist approach to winemaking helped position Ningxia as Chinese most important wine region. Gaining early critical acclaim from the world’s most respected media (Jancis Robinson / Robert Parker / RVF.

Q:How many years have you been in Wine & Spirits business?

A:I’m Emma Gao from Silver Heights in the Ningxia region of China. We are a family boutique winery since 2007. I studied 5 years Oenology in France.

Q:What makes you devoted yourself in the wine sector?

A:Seeing the prospect of development, my father sent me to France to study oenology.

Q:What are the main transformation & changes in the industry you have experienced so far?

A:30 years ago, the market was dominated by a few large companies making mass-produced wines. My father started working in viticulture and studied the Ningxia landscape, with his knowledge of the soils and climate of Ningxia. He had a vision that our family could produce a superior Chinese wine. I studied Oenology in Bordeaux where I received my degree. When I returned, we started our winery, from a small plot. It was a slow process, teaching the farmers organic methods to avoid pesticides.

Q:What you enjoyed most in your career? The biggest challenge you have encountered as a woman in the industry and how did you overcome it? What drives you keep going?

A:Alberto Torres, has given me guidance and encouragement at key moments in my career. Jancis Robinson is truly an inspiration to me. As an independent woman, who worked hard in her field to become an expert and one of the most influential wine critics of the world, and also create the world atlas of wine to teach the next generation. She also gave me the needed encouragement when we were just beginning, when we were not confident about our progress, her positive feedback helped keep my fire alive. Laura Catena, who is a pioneering woman in the wine industry, but also is amazingly accomplished in several other creative and professional talents.

For challenges, there are many to choose from. Making wine is a humbling activity. You have to respect nature and be ready for the unexpected. Especially when you use minimal intervention, there are many times when nature surprises you, and sometimes you will lose a tank or barrel, or even a whole cuvee (This happened with the 2018 Chardonnay harvest, due to rains, mold).

Wine is a multi generational investment, it takes time to choose your vineyard sites for the right soils, it takes years for the vines to mature and then for the barrel storage. I’m happy about what we start and my daughter will take continuity.

What are the main distinguishing merits / qualities in women attributing to the career success?

Woman has an inner gift, the ability to taking care with passion and empathy, Paying attention to all little details. Because details makes the perfection, but the perfection is not a detail.

Q:Any Advice to your peers?

A:Follow your hart. and keep going.

Q:There are always some myth regarding “female palate” or “Chinese palate”，what are your opinions?

A:I believe everyone has their own different palates.

Q:The cost of wine in the Chinese market is relatively high, and there are fewer experiences to learn from. What difficulties and challenges did you encounter in the process? What motivated you to persevere?

A:In China we need to import many machinery and tools from abroad to reach high standard of quality. Plus some area have very extreme climate and need a lot of work.

Q:What do you think of the future development of Chinese wineries? What strategies and plans have you made for Chinese wine going global, and what attempts have you made? For example, the friendship between the winery and the community?

A:Future of Chinese wine depends on us. Producers should focus on quality. Following some examples in the new world such as Catena Zapata in Argentina. Once you reach the quality markets around the world recognize you. The fact that you can have a glass of The Summit in London or Singapore makes me feel proud. Proud for all my community, my country. And for all female wine makers.

Q:Let’s share some insights on female leadership. As the owner of the winery, what experience have you summed up in the work of recruiting, managing and promoting the winery?

A:I am very focus on wine making process and I am happy of the team that I built around me. Done by young man and woman. Chinese and foreigners. Bio Diversity is a plus.