Emma Gao

Owner and winemaker of Silver Heights Vineyard and Winery, Emma Gao has been a leading figure of China’s modern wine scene. Raised in Ningxia, her father taught her to appreciate the potential for the area’s unique terroir and agriculture. She studied in Bordeaux, obtaining the Diplome National d’Oenologue and traveled to many of the world’s top wine regions.

Returning to Yinchuan in 2007, her family launched Silver Heights, where their organic approach to viticulture and purist approach to winemaking helped position Ningxia as China’s premier wine region. Gaining early critical acclaim from the world’s most respected media (Jancis Robinson / Robert Parker / RVF), Emma showed that China could produce artisanal wines with balance, delicacy and longevity.

Since their beginning days, Silver Heights embraced organic farming and followed the ancient Chinese principles of Jieqi. Since 2017, Emma started the conversion to biodynamic practices and minimal intervention winemaking; allowing her wines to better express the purity of her terroir and the passion of her family. Using a natural approach to winemaking means the winery only uses wild yeast, while avoiding filtration and sulphur.

• A Taste of China Episode 2: Fine Wine, Hand-Grabbed Mutton, and the Flavors of Ningxia

• Website: www.silverheights.cn
• Address: Yinchuan, Ningxia Province, China