Behind LVMH's Himalayan wine project: the villages of Ao Yun

It's no easy task to establish a super-premium wine in an entirely new region, particularly when inviting potential retail partners or distributors to the vineyard involves journeying to a distant corner of the Himalayas in the outer reaches of the Yunnan province, southwestern China. For my journey, after four flights from Bordeaux to Shanghai, Chengdu then Shangri-La, it was a four-hour drive up through stunning mountain passes to the foothills of the Meili mountains. It's hard to imagine a vineyard as breathtaking as Ao Yun, the LVMH project set in this improbably remote region. The name takes on a whole new meaning when you realise that oxygen is packed into the back of the car just in case you start to feel dizzy from altitude sickness. Perfect Location See Jane's tasting notes and scores for Ao Yun's wines Related content Ten years on: Chinese wine's breakthrough moment at DWWA Dumplings and wine pairing - ask Decanter Changyu 'Purple Air': A new Ningxia wine style?