Ningxia shares the fruits of its labor

In the sprawling vineyards of the country's premier wine region, the Ningxia Hui autonomous region in Northwest China, the agricultural work of harvesting grapes can be a high-stakes race against the clock.

If the temperature suddenly plummets below 0 C, the tender shoots will face peril, causing the vines to wither, guaranteeing the loss of a significant grape yield.

For Yi Sirong, the producer behind the TV series, Hometown of Stars, one such night stands out vividly. Amid the filming of a pivotal scene depicting a vineyard's frantic grape harvest, an unforeseen frost descended, transforming the verdant vines into a sickly yellow overnight.

Through her eyes, witnessing the challenges facing local vineyard operators and winemakers, Yi, a native of Central China's Hunan province, shares with China Daily her reverence for those committed to advancing the wine industry.

The TV series, the first of its kind sponsored by the regional government, with its publicity department as one of its producers, is crafted to shed light on the decades-long development and enduring entrepreneurial spirit of local businesses.

According to CVB, a television show statistics firm affiliated with the National Radio and Television Administration, the 25-episode drama, which made its debut on China Central Television's CCTV-1 on May 14, quickly rose to the top of the ratings for prime-time dramas for two consecutive weeks in May. It was followed by the Altay-based To the Wonder in second place, featuring the stunning landscape of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and the fantastical costume drama, Joy of Life 2, in third place.

The opening sequence of Hometown of Stars' inaugural episode may resonate with a generation raised in the once desolate rural landscapes of northwestern China in the 1980s.

Set against the backdrop of the Helan Mountains in 1984, the scene begins with a ballad with lyrics that depict a stark reality: "There are no birds flying in the sky, stones rolling across the ground (due to heavy winds)/People inadvertently swallowing sand and dirt as they speak/And the sheep unable to find grass to feed on."

Fortunately, science and education have transformed the landscape. In the first episode, a scholar discovers the special value of the land, which could serve as an ideal location for growing some of the best wine grapes in the world. Speaking to the villagers who mistake him for a potential mine exploiter, the agricultural expert confidently suggests that if the locals switch to cultivating vines, the profit from selling a single bottle of wine could match that of a truckload of coal.

Although the plot is fiction, it was inspired by real-life stories gathered during Yi and her fellow major creators' monthslong investigation trip to Ningxia in the summer of 2022.

"We began our journey in Yinchuan, Ningxia, and paid visits to dozens of vineyards, small and large. We talked with the operators, conducting interviews with seasoned winemakers and experts. Their stories are truly inspirational," Yi recalls.

Yu Huiming, the chief winemaker of Ningxia State Farm Winery, the first in the region to produce wines, is one of the most impressive individuals interviewed by Yi.

In 1983, at the age of 19, Yu was among eight young talented people chosen from a local factory to travel to Qinhuangdao in Hebei province to learn winemaking techniques. Upon his return, Yu carefully transported high-quality grape seedlings, safeguarding them in his overcoat to keep them warm and ensuring they were diligently watered.

"Yu took a slow-moving green train and brought back the first grape seedlings, ultimately crafting Ningxia's first bottle of wine two years later. It is considered a milestone in the history of Ningxia winemaking," Yi says.

Recruiting a cast and crew of more than 300 members, the TV series was produced between September and November 2022. Interestingly, although most of the scenes were shot in local vineries, the cast and crew were forbidden to drink wine during work.

However, Yi disobeyed the rule once. During a preparation journey to a privately owned vineyard, Yi was warmly invited by the operator to taste a sip of the newly brewed wine.

"As the wine first touched my lips, it was enveloped in the aroma of chocolate. Taking another sip, I could sense the refreshing taste of caramel. After a couple more sips, I could also taste the sweet fragrance of pears and dates," she describes.

Yi learned that a variety of fruit trees have been planted alongside the vineyard. Thanks to bee pollination, the diverse flavors of these fruits blend with the grapes, enhancing the complexity and richness of the wine's taste.

"It dawned on me that wine is not just a beverage but also a 'messenger' that can encapsulate the essence of the terroir within the grapes," she says.

In an attempt to resonate with a wider audience of the younger generations, the series centers on a cellist, Ouyang Yixing, transitioning into the role of a vineyard operator following her father's car accident. Overcoming a string of obstacles and challenges, she, with the help of talented winemakers, embarks on a 15-year journey to establish her family-produced wines in the competitive global market.

Actor Wang Jinsong, who plays a veteran winemaker, Shi Mingshan, reveals that he barely drinks wine, but had learned a lot about it, such as the impact of geography and temperature on vineyards, as well as the storage and scientific drinking methods of wine.

Impressed by modern agriculture as the vineyards resemble gardens rather than farms filled with the scent of grapes, Wang recalls tasting freshly squeezed grape juice and quickly being captivated by its refreshing, sweet taste at the end of a workday.

"The local technicians explained that fresh grape juice could only be stored in stainless steel barrels while maintaining a temperature between 0 and 4 C, making it challenging to transport. I felt fortunate to take a sip and also felt a deep sense of respect for their spirit of craftsmanship," Wang says.

For Wang, a native of East China's Jiangsu province, his initial impression of the Gobi Desert at the foothills of the Helan Mountains was a rocky desert, but he was surprised to see sprawling vineyards with mature grapes.

"During shooting, I genuinely fell in love with the land, a sort of paradise, with its beauty and tranquility being something you couldn't experience in the city. Every line I have delivered in the script carries that feeling," Wang says.