China - December 19, 2024 Chinese-owned vineyard brews success in Portugal's wine industry (Voice_over) When Wu Zhiwei and his wife Lao Chaopeng visited Portugal in 2013 they fell in love with the country. A Macao entrepreneur and construction expert, Wu knew more about building offices than blending wine, but when they saw the Quinta da Marmeleira estate 40 minutes from Lisbon, with its rolling green vineyards steeped in 500 years of history and culture, they were sold. (Sound_bite) Lao Chaopeng, CEO, Quinta da Marmeleira Wines: "In 2013, after the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi, we came to invest in Portugal, we chose here, because of the good relations through Macao. When we arrived here in the Alenquer region, it was late summer, and the vineyards were full of grapes, we were so happy, wow, that endless view of grapes, just looking at it makes you happy." (Voice_over) A new dream matured quickly. Now, that dream is a reality with award-winning wines, but tragedy struck last January when Wu Zhiwei passed away suddenly aged just 57. His wife Lao Chaopeng and his daughter Carmen, now run the family business, keeping Wu's bridge-building legacy alive. (Sound_bite) Lao Chaopeng, CEO, Quinta da Marmeleira Wines: "On the 25th anniversary of the peaceful return of Macao to China, we think that the friendly relationship and close ties between our two countries will continue to develop positively, we are very confident of that." (Voice_over) Nearly 95 percent of all wine consumed in China is red wine and Quinta da Marmeleira produces soft, smooth reds, using syrah, castelao and touriga nacional grapes - perfect for the Chinese palette. Over 300,000 bottles a year are corked here with 65 percent going to China and Southeast Asia. Locally, the company employs around 40 people, creating Portuguese wine with a Cantonese accent that is deeply rooted in family and close relations that have been swirling for centuries. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]