Silver Heights Winery, located on the eastern slopes of the Helan Mountains in Ningxia, China, is a family-owned winery founded by father and daughter, Lin Gao and Emma Gao. It is now run by French trained winemaker Emma Gao and her French husband, Thierry Courtade, whom she met in Bordeaux while studying oenology. Emma studied in Bordeaux at Calon-Ségur where she fell in love with and married its winemaker Thierry Courtade who returned to China with her and helps make the wine and oversee the winery’s expansion.
Known for producing world-class wines, Silver Heights combines traditional French winemaking techniques with the unique terroir of the region. The winery’s high-altitude vineyards, situated at 1,200 meters above sea level, benefit from a dry climate, abundant sunlight, and mineral-rich soil, creating the perfect conditions for growing premium grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The winery previously had organic certification both in China and in the EU. Silver Heights is the first Demeter-certified vineyard. Demeter is the worldwide (private) certification for biodynamic agriculture.
Silver Heights gained international recognition for its elegant, complex wines, particularly its flagship blend, "The Summit," which showcases the winery’s commitment to quality and sustainability. Emma Gao’s winemaking philosophy focuses on minimal intervention, allowing the natural characteristics of the grapes to shine through. As one of China's most respected wineries, Silver Heights continues to elevate the country’s reputation in the global wine industry.
