(TDB) - A powerful tornado has swept through leading Chinese winery Tiansai Vineyards, destroying 200 mu (13 hectares) of vines and creating an “unprecedented disaster” in the winery’s history, according to the producer.

The tornado, bringing about Gale Force 10 winds at its worst, ripped through the winery’s vineyards and uprooted 4,850 posts, leaving them “broken and deformed”, said the winery. A total of about 11 tons of grapes were wiped out in this storm, it added.

The extreme weather came right around the winery’s 2016 harvest.

But the winery, which is based in Xinjiang, seems to have remained unfazed and is determined to rebuild its vineyards. Owner Chen Lizhong commented, “Tiansai has survived different natural disasters, we never lost heart, and always remembered that our goal is to plant good vines and make great wines.”

Founded in 2010, Tiansai has won dozens of domestic and international wine awards. Its Chinese zodiac series wines and Skyline of Gobi brand are popular among consumers.