(Decanter) - Wines from the 2017 harvest in China's premier winemaking region look set to be fresher and slightly lower in alcohol than last year, but some white wine producers are rejoicing after avoiding the rot that damaged their 2016 crop. Sylvia Wu, editor of DecanterChina.com, reports from Ningxia on the harvest .

Ningxia 2017 harvest at a glance:

• Early summer heat spike gives way to milder ripening period
• Expect fresher wines with Cabernet alcohols around 1% lower than 2016
• White wines free of rot but four or five days away from being perfect – Kaanan owner

Rains during flowering season have led to comparatively loose fruit bunches than an average year, said ZHANG Jing, winemaker at Helan Qingxue winery at the foothills of the Helan Mountain East region.

‘During June and July, temperatures have been warmer than average, with rainfalls slightly below (average),’ said Mike Insley, operations manager and viticulture consultant at Pernod Ricard (Ningxia) winery.

Ningxia experienced a hot summer before veraison – the onset of ripening when the grapes change colour – with the highest temperatures hitting 40°C, said Lenz Moser, winemaker and consultant at Chateau Changyu Moser XV.