(TheGlobeandMail) - The chateau seems to say you’re in France, and so do the roses and grapevines. But you’re not even close. You’re in a vineyard in Miyun County, near Beijing, that is being tended by Chinese workers. If the centuries-old London-based wine merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd is right, China will lead the world in wine production in the next 45 years. And if that prediction seems outlandish, consider that China is already outproducing the likes of Chile, Argentina and Australia. Chinese wine is also starting to get noticed on the world stage after years of being dismissed as plonk by Western oenophiles. A Chinese Bordeaux blend won Best in Show at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2011, along with these words of praise: “big, quite leafy black fruit with exciting minty perfume.” A less expensive Chinese Bordeaux also won top honours in 2012 (Judges: “lovely fruit intensity”).