Though he arrived looking for property development opportunities, grapes turned out to be the most promising business for Chen Deqi, owner of Ningxia Daylong Winery Co.

A subsidiary of his Daysun Group based in Bangkok, Thailand, he has put five years and 800 million yuan ($130 million) in the winery.

In China, he also runs food and real estate businesses. But he's concentrating on Ningxia's grapes after he found their extraordinary qualities.