Bordering on the Orange river for a great distance lie the grape producing farms of the Northern Cape… Wine, table grapes and dried fruit (currents and raisins) is the order of the day…
South Africa ranks as number two behind Chile in terms of raisin production in the Southern Hemisphere and it is regarded as a producer of high quality raisins for export market. About 70 % of grapes for drying are grown in the Northern Cape, along the Orange River (Lower: 12,003 Ha) and
Upper (26,000 Ha) and in Namaqualand (1,319 Ha), with the remainder coming from some parts of Western Cape. The most widely grown grape cultivar for raisins is Thompson seedless at 7,188 Ha.
The Northern Cape Province weather is typically that of desert and semi-desert areas, characterized by high summer temperatures ranging from 33 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius with warm winter days and cooler nights and these weather conditions are ideal for seedless grapes, as they allow the fruit
to ripen properly.
There are about 1,250 sultana-grape growers in the Northern Cape Province producing three raisin types, that is the: Sultana raisins, Golden raisins, Thompson seedless raisins and these raisin types rank among the best in the world.
I sneaked onto a farm to get a few photos and to taste a few grapes…..
Nothing seems to be wrong with the crop this year… except they were still a little sour, those that I tried…
The lands in places are protected by Dykes as flooding a couple of years ago did cause a bit of damage….
When harvested the grapes are laid out in the sun to dry… they are spread on huge concrete floors and it does look strange… I hope they wash them before they pack them… (don’t worry they do, no bird poop in our packets)..
It came as quite a surprise to me, to learn that we had in 2010, produced just short of 50 000 mega tons of raisins alone…. Wow…
SEE YOU TOMORROW WHEN WE CONTINUE THE JOURNEY…..
The Photographic Journey of bulldog. 
very interesting post and great shots of grapes! I had no idea!
It has always fascinated me.. I knew there was water in the river.. but would have thought it too hot for grapes…
Great shots and interesting information too 🙂 I happen to really like raisins — so this would be a fun destination to visit Grapes and wine are always cool too… Talk about abundance — your photos do this justice for sure ~ Love to you bd ~ R
Thanks Robyn… I’m not even a great lover of raisins unless they are included in a cake or biscuit of some sort… but when one sees the production figures… some one some where is using an awful lot…
Grape region? Oh yes … I’m all for it. Given the high raisin crop, my guess this is not a big wine region. 😦 … but I like raisins, too!!!
I believe they do a fair amount of wine but being a non drinker I can’t comment on its value….
With that many grapes, one would like that region does wine … I’ve actually seen Kalahari on a label … well, I think.
50 000 mega tons! WOW! I would never have thought raisins would grow in the desert…
I tried to picture the amount of 1 kg packets of raisins it would take to make up that weight… seem almost impossible..
Io non bevo vino, però quei grappoli d’uva sono così invitanti che mi è venuta voglia di mangiarne 🙂
Grazie per condividere con noi queste belle foto!!
Ciao, Pat
Thanks Pat.. I don’t drink either but I certainly eat grapes…
Great post … raisins !!!!!!!! I thought we was going to read about wine *smile
Lovely shots again … didn’t’ know that Chile was that big exporter of raisins – like their wines very much.
I don’t drink so I can’t tell if the wine produce there is of any good… my Son and wife enjoyed it… I don’t even know if they export it… the raisins are that I know.. that huge Russian plane flies in to Upington to load the dry fruit.. it needs a long runway and Upington’s is the 4th longest in the world… something to do with the NASA space program an emergency landing spot for their reentry space planes or something….
Wow .. that is interesting about the runway´… learn something new every day. Then I don’t agree with the space program, but that is another matter – just like the wine is for you. You have lovely wine down there.
May I ask how come you don’t drink. I drink very little and only in company – never a glass of wine or drink home alone.
I’m an alcoholic that has been dry for 25 years… so I no longer take a drink of any type… I still go to the pub with friends and it never bothers me .. I just drink non alcoholic drinks but still enjoy the socialising…
Understand … haven’t been there myself but through my job I got some basic training in alcoholism – because I became “godmother” to colleagues with drinking problems. It was to me they have to come and get their Antabuse. That was when working at sea .. our company put a lot of money into the project and I got some good training – so I know your situation’s platform. 25 years, well done and we don’t need alcohol to have fun really … only when not drink we notice how stupid drinking can make some people, most people I would say. Great job, because I know that where you are today have been some desert walk.
Two words you don’t expect to see together – kalahari and grapes. Who knew! So when will the wine be ready?
It is on the shelf… and in the vats… and in some peoples stomachs… I wonder if they export to the USA.. good point…
Beautiful pictures – I like that you sneaked on to get them and have a taste!
Was a little worried about the farmer… his electric fence just happened to be broken where I entered… he could have filled my rear end with buck shot…
What a beautiful LUSH vineyard!
Isn’t it… I wanted to spend more time there but worried the farmer may put a bit of buckshot in my derrière..lol
Well that would ruin it HA!
Oooh, my mouth is watering looking at all of those grapes!! Yummy :). Very interesting as usual Bulldog!
Thank you … if they had only tasted better… if only..
Are you serious? They didn’t taste good?
Too early to eat.. still a bit sour… but you know what they say “stolen fruit tastes better” these didn’t …
LOL 🙂
WOW!
I agree
I’m not surprised those grapes tasted a bit sour Bulldog – they’re still a couple of months (at least) off being ripe! Tremendous to see they’re dried naturally still. 🙂
I did realise they had a long way to go… but who could resist… they say stolen fruit always tastes better…. mine didn’t…
You know what they say about ‘they say’ aphorisms! Sorry for the sour 🙂
Loving it!
So glad…
I like grapes, they’re delicious, I mean, when they’re ripe 🙂
How I wish this lot had of been ripe I might still be in the vine yard..
I went on a few wine tours this past summer and I was completely enthralled by the grape growing aspect! So beautiful and miraculous how so many millions of beautiful, sweet, juicy gems can grow on such plain looking vines/bushes! Great post, bulldog!
Thank you… it is an amazing plant when one sees them in the winter all cut back and dead looking yet come the season… back out they come…
Those grapes look delicious! 🙂 Were they?
A little on the sour side but they weren’t ripe yet… I had to try though…
I would have done the same 🙂
I had no idea about all this. Thanks for enlightening me.
My pleasure… I have answered the thoughts on the skinny dipping on zannyro site
the green ones look delicious..Thank you for these shots
My pleasure…
fascinating. I didn’t know such things grew in the Kalahari. I thought it was all desert! 🙂 I iz learning stuff here 🙂
One of our biggest rivers flows from almost the East of the country and empties into the sea on the East side… one has almost what I picture a similar situation as to the Nile river… good next to the water, not so further away…
indeed! & – I had no idea!! I must – when I get time – look it up in my atlas (I’m an old fashioned gal). Thank you 🙂