French Grape Arrives in Da Lat

Located between 1,000 metres and 1.500 metres above sea level, Daø Lat boasts favourable climate for French grape cultivation. Last year, a 15-hectare French grape plantation in Ta Nung Commune gained good results. The land is a promising land for grape cultivation.

 

According to Daniel, Director of De La Cote, said French harvest only one crop of grapes once a year. Grape tree dies when it is in 50th year. Meanwhile, because temperature in Ta Nung is very nice (hot on daytime and cold at night), local people can harvest two crops of grapes each year. Local grape tree dies when it is in 20^th year. This brings a good chance for Da Lat wine making. French high-class grape variety has been grown in Da Lat since an agreement signed between DALATBECO and Delta Cote Group in Vaucluse, where is famous for wine making in France. Under the agreement, a joint venture was established. Under proposal from Lam Dong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Department Crop Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has allowed the joint venture to import 50,000 high-quality grape trees from France with six varieties namely Syrah, Merlot, cabernet, caladoc, alphonese la vallee e and Muscat d’alexandri. Ta Nung was selected as a trial cultivation of six varieties.

 

Before deciding to plant new grape varieties in Lam Vien Plateau – Da Lat, French experts took a long time in 2006 to study the local soil. Results announced on October, 2006 affirmed that Ta Nung boasts favourable conditions for grape cultivation. An area of 15 hectares located around 1,200 metres above seal level has been selected for trial cultivation. In December, 2007, some 50,000 branches of grapes which were imported from France were grown in a glasshouse in Da Lat. In March, 2008, the branches were officially planted in local land. "All cultivation process from taking care of, putting down fertilizer, and fighting diseases was decided by Mr Daniel. The ratio of grape fatalities in Ta Nung Caây was low (only 5 per cent compared to 10 per cent in France). Notably, the varieties have developed better in the land than in France ", local farmers said.   

 

With favourable location and climate in Ta Nung and advance technology, the joint venture has developed a wide-range grape plantation. Trial cultivation in Ta Nung showed good results. As planned, Ta Nung would harvest first grape crop from Juen to August, 2008, and second crop from December, 2008 to February 2009. The first crop will yield productivity of around 15 tonnes per hectare and the second crop 18 tonnes per hectare. As expected, the third crop will yield productivity of 30 tonnes per hectare a year. Remarkably, the joint venture has successfully built an arboretum to supply varieties of grapes for local farmers and plantations.

 

The joint venture is running a 9,000-square metre plant to produce wine in Ward No. 11 in Da Lat. The plant has capacity of 2 million litres of wine a year. At present, the 15-hectare area of grape materials in Ta Nung cannot satisfy demand for materials for the plant. Materials are mostly imported from France. In the upcoming time, the joint venture will pour more investment in expanding 300-hectare area of high-quality grape materials in Da Lat. With the area, local farmers will be able to earn more profits from high-quality grape varieties. As planned, the first grape crop will be harvested in 2009 and the first wine batch will be produced by the end of 2009. The first crop will yield productivity of around ten tonnes per hectare and the third crop will yield productivity of 30 tonnes per hectare. Competitiveness of the wine will be improved thanks to low production cost, Mr Daniel said.