Grapes Picking at Denila Farms in Santa Barbara, Iloilo

This basket holds around 2 kilos of grapes worth about PhP 260 but the experience of having to pick the bunch you like, enjoying lots of selfies, taking photos and roaming around a vineyard = PRICELESS!

Under the heat of the Thursday morning sun, I found myself in the shade of the vines and dodging dangling grapes at the Denila Grapes Farms in Brgy. Lanag in Santa Barbara, Iloilo.

The farm is easily accessible from the town center - just around 10 minutes from the plaza via tricycle (around PhP 10).

Located between the Tigum River and the NIA irrigation canal, you will pass through a few houses along the way before you reach the farm.

There's an entrance fee (PhP 30/regular and PhP20/seniors/students) and everyone is free to roam around the farm which not only cultivate grapes but other fruits as well.

It also grows apple guava or guapple (around 3000 trees), dragonfruit, papaya and tambis, among others.

But the grapes are the center of attention for it's not really common to see them in tropical countries like the Philippines.

Denila Grapes Farm started planting the vine fruit back in 1991 and was among the first "backyard vineyards" in this part of the country.

But the 2.7 hectare farm was washed out by Typhoon Frank in 2008 because of the mega flood from the Tigum River.

And took the farm around 5 years to bring back the grape plantation which now has around 300 grape plants.

With the Iloilo Flood Control project in place, flooding is no longer a threat and the farm once again brings back the glory days of its grapes.

But the recent monsoon rains (this July and August) have heavily damaged the grapes thus delaying the 2nd harvest and damaging the fruits/blooms.

That explains why you would see these grapes wrapped in newspapers and/or plastic rather than the Instagrammable grapes dangling down for a perfect selfie.

But that didn't stop pickers from doing the obligatory selfies and photo-ops with the grapes.

Just unwrap them or pose with your basketful of grapes like what Ms. Irene (above) and Ms. Estela of the Santa Barbara Municipal Tourism Office did during their visit.

And if you're quick enough with your camera, you might even catch some unguarded "grapeful" moment like when Manang cut the grapes from the vine but reacted slowly to catch it - distracted from my too many questions, perhaps?

No matter what your reason are in visiting the farm, make the most out of it.

Whether for photo ops, selfie galore or having to taste a locally grown grape - have and enjoy it your way!

But don't forget to pay for your grapes - PhP 130/kilo (as of Sept. 2019) Just look for the table under the tambis tree, the caretakers are more than happy to assist you with your purchase.

So here' my bunch of grapes, which are Brazilian hybrids. The sweetness depends on the the fruits ripeness - sweet when they already are "ripe for picking" but sour when picked below that stage.

Nonetheless, whether sweet nor sour, it is the experience of having to pick these these grapes right off the vine plus the hundreds of selfies and photo ops in between that will surely make this one of the sweetest memories one can have!

HOW TO GET THERE: Denila Grapes Farm, Brgy. Lanag Santa Barbara, Iloilo

Here's a vicinity map of Santa Barbara and the location of Denila Grapes Farm.

For those who will take public transportation, you can alight at Mercury Drug/Total Gas Station/7-Eleven at Bangga Dama and take the purple colored tricycles all the way to the farm.
And if you took the Sta. Barbara Jeepneys, you can alight at Savemore, Cry of Santa Barbara Marker or Plaza, and take the tricycles all the way to the farm.

You can also take New Lucena jeepneys from Ungka Terminal and you can alight at the irrigation canal bridge which is just a short walk from the farm. Check this out on Google maps
Tricycle fare is PhP 10 from plaza area and could be slightly higher if from Bangga Dama.

The farm entrance is a short walk from the irrigation canal bridge
Travel time is 5-10 minutes from the plaza/Bangga Dama.
Entrance Fee is PhP 30 (regular) PhP 20 (childred/students/seniors)

Info credit from this article: Grape farm, atraksyon ngayon sa Iloilo

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