Farming activities

The Farm activities consist of the growth of vines for the production of wine grapes and raisins. We mainly farm with wine grapes which are supplied to the Orange River Wine Cellars for the produce of wine and grape concentrate.
Cultivars include some of the first planting of Chardonnay (white), Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Tannat (all red) as well as the traditional Chenin Blanc, Colombar (white) and Merlot, Ruby Cabernet (red).

Orange River wine cellars which started making wine in 1968, currently harvest 200,000 t grapes annually at its 5 wines- and 1 juice cellar. Top quality wine is produced here.

Sultanas of which the first were planted in 1918 next to the river, is used for the making of raisins which are supplied to SAD.
There are 3 types of raisins namely:

• Thompson’s, the dark brown ones, which are dried on concrete plates in the sun.
• Bleached, which after a treatment process are dried in the shade on wire racks.
• Goldens, which after the treatment are dried on wooden trays in the shade.