Grapes are the fruit of vines in the genus Vitis, with the European grape (Vitis vinifera) being the most widely cultivated species. They have been grown for at least 6,000 years and are one of the world’s most economically important fruit crops, largely because of the wine industry.
Grapes are broadly divided into table grapes (eaten fresh), wine grapes (pressed and fermented), and drying grapes (dried to make raisins, sultanas, and currants). There are thousands of named varieties, ranging from sweet, seedless table grapes to tannic, thick-skinned wine varieties.
Australia is a significant grape-growing nation. The major wine regions — Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley, Margaret River, and many others — are well known internationally. Table grape production is concentrated in the Sunraysia region of Victoria and New South Wales, and along the Murray River.
How it's produced
Grapevines are perennial woody plants trained on trellis systems. They are pruned heavily each winter to control yield and fruit quality. Most commercial vines are grafted onto rootstocks chosen for disease resistance and soil compatibility.
Vines flower in spring, and the fruit develops over summer, ripening in late summer to autumn depending on the variety and climate. Table grapes are harvested by hand to avoid damage, while wine and drying grapes may be machine-harvested. Drying grapes are laid on racks or the ground to dehydrate in the sun, or dried mechanically. Grape leaves, used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cooking, are picked young and preserved in brine.
What it costs the planet (per kilo)
* Based on what it takes to produce, from farm to factory gate.
Keeping it
Keep it: in the fridge in a ventilated bag.
In the freezer: about 30 days.
In the fridge: about 7 days (from date of purchase).
In the pantry: about 1 days (from date of purchase).
Advice from Cubud’s own keeping notes — how to keep it, not a measured number.
What comes from this
Your household's take
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