My regular dog walk is alongside the river Thonge through vineyards – the dogs chase rabbits and hares and I see kingfishers (well one) – but for the past couple of months part of the pleasure has been discovering the cleverly hidden grape varieties which are (or were) for the grape pickers.
The wine varieties are not the same as table grapes, sour and sharp – but here and there a generous landowner would plant refreshing eating grapes for the pleasure of his workers – along with figs (17 varieties), pomegranate, quince and pears, there is a bounty of fruit. Blackberries (the fruit) are plentiful, but in this climate tend to be small and bitter.
Today was probably the last dog walk where I could have plenty of grapes to refresh myself – at the turning point of our walk, I discovered a row of vines with ten or twelve different varieties of eating grapes – today there was just about enough – tomorrow I doubt there will be any – still, next come the figs – it must be Autumn
Hi Tony. I think you’ll find most of the figs trees have finished fruiting except the green ones (probably Sucrette and Sucre Vert). There’s a picture here
17 varieties identified – impressive.