Cruising down Provincial Highway 21 to Shuili Township (
In Shangan Village (
During my recent trip to the region, I spotted a quaint place named the Kanhsi Vineyard (甘喜農場). I decided to explore and when walking through the vineyard I had to bow my head to avoid touching the grapes growing on trellises. The sun shone on the round and juicy-looking grapes. Usually grape farmers put paper bags over the grapes to protect the fruit from pests and getting damaged.
TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO
Later, I got to open one of the grape bags and what a surprise it was. A gentle breeze wafted the scent of the grapes up my nose. It was quite a heady experience. A shining dust on the grapes made them appear even more more alluring.
"Kyoho" (巨峰) is the variety of grape grown in Shangan, and it originates from Feng-Chiu Village located in Hsinyi Township, Nantou County.
The kyoho is what is termed a "succulent" grape with a thick skin and a strong, fruity scent.
TAIPEI TIMES FILE PHOTO
A prerequisite for a high quality grape is a high temperature differential between day and night. This kind of condition gives the grapes a rich aroma, color and taste.
Chang Yu-hsin (
The farmers' association in Shuili Township calls these grapes "black-purple jade."
When planting his grapes, Chang said that he avoids using chemicals and instead adopts a biological method for getting rid of pests, which is the most natural way of producing high quality grapes.
In Shangan, there are also a number of industries thriving because of the grape-planting farmers, including the wine-making industry and the tourism industry.
There are even restaurants in the area that feature dishes made using locally produced grapes. There is also a number of small family hotels providing cozy accommodation after a day in the fields.
-- TRANSLATED BY DAN CHENG
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