Sitiawan - Saloma Vineyard and Nursery

The path leading to Saloma's Vineyard & Nursery

This vineyard & nursery is located in a little village named Lekir in Sitiawan. It is one-acre land where Saloma, for the past 13 years, has been planting, growing and harvesting grape vines. They have plans for a bigger vineyard in Teluk Intan in the near future.

Can grapes grow in hot weather?

Yes! Grape vines grow well and produce in hot and dry weather

According to Saloma, it is our rainy weather that deters the grapes to be sweet. 

The idea of planting grapevines came from her husband who was in South Africa for business. He watched videos of grape farming and thought that it could be successful in Malaysia. They started with 5 grape vine seddlings, hence, Saloma Vineyard and Nursery was born.

Saloma also has a garden of fruits and flowers. She has taken the initiative to plant figs, Australian lemons, a variety of chillies and flowers. Of course, she also has grape vines for sale. No wine for sale here though! Just fresh fruits and flowers.

I was very happy to have met Puan Saloma and chatted with her.

Beautiful entrance to her house

Flowers for sale

Saloma started off with the planting of 10 varieties of grapes. Only 8 of it were commercialized.  Each of the variety has its own taste and appearance.  For example, the Alphonso Lavelle are purplish black in color. They are firm in texture and very sweet. 

A heatwave actually causes her grapes to be seedless and much sweeter. 

(Malay Mail, January 2017)

Grape flowers

It takes 120 days for these grapes to turn black in color.

Grape vines for sale

Straw is used to covered the soil. It helps with holding in moisture and shades out weed seedlings. Best of all, it composts into nutrients for the soil.

Vishnu is a university student doing his internship at this vineyard. He was sharing his knowledge about plating grapes and what he has learnt throughout his time here. He dreams to have his own farm in the future.

Organic soil for grapes and other plants

Figssssssss

Cockadoodledooooooo!!!

Chillies

Australian lemons

Olive trees

Grape flowers

It was a surreal experience indeed, for us to walk in a vineyard, in our crazy humidity, in Malaysia. Malaysia. So near the equator. Grape farming?

It took someone with dreams and faith to make grape farming in Malaysia a success.

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. I AM POSSIBLE!