The event has the backing of six districts of the southern central province Vietnam News Agency reported Tuesday.

At the recent press conference for the festival launch, the Provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism director, Chau Thanh Hai, said the event gives the province an opportunity to promote its grapes and develop wines.

The festival aims to honour grape growers who have greatly contributed to building the trademark of Ninh Thuan grapes while giving a chance for them to meet and exchange experience with scientists, experts and business enterprises in the field, he said.

During the festival, field trips to grape and apple orchards will be organised while an industry-trade fair will feature alongside a street and beach festival with cultural dances and entertainment.

Ninh Thuan has the largest vineyards in Vietnam, with 1,300 ha mainly concentrated in Ninh Phuoc and Ninh Hai districts and Phan Rang-Thap Cham City. The grape output is around 30,000 tonnes a year.

The grape was introduced into Ninh Thuan in 1960, test-planted by the South Central Centre for Agricultural Technical Research based in Nha Ho, Ninh Son district, and was commercially produced in the 1980s.

By 2012, Ninh Thuan’s grape varieties were granted geographical indication (GI) certification by the National Office of Intellectual Property.

VNF ( VNA )