Home

Bounty in the valley

Sue YeapThe West Australian
VideoWATCH: Taste, pick and take home the freshest produce grown locally in the Swan Valley, on the Fresh Seasonal Produce Trail.

Autumn is the perfect time to pay a visit to the Swan Valley.

There is an abundance of fresh produce on offer, which this month includes the last of the season’s table grapes, as well as pumpkins, brightly coloured pomegranates and mangoes.

On a recent tour of the valley with the City of Swan, we visited Nuo’s Grapes in West Swan, Kato’s @3000 in Caversham, Rangeview Vineyards in Baskerville and Swan Valley Sisters in Henley Brook.

They are just four of the 34 businesses featured in the recently launched Fresh Seasonal Produce Trail Map, detailing what produce is available when, and businesses’ opening hours.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
Grapes ready for picking at Nuo’s.
Camera IconGrapes ready for picking at Nuo’s. Credit: Sue Yeap

This weekend is the last for grapes at Nuo’s Grapes, run by Peter and Jenny Nuich, whose family has been there since 1933.

Peter Nuich says about half the valley grows table grapes and the other half grows wine grapes, with no one really doing dried fruit like they did in the early days.

In the past 10 years, there has been an explosion in seedless grapes because no one wants seeds anymore.

“The varieties we grow now are a lot of the proprietary varieties, patented by the breeders in California,” Nuich says. “We have to pay a royalty back to those breeders; on every kilo that we sell, they get 5 per cent on our sales.

“We have to go through their agents, they control how much is planted in any one given area of any variety.”

Nuich, 60, says he hopes to keep growing for another 14 years to make it 100 years for his family.

He says many grape growers are in their 70s and have no second generation wanting to follow in their footsteps.

Since setting up shop next to Edgecombe Brothers in 2017, Swan Valley Sisters has become known for its local produce, coffee and baked goods using fruit and vegetables fresh from the property.

On the day of our visit, we got to try an asparagus quiche, olive cake, and mango and fig tart.

Cakes and tarts in recent weeks have been next-level delicious due to the assistance of two visiting French pastry chefs.

Ann-Marie Conama says locals with an abundance of excess fruit such as tangerines and apricots sell it through their store.

“We also sell our own produce from our land — we have mangoes and figs and grapes,” she says. In winter, add mandarins, oranges and lemons to the mix.

There are also vegetables from SWS’ own market garden, spray-free produce from neighbours, and biodynamic produce from Muchea.

“We try to source as much locally in Swan Valley as possible,” says Tara Farrell.

Swan Valley Sisters also has its own chalets.

“When you are here and you stay with us, you are welcome to pick the produce from the land and cook it up — each chalet has a citrus blender so you can have fresh orange juice for breakfast,” Farrell says.

Melons and mangoes at Rangeview Vineyards.
Camera IconMelons and mangoes at Rangeview Vineyards. Credit: Sue Yeap

At Rangeview Vineyards, run by Rob and Sue Sorgiovanni, grape and melon season is also soon to finish.

We watched Mr Sorgiovanni’s mum and other women carefully sorting grapes by hand and cutting away any that didn’t make the grade.

The Sorgiovannis mostly grow table grapes, but also some figs, mangoes and stone fruit.

We were lucky enough to try a new variety of salmon rockmelon with a more distinct orange colour, as well as a French honeydew.

Our tour ended at Kato’s @3000, run by Matt and Marlene Katich (Peter Nuich’s sister).

Raised in the Swan Valley, Marlene Katich grows melons and about 15 variety of seedless table grapes. She recently expanded to grow bright, plump pomegranates.

Ice-cream using seasonal fruit at Kato’s @3000.
Camera IconIce-cream using seasonal fruit at Kato’s @3000. Credit: Sue Yeap

Kato’s is known for its unique fresh-fruit ice-creams with names such as Grime, made with Swan Valley table grapes and lime.

Other Swan Valley trails include Kids in the Valley, Fine Wine, Wine and Art, Cider & Ale, Sweet Temptations and Bush Tucker.

Sue Yeap joined the Fresh Seasonal Produce Trail as a guest of the City of Swan.

Find out more at swanvalley.com.au and trailswa.com.au

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails