Denpasar is such an underrated tourist destination. Here at The Bali Sun, we are big advocates for Denpasar as a travel destination.
We understand holidaymakers want to kick back on the beach and enjoy the sunshine, but for travellers looking to experience authentic modern life in Bali, Denpasar is where it’s at.
Honestly, Denpasar is full of surprises. Even for us here at The Bali Sun, we are always finding out about new and emerging hotspots in the provincial capital, like agrotourism-based urban agriculture.
That might sound like a lot of dull technical words, but how about hearing it another way; super cool, super hidden urban farms where tourists can pick their own fresh produce? Call us nerdy, but it sounds pretty fun.
Sustainable development is a serious issue in Bali, and with farmers under increasing pressure to sell off their working farmlands to make way for commercial and tourist developments, we love to hear about farming products that give back to the community, offer cool experiences for tourists, and help create or protect green spaces. The Denpasar City Government is doing just that by continuing to encourage the development of agrotourism-based urban farming as an effort to strengthen food security while increasing income for urban communities.
The Head of the Denpasar City Family Welfare Movement (TP-PKK), Sagung Antari Jaya Negara, has this week inspected grape cultivation in the West Peraupan Subak in Denpasar. This urban vineyard is not only growing produce for local residents to consume or sell, but it is also a tourist attraction. Tourists can visit the West Peraupan Subak Vineyard and pick their own grapes. This style of tourist activity has already proven to be a hit in Bali. Up in Bedugul, for example, tourists can visit agro-tourism farms and pick their own strawberries.
Negara was super impressed with the project and was pleased to see that the business has such an established diversification.
She explained to reporters, “This vineyard can also be used as a grape-picking agrotourism destination. Furthermore, the produce can be processed into various derivative products.”
Negara was joined on her site visit by the Head of the Denpasar City Agriculture Service, AA Gde Bayu Brahmasta, who highlighted how grape farming has great potential to be developed as a modern agricultural innovation method across Denpasar City, because the area is supported by warm climate conditions and sufficient exposure to sunlight throughout the year.
He shared, “Grape cultivation in urban areas is considered to have great potential to be developed as a modern agricultural innovation in Denpasar City.”
He noted that grapes are a surprisingly high-value crop in Bali and around Indonesia, with prices reaching IDR 70,000 to IDR 100,000 per kilogram depending on the type and quality of the fruit.
Brahmasta concluded, “Through this activity, the Denpasar City Agriculture Service hopes that grape cultivation can become an icon for urban farming development while also encouraging the creation of modern agriculture that is of interest to the younger generation.”
The Manager of the West Peraupan Subak Vineyard, Wayan Sudarsana, explained that the gardens he manages span over six ares, with three ares planted with grapes and the rest with other horticultural crops.
A are is equal to 100 square meters and is a measurement used to delineate land across Bali, Lombok, and other regions of Indonesia. He explained, “This vineyard has been operating since 2023. Currently, dozens of quality grape varieties have been planted.”
Grape-growing in Bali is nothing new, while the practice is starting to gain attention as an urban farming practice in Denpasar.
Hatten Wines was established in Bali in 1994, and the company has vineyards in the villages of Seririt and Sanggalangit in North Bali. It is possible to visit the Vineyard Visitor Center in North Bali, or The Cellardoor in the heart of Sanur.
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