Grapes has long been grown in La Union, but it wasn’t until photos and articles of Bauang, La Union Grape Farms have gone viral last year that this local secret was revealed to the world. For many Filipinos, this is surprising since we thought that grapes can only be grown in places with cold weather. “It is sunny and warm here in La Union, that is why it is a good place to plant grapes”, our tricycle driver explained to us when we asked why vineyards are sprinkled around their town.
La Union’s grape farm is believed to be started started by Avelino Lomboy who owns Lomboy Grape Farm. He started planting in the 70’s as a hobby and since then, it has grown into a large business. He shared his knowledge in viticulture to other families in Bauang and eventually, family-owned grape farms mushroomed in La Union.
Edit: According to a Facebook post by Gapuz Grape Farm, Alfonso Aromin was one of the first grape growers in La Union, Aromin’s Vineyard was reportedly established in 1971.
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BAUANG, LA UNION GRAPE FARMS
LOMBOY GRAPE FARM is said to be one of the first vineyard in the Philippines, located in Bauang, La Union. This grape farm was founded in 1972 by Avelino Lomboy dubbed as the “Philippines King of Grapes” who started planting a few grape cuttings back in the days. The rest they say is history.
LOMBOY GRAPE FARM
68 Urayong Bauang, La Union
Entrance Fee: PHP 100 and PHP 150 / USD 4.97 for grape picking
Open Hours: Monday to Saturday 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM / Sunday 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Contact #: 072 7052 105
GAPUZ GRAPE FARM obtained their first grape cutting from Lomboy Farm, but it was Joe Gapuz who came home from California in 2010 who started marketing the “vineyard”. At Gapuz Grape Farm, they nicknamed it “The Porch Life”, where visitors can enjoy a boodle fight for PHP 1,500 / USD 29.81 (good for 10 persons). Gapuz Grape Farm entrance fee is free, but they do charge PHP 20 / USD 0.40 for photography and if you want to pick and buy grapes (contact them to check the grape season), the charge is around PHP 250 / USD 4.97 per kilogram. Grape picking season in Gapuz begins this March 11 up to May.
GAPUZ GRAPE FARM
Bauang, La Union
Open Hours (Daily): 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Entrance Free: FREE, PHP 20 / USD 0.40 for photography and PHP 250 / USD 4.97 for per kg for grapes
Contact #: +63 922 7701 520 / +63 999 714 7616
CALICA GRAPE FARM is located near Gapuz Grape Farm, it’s the first farm you’ll see when you enter the road to the grape farms at the Bauang-Caba boundary arch.
CALICA GRAPE FARM
Bauang, La Union
Open Hours (Daily): 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Contact #: +63 907 905 0303 (SMART) / +63 905 550 5046 (GLOBE).
MANGGUERA GRAPE FARM is located near Gapuz Grape Farm in Brgy. Urayong, Bauang, La Union. It is located after Calica Farm when you make a right turn to Lapuz Grape Farm.
MANGGUERA GRAPE FARM
Bauang, La Union
Open Hours (Daily): 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Contact #:+63 907 858 6784
HOW TO GET TO BAUANG, LA UNION GRAPE FARM FROM SAN JUAN
We visited Lapuz Grape Farm in Bauang, La Union. No entrance fee, only PHP 20 / USD 0.40 for photo op and PHP 250 / USD 4.97 per kilo for grape picking. But it was not grape picking season yet, the grapes will be ready for harvesting on March 11 until May this 2017.
OPTION 1
To get to Bauang La Union Grape Farm from San Juan, La Union. Take a jeepney bound for San Fernando and tell the driver to drop you off at the jeep terminal bound for Bauang, La Union. Jeepney fare is PHP 11 / USD 0.22, travel time is about 20 minutes. At San Fernando, ride the jeepney en route to Bauang, tell the driver you are going to La Union Grape Farm in Brgy. Urayong so you need to get off in front of Bauang Church where you can find tricycles for hire to Bauang, La Union. Fare is about PHP 11/ USD 0.22
At Bauang, La Union, you can hire a tricycle to take you to the grape farm, you can either pick Lomboy Grape Farm, Gapuz Grape Farm, etc. Tricycle rental is PHP 100 / USD 1.99 (one-way), because we went to Gapuz Grape Farm that is quite far from the National Highway, we asked the driver to wait for us and then drive us back to the National highway where we waited for a bus to Manila. We paid him PHP 200/ USD 3.99. On the way to Gapuz Grape Farm, you will pass by Calica Grape Farm and Mangguera Grape Farm.
Alternatively, if you want to visit the pioneer grape farm in La Union which is Lomboy Farm, the landmark is the DSWD Center, just beside the farm. There is also a huge signage for Lomboy Farm so it is really pretty easy to find.
OPTION 2
Alternatively, to get to Bauang La Union Grape Farm from San Juan, La Union, hail a bus bound for Manila at the National Highway, tell the driver you are getting off at Brgy. Urayong in Bauang for the La Union Grape Farm. You should see Lomboy Grape Farm along the National Highway (right side), beside the DSWD Center, it is 300 meters before the boundary of Caba-Bauang Arch. If you choose Gapuz Grape Farm, entrance is free but it is a few minutes ride away from the National Highway, road to the entrance is at Caba, right after the boundary of Bauang (Bauang Arch). There are motorcycles waiting for tourists, you can hire them to take you to the grape farm.
HOW TO GET TO BAUANG LA UNION GRAPE FARM FROM MANILA
To get to Bauang La Union from Manila, take bus (Partas, Florida, Dominion or Farninas) bound for La Union. Fare is approximately PHP 401 and travel time is roughly 4 hours and 30 minutes. Tell the driver you will alight at Bauang-Caba Boundary Arch. You can walk or take a motorcycle to Lapuz Grape Farm. Alternatively, if you want to visit Lomboy Farm, the pioneer in grape farm in La Union, it’s just along the National Highway in Bauang.
LA UNION GRAPE FARM TRIP BUDGET
It’s pretty cheap to go to La Union grape farms from San Juan, La Union and even from Manila. I was traveling with my good friend Marcos , so we split the cost of hired tricycle.
EXPENSES | ACTIVITIES |
PHP 11 | Jeep fare from San Juan to San Fernando, La Union |
PHP 11 | Jeep fare from San Fernando to Bauang, La Union |
PHP 200 | Chartered Tricycle to Grape Farm |
PHP 20 | Photography fee at Grape Farm (no entrance fee) |
PHP 242 | TOTAL |
* If you are coming from Manila, one way bus fare is around PHP 400. Better visit other tourist spots in La Union and visit the grape farm your last day in La Union. Will be writing a separate post about places to see in La Union as well as travel guide.
ALSO READ: HOW TO GET TO TANGADAN FALLS IN LA UNION
WHERE TO STAY IN LA UNION
BUDGET
The Little Surfmaid Resort
MacArthur Highway, 170 Urbiztondo, La Union
Bali Hai Beach Resort
Paringao, Bauang, La Union, La Union
Puerto de San Juan Hotel Resort
San Juan Street, La Union, La Union
China Sea Beach Resort
Paringao, Bauang, La Union, La Union
MIDRANGE
Awesome Hotel
319 Eagle St. Ili Norte San Juan, La Union
Aureo Resort La Union
San Francisco, San Fernando, La Union
ALSO READ:
HOW TO GET TO TANGADAN FALLS IN LA UNION