While the growers of wine grapes in the United States are currently worrying about the moths which can disrupt this years harvest in South Africa growers have even a bigger problem, literally. Despite electrified fences baboons are making their way into the vineyard and helping themselves to some of the top grapes on the vines which will ultimatly affect how many bottles buyers can fill their multi two bottle wine tote this year. Even air horns, rubber snakes and other tactics are not keeping these unwanted guests out of the grapes now that they are ripe and ready for picking.
Many say this is the worst year ever for baboon grape vandalism with the animals driven to get as many of the starch and sugar filled grapes as they possibly can. To make matters worse it seems the baboons can actually tell the difference between grape varieties and seem to prefer the sweeter, more expensive, pinot noir but of course they will not turn down the chardonnay when given the chance.
Of course these baboons have a refined taste that would make any connoisseur envious since the grapes tossed to the ground during their feast are most often sour while the sweetest are eaten. Of course too many grapes can have a slightly humorous effect on baboons since the animals get a sort of high from the skins and end up a little tipsy while they feast.