Peru

After the Spanish conquistadores had conquered the Inca empire in the period 1531 to 1535 under Francisco Pizarro (1478-1541), a Spaniard by the name of Francesco de Carabantes established the first vineyards close to the city of Ica in 1547. In fact, Peru was the first country in South America in which viticulture was pursued systematically, with some 40.000 hectares of vineyard area in 1560. At the time, wine was exported to Spain. At this time, the country was known as Alto Peru (High Peru) and was the heartland of the vice-regal empire of New Castilia. Up until 1776, the area included that of present-day Bolivia as well. It was from ehre htat viticulture spread to Argentina starting in about 1550. Whereas Chile and much of Argentina were spared the ravages of phylloxera, the parasite caused considerable damage in Peru, starting in around 1888. Political unrest, too, was a factor in the almost total demise of viticulture until around 1960. Starting in the 1970’s there has been an attempt to re-establish wine-growing, using imported vines. The most widely planted varieties are Albillo, Alicante Henri Bouschet, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Moscatel, Sauvignon Blanc, Torontel and the Italia Negra Corriente grape, which is used as a table grape.

The vineyards are concentrated in the region around the cities of Pisco and Ica on the Pacific coast, in the south of the country (south of the capital Lima). There are also smaller vineyard areas on the coast in the north, at altitudes of up to 1.500 metres above sea level. In spite of being so close to the equator (only 10° latitude), the region suffers from extreme drought. The hot summers and low rainfall make it necessary to irrigate the vineyards. The warm winter makes it possible to bring in two harvests each year. Statistics for the yaer 2000 show that the 1.000 hectares of vineyard produced 127.000 hectolitres of wine. Most of this production (the leading variety is Moscatel) is used to produce an indigenous brandy, the national drink called Pisco after the city of the same name. The Spanish part of the population generally drinks wine only on festive occasions. A local beer, called Chichia, made from corn, molasses and brandy is also very popular. By far the most important wine estate is Viña Tacama, close to Ica, owned by the Oleachea family. The well-known French oenologist Emile Peynaud (1912-2004) assisted in establishing this winery. With French support, this estate has been producing excellent wines from Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as sparkling wines, since 1961.