UJ #17 - Traditional Peru

MARCH | INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE VENDIMIA
Pisco has become synonymous with Peru. The city of
Pisco, from where the spirit gets its name, is located
in the department of Ica, on Peru’s southern coast. Ica
is known for housing the proliferating wine and pisco
industry, boasting dozens of vineyards that thrive in the
dry climate and rich soil.
BESIDES WINE AND PISCO, THE
CHINGUERITO IS ANOTHER POPULAR
BEVERAGE DURING THE HARVEST
FESTIVITIES. THIS CLASSIC DRINK IS
MADE WITH FRESH GRAPE JUICE, PISCO,
LIME, CINNAMON, AND CLOVE.
LimaTours
Each year, in honour of our famous grapes and the
products they render, the month of March is dedicated
to the International Vendimia Festival. It is during this
time that we re-visit some of the glorious traditions
behind the delicious pisco sour that has become our
international calling card.
After all the hard work, what better than to enjoy the final
product? The Ruta de los Lagares - or wine press route
– takes visitors on a tour through the main wineries in
the area, many of which continue to produce wine and
pisco in the same, traditional ways. As guests make their
way, they learn about the elaboration process. Each day,
a different winery prepares a series of activities for the
visitors, and at the very end of all the events, everyone
is invited to indulge in a series of tastings that showcase
the flavours of our earth.
The last day of the party, people head to the final event:
the yunza, a lively tradition unique to Peru. Participants
take turns trying to cut down a young tree decorated
with balloons and gifts, one axe whack at a time. The tool
– along with the wine – is passed from person to person,
to the rhythm of the music, until the tree falls. Upon its
fall, participants rush to pick up the gifts, and as tradition
has it, the person who struck the last blow is in charge of
organizing the next year’s yunza event.
Traditional
clay pisco jugs
conserve our
national spirit.
The celebrations that surround planting and harvesting
have taken place since pre-Inca times. Over the years,
these customs have managed to survive, adapting to the
many social changes that the country experienced, and
transforming along way. In 1958, the first Fiesta de la
Vendimia took place, and was so successful, that in 1965
it began receiving international recognition.
Great weather and an even better assortment of
activities make Ica and its surroundings a wonderful
place to visit any time of year. Cheers to that!
Adrián Portugal / PromPerú
All activities during the exciting harvest week revolve
around the star crop: the grape. Bunches are cut and
placed in baskets, before taking them to the designated
press. It is here that the famous pigeage takes place,
where men and women make their way into the press
and stomp on the grapes with their bare feet, to the beat
of Peruvian cajones.
24
The treading of the grapes” cambiar por
“the pigeage of the grapes.