UJ #17 - Traditional Peru
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MARCH | INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE VENDIMIA<br />
Pisco has become synonymous with <strong>Peru</strong>. The city of<br />
Pisco, from where the spirit gets its name, is located<br />
in the department of Ica, on <strong>Peru</strong>’s southern coast. Ica<br />
is known for housing the proliferating wine and pisco<br />
industry, boasting dozens of vineyards that thrive in the<br />
dry climate and rich soil.<br />
BESIDES WINE AND PISCO, THE<br />
CHINGUERITO IS ANOTHER POPULAR<br />
BEVERAGE DURING THE HARVEST<br />
FESTIVITIES. THIS CLASSIC DRINK IS<br />
MADE WITH FRESH GRAPE JUICE, PISCO,<br />
LIME, CINNAMON, AND CLOVE.<br />
LimaTours<br />
Each year, in honour of our famous grapes and the<br />
products they render, the month of March is dedicated<br />
to the International Vendimia Festival. It is during this<br />
time that we re-visit some of the glorious traditions<br />
behind the delicious pisco sour that has become our<br />
international calling card.<br />
After all the hard work, what better than to enjoy the final<br />
product? The Ruta de los Lagares - or wine press route<br />
– takes visitors on a tour through the main wineries in<br />
the area, many of which continue to produce wine and<br />
pisco in the same, traditional ways. As guests make their<br />
way, they learn about the elaboration process. Each day,<br />
a different winery prepares a series of activities for the<br />
visitors, and at the very end of all the events, everyone<br />
is invited to indulge in a series of tastings that showcase<br />
the flavours of our earth.<br />
The last day of the party, people head to the final event:<br />
the yunza, a lively tradition unique to <strong>Peru</strong>. Participants<br />
take turns trying to cut down a young tree decorated<br />
with balloons and gifts, one axe whack at a time. The tool<br />
– along with the wine – is passed from person to person,<br />
to the rhythm of the music, until the tree falls. Upon its<br />
fall, participants rush to pick up the gifts, and as tradition<br />
has it, the person who struck the last blow is in charge of<br />
organizing the next year’s yunza event.<br />
<strong>Traditional</strong><br />
clay pisco jugs<br />
conserve our<br />
national spirit.<br />
The celebrations that surround planting and harvesting<br />
have taken place since pre-Inca times. Over the years,<br />
these customs have managed to survive, adapting to the<br />
many social changes that the country experienced, and<br />
transforming along way. In 1958, the first Fiesta de la<br />
Vendimia took place, and was so successful, that in 1965<br />
it began receiving international recognition.<br />
Great weather and an even better assortment of<br />
activities make Ica and its surroundings a wonderful<br />
place to visit any time of year. Cheers to that!<br />
Adrián Portugal / PromPerú<br />
All activities during the exciting harvest week revolve<br />
around the star crop: the grape. Bunches are cut and<br />
placed in baskets, before taking them to the designated<br />
press. It is here that the famous pigeage takes place,<br />
where men and women make their way into the press<br />
and stomp on the grapes with their bare feet, to the beat<br />
of <strong>Peru</strong>vian cajones.<br />
24<br />
The treading of the grapes” cambiar por<br />
“the pigeage of the grapes.