A trip to Machu Picchu is undoubtedly a special occasion. And you know what else goes with special occasions? Wine! And there’s plenty as much wine in Peru.
But there will be some differences. But like your journey to Machu Picchu it will be an adventure. So if you have a place in your heart for the product of the vine, let’s look at the drinks that you’ll find in Peru.
Peru’s Wine Hub
Wine culture seems to be centralized in Ica, after all that’s where the vineyards are. And where there are vineyards, there’s wine and wine tastings.
Here you could easily complement your tour of Machu Picchu with a tour of the vineyards, taking in the aroma of wine in the air. And when you aren’t sipping your favorite wine you could enjoy some time by the pool or go dune buggying.
Tasty Offerings
Peruvian wine may not be something you come across often in the supermarket where you’re from, since Argentina and Chile have the spotlight for being the biggest exporters in South America. But that doesn’t mean that Peru doesn’t have anything to offer. Quite the opposite. How does a name like Intipalka Malbec sound? That wine alone produces some tasty red, white, rose, and extra brut.
Restaurants that don’t serve Intipalka might have other good choices like Tacama and Tabernero.
Sweet Wine is King in Peru
You won’t have to look forward to find dry wines in Peru, like Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and many others, but you’ll find that the popular choice in Peru is sweet wine. They’re usually cheaper. Don’t be surprised when you go to an event if the toast is done with sweet wine.
Wine just isn’t the popular alcoholic drink. If you go into a bar in Peru, it will be rare to see people drinking wine. People go out to enjoy a can of beer, not a fluted glass of vino. Still, wine culture is growing in Peru, with new wines being sampled and new combinations with food being experimented with.
How Did Wine Get Into Peru?
Not surprisingly, wine was brought to Peru by Spanish conquistadors hundreds of years ago. They couldn’t live without their grapes and the drink that they made.
Since those times, wine has had a place on the tables in Peru, just not a very big place. Only recently has it begun growing in popularity.
And Peru is only gaining popularity for it. Some of the wines and wine products that have come out of Peru have gone on to win awards, and it’s a buzz that’s growing every year. It’s becoming a bigger export as time goes on, so don’t be surprised if you see Peruvian wine hitting your local supermarket.
Wine Straight From The Desert
The wine is always a product of the type of area that grows it. So the wine grown in Peru is going to be unlike anything you’ve ever had before, just for the simple fact that it’s grown in the desert. That’s right, no rolling green hills like you would expect to see in Italy. It’s hot sun and sand dunes out here.
Wine Was in Peru First
It may not be South America’s biggest producer of the drink, but Peru is the first country where the Spanish first established a vineyard. Since then vineyards have proliferated elsewhere, but they got their start in Peru.
The Nicer The Restaurant, The Better The Wine
Excellent food is easy to find in Peru. But it’s a little harder to find excellent wine. Average restaurants may serve you a stellar meal, but they may not even have any wine. Again, the popular alcoholic drink is beer. So get out your business wingtips and have your suit pressed, because you’re going to have to aim a little higher for a good glass.
And You’ll Pay Good For it Too
The relative scarcity of really good wine in Peru jacks up the price. If that glass really hit the spot at dinner, you can count on it really hitting your wallet too. And it’s no different if you buy wine at the supermarket. So it’s a good idea to budget ahead of time if wine is in your plans for visiting Machu Picchu.
TOUR IN PERU may not be in the business of recommending wine, but they can book your hotel near some good restaurants.
