Frédéric M

Canada - 25-Mar-20 -

Let's make a couple of things clear first. I don't really like wine and never tried pisco before this visit. I considered pisco being of national importance without OUV. It was my first visit in a WH or TWH vineyard. Considering this lack of interest and the fact many community members often complain about "yet another vineyard", my expectations for this site were low. I thus decide to visit mainly to tick it off if it ever gets inscribed.

The nomination file lists 14 vineyards and pisco production sites located in all 5 departments where pisco can be produced. Ica Department contains the most sites and seemed to be an easy place for a visit. Vista Alegre, one of the main commercial caves, is the closest to the town of Ica and probably the easiest to visit. However, with the advices of our hostel, we chose Tacama. This is the oldest winery in all South America and appeared more authentic and interesting to me. 

We reached to the winery with a taxi. It lays about 10 km north of town. Even though Lonely Planet told me the visit was free, it's not the case. Upon arrival, you need to choose between three options. They offer an historical tour as well as a more wine production oriented tour, both of them offering tasting. We chose the third option, that is a mix of both. The tasting in this option can be upgraded to a workshop with a wine steward, but we kept the basic one.

The winery is located in a large and beautiful pink hacienda. The tour included a visit of the historical buildings (courtyard, chapel...), the old production facility, the modern production facility, the mirador and a tasting of four products. They finish the tour with a video that recap everything you've seen and learn. We think this video should rather be shown as an introduction, as it would help understand the rest of the tour. I was particularly impressed by the gigantic barrels and by the vine plantations as far as your eyes can see. In the end, I was agreeably surprised, and I really enjoyed my tour. The landscape is beautiful, the history is fascinating and some products we tasted were delicious. 

Tacama was the first vineyard in South America, where Spaniards tested grape varieties. It allowed what is now Argentina and Chile wine production. The political and economical contexts over colonial and Republican times in Peru had strong impacts on the production of wine and liquors in all South America. Yes it is a niché site with limited OUV, but if South America got to have an alcohol production site, I believe it should be this one. It's hard for me to tell if every component of this serial nomination is worth inscription (probably not, but that's my personal opinion about serial sites in general), but Tacama is great and the history of wine production in Spanish colonies is of global interest. So yeah, sorry guys, but I give a thumbs up to yet another vineyard.