Ica

On Peru's central-southern coast, Ica is a major region for wine and pisco, a grape spirit. Both have been made here since at least the early seventeenth century. A 1613 testament lists aguardiente, or grape spirit, storage jars and a distiller, and Ica's wine once travelled through the port of Pisco. The Ica Valley is the main production centre and has the largest concentration of pisco production. Chincha, Pisco and the Ica Valley are Ica's principal viticultural divisions. Vineyards lie between 400 and 650 metres in an arid, subtropical climate. Pacific breezes cool the warm air, while deep sandy soils contain diatomite, calcium carbonate and minerals, with little organic matter. Quebranta, Mollar, Albilla and Italia are among the grapes used for pisco. Heritage varieties sit alongside newer plantings of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay. Some producers favour European grapes, while others work with patrimoniales, the heritage varieties long used for pisco.