Peruvian wine dates back to the Spanish colonization of the region in the 16th century. Peru shares a similar climate with wine-producing country Chile, which is favorable for producing wine. In 2008, there were some 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres) of grape plantations in Peru, including table grapes, and some 610,000 hectolitres (13,000,000 imp gal; 16,000,000 US gal) of wine was produced, with an increasing trend in both plantations and wine production. Most vineyards are located on the central coast, around Pisco and Ica, where most of Peru's winemaking and distillation takes place. Grape varieties cultivated include Albillo, Alicante Bouschet, Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Malbec, Moscatel, Sauvignon blanc and Torontel - Torrontes in many areas of the world.
Valle de Ica lies in the Ica province of Peru. It is one of five centres of grapegrowing within the Protected Designation of Origin for Pisco production, and often appears on labels.
There are approximately 85 producers within the region. As in other zones, vineyards dedicated for Pisco are most often planted to members of the Muscat family of grape varieties. Table wines are produced from varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah and Chardonnay. Located around 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Lima, this is one of the driest places on the planet. No rain or frost has ever been recorded here. Vineyards here are sustained by an aquifer containing glacial meltwater from the Andes. Valle de Ica has a tropical latitude and lies at an altitude of around 400 meters (1312 feet). It does benefit from breezes from the Pacific Ocean; while days are still hot, nights are cooler. Under these conditions, vineyard harvests are reassuringly predictable. Grapes grown here, unsurprisingly, have high sugars and low acidities. This makes the Muscat ideal for Pisco production. High sugars produce high alcohol content, and low acidity means barrel aging is not required as is the case in Cognac and other brandy regions. The valley was formed by the 220 kilometer (136 miles) long Ica River. This flows (sometimes) from the highlands in Huancavelica to the Pacific. It passes through the city of Ica, capital of the region of the same name. The river is dry for much of the year, but can flood and cause considerable damage. The first vineyards were planted by the Spanish around 1550. Wine production – based on red wine grape varieties – was very successful until the Spanish government banned exports to protect domestic producers. This prompted wineries to turn to pisco production.
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