Thirty years, in four chapters

My Visit to Hacienda La Caravedo in Southern Peru

Hacienda La Caravedo

Imagine getting to the heart of Pisco, Peru’s national drink?  Four hours south of Lima is Ica, a fertile land where succulent grapes are distilled to produce Pisco at Hacienda La Caravedo, one of the top places to stay in the area.

The oldest working distillery in the Americas

48 hectares of green vineyards in the middle of Peru’s coastal desert surround the hacienda and the oldest working distillery in the Americas founded in 1684.   Master Distiller Johnny Schuler developed the signature drinks named after the hacienda: La Caravedo Torontel and La Caravedo Quebranta. Every bottle is made with eight pounds of only the finest, estate-grown, single expression grapes. The spirit is distilled to 8o proof and is unaged, unaltered, and made with no additional flavors or additives– not even water. It is rested in concrete containers for a minimum of six months to allow the flavors and aromas to reach their peak before bottling.

The tour of the distillery includes experiencing a gravity-fed distillation to gently extract the flavor of the grapes, a wooden usillo to press the grapes, and a state-of-the-art facility using small batch copper pot stills dedicated to environmental stewardship.

Luxury Bungalow Accommodation at Hacienda La Caravedo

The hacienda’s warm hospitality, five luxurious bungalows equipped with a private terrace and a kitchenette and a pool amidst spectacular gardens, are the perfect set up for an authentic experience around the traditions of the Southern Coast of Peru, a place usually known only for the Nazca lines, Paracas National Reserve and Ballestas Islands. Central to this tradition is the Peruvian Paso Horse Show where traditional music offers the background while horses appear attired in fine handmade leather decorations ridden by ‘chalans’ elegantly dressed in impeccable white linen, wide brimmed straw hats and white ponchos.  The spectacle happened as I enjoyed a delicious pisco before lunch in the garden overlooking the stables and gardens.

When traveling to the hacienda with Aracari, take advantage of our specially curated exclusive experiences. What about a drink under the starlit desert on a private terrace?

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