The Ica Region of Peru - home to the country's best vineyards - producing not just fab wines, but also Pisco Brandy - main ingredient of our fave Pisco Sours! Research told us the Tacama Vineyard is the best of the best - and just 71.4 km from Paracas!!
Pablo made the journey in just over an hour - seems he's just as thirsty for a chilled SB as we are!
Wow - what a place - beautiful sprawling pink Hacienda surrounded by hundreds of acres of lush green vines. And a wonderful restaurant where we had a delicious (and slightly boozy) lunch before our Wine Tour and Tasting.
Heavy Security at Tacama with a ten foot wall surrounding the fields and Guards armed with Pump Action Shotguns patrolling. Unusual approach to Wine Tasting! After the Vineyard and Winery Tour we were ushered into a swish Science Lab with tiered seating + floor to ceiling sterile white decor - and given a Powerpoint Presentation by the bespectacled Head Sommelier on goodness knows what - until finally we got to sample a few of Tacama's top wines + a rose fizz + a couple of large Pisco Brandies!
All of which created a minor issue on the accommodation front!
Fortunately our Waiter Daniel had recommended a Hotel just a couple of Km up the road and we drove very cautiously along a dirt road until we found another ten foot wall behind which lay the Hotel Vinas Queirolo. By now it's dark - and we had some difficulties getting them to open the ten foot high gates - no reservation - don't often get drive-ups!! They say a British Passport opens all sort of doors - and tonight they are right! In we go - and along a very long vine-lined avenue find another stylish Bodega with a 5 Star feel. Greeted at Recepcion and offered a Double Room with Cama Matrimonial for just 1,000 Soles (that's 250 quid!!). Gulp! Luckily David had looked on Booking.com earlier and seen their Executive Doubles with King Size Bed and Vineyard View were on offer for only 50 quid and after some over the counter discussion we found ourselves in a lovely room in the Sauvignon Blanc wing - how apt!
After enjoying a fireside Pisco Sour or two at our very own Chiminea we hit the hay and fell into a deep sleep!
UNTIL 01:29AM WHEN AN EARTHQUAKE STRUCK ICA - EPICENTRE JUST 40KM FROM OUR HOTEL!!!
5.7 on the Richter Scale - the whole Sauvignon Blanc wing shook - and in our pitch black room windows and doors rattled, empty glasses + bottles clinked and the Earth Moved!
Or was it a dream? No alarm went off - no call for evacuation - everything in the Hotel silent - and feeling drowsy we went back to sleep. In the morning it seemed like a dream - until David asked Google - and the screen-shots show it really was an Earthquake!
Apparently Peru is waiting for the next 'Big One'! Luckily this wasn't it!! Phew!!!
