The Best Bodegas To Visit In Ica Peru

Back in the Inca era, an emperor named Pachacutec is said to have ordered the construction of a giant canal to channel water from the Andes to the barren deserts of Ica. Remarkably, an army of 40,000 men undertook the grueling task in just 10 days, permanently transforming the region into a lush and fertile oasis. Sometime later, the Spanish arrived and constructed numerous grand vineyards, many of which can still be visited today.

1. Tacama

Bodega

An elegant traditional vineyard, Tacama is one of the most popular bodegas in the region due to the quality of wine it produces and its attractive pink colonial-era hacienda (country house). A word of warning though, the Peruvians like their wine sickly sweet and the stuff produced in Tacama is certainly no exception.

Hacienda Bodega Tacama, Ica, Perú +51 56 581030

Tacama | © J Bradley Snyder/Flickr

2. Vista Alegre

Bodega

Perhaps the best-known bodega in Peru, Vista Alegre centers around a charming old hacienda which has been used to produce pisco for centuries. Bilingual tour guides show travelers around for a small tip which ends in a pleasant tasting session.

Bodegas Vista Alegre, Victor Manuel Bernales, Ica, Perú

Vista Alegre | © Vista Alegre/Flickr

3. El Catador

Restaurant

Despite coming off as a little touristy at first glance, El Catador is worth the effort for its old-world charm as well as the excellent pisco and wine. Best of all, after the harvest in February and March, visitors are invited to help stomp the grapes the old-fashioned way – barefoot in a barrel. Visits and tastings are available year round and there is an excellent onsite restaurant that serves up tasty Peruvian fare.

El Catador, Ica, Perú

El Catador | © Roberto De la Parra/Flickr

Nietto Pisco

Popular with large tour groups, Nietto has the facilities in place to welcome huge numbers of pisco enthusiasts on any given day. It may be more modern than other options on this list, but their production values and the quality of the end product make it a must for any serious connoisseur in the region.
A post shared by Pisco Nietto (@pisconietto) on Dec 3, 2017 at 9:32pm PST

Bodega Ocucaje

Another excellent local vineyard, Bodega Ocucaje makes plenty of pisco as well as some of the finest wines in Peru. Travelers are able to stay in their onsite hotel to explore some interesting nearby attractions such as the Cerro Blanco sand dune.

5. Bodega Lazo

Wine Bar, Bodega, Peruvian, Wine, Beer, Cocktails

A fun and authentic family-run vineyard, Bodega Lazo is unique in that pisco is still stored the old fashioned way using mud clay vases known as botijas or piskos. Furthermore, rather than sitting around a table during the tastings, the friendly host uses a specially designed bamboo stick to distribute vino to onlookers.

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