TERROIR + WINE
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Apu is a sacred mountain god and one of the most powerful spirits of the Incas.
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TERROIR
Dramatic temperature shifts, proximity to the Amazon rainforest, and argilo-calcaire soils afford us an extraordinary terroir at our extreme altitudes (2,850 & 3,300 meters). Our Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese have ideal acidity and balance, making Apu wines the leader in the category of premium Peruvian wines.
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INNOVATION
Our unique location and terroir are not the only factors that differentiate us from other wines in South America. Working around the intense rainy season in the Andes, we follow the schedule of the Northern Hemisphere, pruning in January and harvesting in October.
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FORMATION
Here, as in many parts of the Andes, the earth is rich in bright, white limestone—the remains of prehistoric sea creatures, lifted up over millions of years in a slow-motion tectonic collision of the Pacific and Nazca plates.
Apu’s terroir has been eons in the making.
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SAUVIGNON BLANC
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Color: Light yellow with hints of green
Aroma: Boxwood, black currant & citrus
Flavor: Lime, grapefruit & minerals
Pairing: Ceviche, white fish & white meat
ROSÉ
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Color: Pale fuchsia
Aroma: Strawberry & rose
Flavor: Grapefruit, minerals & strawberry
Pairing: Ribs, salad & BBQ meat
SANGIOVESE
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Color: Deep ruby
Aroma: Chocolate-covered cherries
Flavor: Cherry, raspberry & chocolate
Pairing: Steak or duck
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RESPONSIBILITY
We have one of the highest wineries and vineyards in the world. We also want to be the most responsible.
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Apu sits in a patchwork quilt of small farms, heath, and woodlands. In the valley below us, the waters of the River Lucmos tumble past the town of Curahuasi, via the Apurimac, all the way to the mighty Amazon. In the warm sunshine, hummingbirds, parrots, and falcons flit, hover and soar around the vineyard. In the cool of dusk, to the northeast, there are sometimes flashes of light in the distance as thunderstorms peel over the rainforest that lies just beyond the mountains.
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SUSTAINABILITY
We want to protect the rich biodiversity that surrounds us, so we are on a firm path to sustainability. Our gravity-flow winery and vineyards are completely off-grid, with sunlight generating electricity and high lagoons supplying fresh, glacial meltwater during dry season.
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COMMUNITY
It is our duty to make a positive impact in our community. We have created a viticulture project that will teach locals to raise their own grapes and make and commercialize wine. We also work with the Ancapara Agricultural Program to improve infrastructure and teach resource conservation. Our goal is to help promote sustainability and reduce poverty in the Andes.
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DEDICATION TO TRADITION
One of the first wines in Peru was produced in the year 1560 in Marcahuasi, very near our vineyards. Reviving the wine-making traditions among the snow-capped Andes has been immensely challenging and rewarding. We hope you enjoy drinking Apu Wines as much as we enjoy making them.
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ABOUT US
Determined to fulfill their life-long dream to establish a vineyard, Apu founders Fernando Gonzales-Lattini and Meg McFarland scoured the Andes for years, finally finding the perfect viticulture conditions outside the small town of Curahuasi. In 2011, dense brush was cleared, the first vines were planted, and their vision materialized. Years later, Apu is brimming with life. Fernando, Meg, their young children, grapevines, and many animals now call Apu home.
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Our dedication to producing an exceptional terroir-driven, craft wine shows throughout our whole process. We do everything by hand at Apu, from weeding and harvesting to labeling each bottle. Being so personally involved in the viticulture and enology processes makes us especially proud of our wine. Made on Andean soils, the ancestral land of the Incas, we proudly offer this premium, high-altitude wine to you.
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CONTACT
We are located approximately 2 hours from Cusco.
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