Apu- (the nectar of) the Peruvian Mountain Gods

Salkantay Peak

Many people ask us what “Apu” means and why we chose the name for our Peruvian wine. Apu is a Quechua word for sacred mountain or mountain spirit. Since the time of the Incas, locals in the Andes have prayed to their apus. The word does not refer to the physical mountain ("orqo" in quechua), but instead the mystical god that receives prayers or offerings in exchange for protection and successful harvests.

The word “apu” is deeply rooted in the traditions and beliefs of the Andean culture. Although people typically pray to the apu that is closest to their crops, they may also pay homage to the most impressive gargantuan peaks of the Andes. For the descendants of the Incas, the taller the mountain, the more sacred it is. Some of the most famous apus in Peru are: Huascarán (6,768m), Ausangate (6,384m) and Salkantay (6,271m). We are fortunate to have breathtaking views of Salkantay and Kiswar/Padreyoc (5,771m) from our vineyards.

We chose the name Apu for our craft wine for many reasons. First, we wanted to honor the beliefs and spirituality of the locals of the Curahuasi Valley. It is our way of showing respect and admiration of their connection to nature. The name is also a nod the Inca culture that greatly impacted Peru. In fact, we use some of the agricultural practices developed by the Incas here at Apu, including irrigation and terracing. We will elaborate on both of those methods in a future blog post.

From our vineyards, we have incredible views of the Curahuasi Valley, complemented by a magnificent backdrop of some of Peru’s most famous apus. The peaks loom over and protect this lush microclimate, making it a hospitable place for grapes. It’s very fitting that our high-altitude wine, made in one of the highest wineries in the world, is named after the most powerful spirit of the Inca. If you take one look at the beauty of the Andean mountain peaks, you won’t wonder why the Incas considered these astounding mountains powerful deities.

Wine in Peru: Steady Growth Toward the Future

When people think of wineries and vineyards in South America, Chile and Argentina usually come to mind. In fact, according to statistics released by the Wine Institute in California, out of 63 wine-producing countries, Argentina and Chile were #5 and #6, respectively. While Argentina made 4.72% of the world’s wine in 2015, Chile made 4.54%.

Historically, Peru has not been a top producer or exporter of wine. In the same study by the Wine Institute of California, Peru was #33 of 63 wine-producing countries, making only .25% of the world’s wine. However, since this study was completed in 2015, wine consumption, production and exportation have increased drastically. According to ADEX, the office that oversees exports in Peru, between January and October of 2017, the exportation of Peruvian wine increased by 48%, reaching almost 1,000,000 USD. More than half of those exports were sent to the USA. The UK was second on the list, followed by Germany, Chile, Costa Rica, Japan, Canada, France and Switzerland. Peru’s largest wineries were responsible for this increase, among them being: Tacama (Tacama), Tabernero (Tabernero & Vittoria), Queirolo (Intipalka & Queirolo), Ocucaje (Ocucaje), Vista Alegre (Vista Alegre & Picasso).

Even more exciting, not only is production increasing, but so is the consumption of wine in Peru. A separate study conducted by the Wine Institute showed that demand for wine in Peru surged more than 17% from 2013 to 2015, one of the highest rates of all the countries on the list.

The parallel between both studies is positive for the entire wine industry here. Now that Peruvians are drinking more wine, they can look to the internal market to satisfy their needs. We hope to see more high-altitude, craft wineries like Apu throughout the Andes to help fulfill consumers' needs in Peru.

While we experience this rapid growth of demand and supply, both producers and discerning consumers should apply uncompromising criteria to protect the quality of all the wine produced in Peru. We believe that by investing the necessary time and resources, exports and demand will increase even more and Peruvian wine can become among the best in the world.

Sources:

Wine Institute https://www.wineinstitute.org/resources/statistics

https://larepublica.pe/economia/1165360-exportacion-de-vino-peruano-crece-en-casi-50

https://gestion.pe/economia/vino-peruano-conquista-15-mercados-internacionales-142447