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"Please enjoy responsibly"
Continuing with our section “Getting to know our Pisco,” this month we
present another of our non-aromatic Pisco varieties: the Mollar.
Mollar Grape
Name: Mollar.
It is a non-aromatic variety with a bright red copper color. It is
generally produced in small quantities and often found growing in the
shade of Quebranta grape plants.
Origin: The Canary Islands, Spain
Name Origin: The Mollar grape, which can be white or red, derives its
name from the way it is grown and shaped. A stick from the “molle” plant
(which produces either Aguaribay or peppers), is planted as a tutor, or
a plant for the Mollar grape to graft onto. When the molle plant
produces roots, it grows along with the grape variety, offering the
plant a means of support along its trunk and branches until it reaches
considerable size. This helps ensure elevated production levels, and
excellent plant conditions due to the good ventilation and aromatic
intensity of the molle’s seeds, which prevent the proliferation of
cryptogamic diseases. One can still see old grape vine stock which has
been grafted upon the molle trunk.
Other varieties:
Mollar Cano has a high sugar content which is most fully appreciated
when served in hot punches, or sweets. Its wines, which are light in
color, are not great quality. Also, Almuñeco (La Palma), Listan Morado,
Listan Negro (Tenerife), Listan Prieto, Mollar Negro, Negra común (in
Lanzarote).
Ampelographic Characteristics
Plant: Variety with a bright red copper color
Root: Conical shape, medium sized, leading off to branches
Fruit: Clusters with medium oval shape, rosy-purplish tint, average diameter 1.3 cm
Cultivated area: from 10 to 100 Hectares.
Work presented by LPW
Career Specialist and Pisco Taster
Tasting Course II IDVIP October 2007
Did you know that there are Peruvians with blonde-hair and blue-eyes living in the Peruvian Central Jungle? Did you know that they also speak German and dance the polka?
An approximate 10-hour journey from Lima will take you to the towns of
Oxapampa and Pozuzo, the site of a German-Austrian colony, which still
today maintains many German customs and foods. The most interesting
thing about this colony is its unique mix of German and Peruvian
culture. If you have the opportunity to visit, it is definitely worth
it!
History
The towns of Pozuzo and Oxapampa were founded in 1891 by German-Austrian
colonists. The colonization originated in 1853 with an agreement
between Baron Damian Freiherr von Schutz-Holzhausen and the Peruvian
government to bring 10,000 colonists from Prussia. After a four-month
rough boat trip, the colonists arrived at Callao, near Lima, where they
encountered a civil war. While some of the colonists remained in Lima,
most moved to the jungle through the Port of Huacho, and toward their
final destination, which is today called Pozuzo.
Although 10,000 colonists left Prussia, only 170 actually finished
the 2-year journey to Pozuzo, with some dying but most settling in
towns along the way. In 1891, Father José Egg established Pozuzo as an
important cattle-raising town.
Today about one-third of the inhabitants of Pozuzo and Oxapampa are
descendants of the German colonists. It is common to see locals with
blonde hair and blue eyes, and traditional German wooden chalets can be
found dotted across the countryside.
In Pozuzo, the German influence is even greater. Most still speak the language and eat the traditional foods of their ancestors.
What to do?
While the history and culture of the area is its main attraction, there
are also a number of activities you can participate in here. Oxapampa
has a bat cave, which you can tour and explore. There is also a
sugarcane farm nearby, and not far outside Oxapampa is the Catarata El
Encanto (The Waterfalls of Enchantment), which are 3 sets of waterfalls,
with deep plunging pools. Near Oxapampa, the Yanachaga National Park is
a recognized UNESCO biosphere reserve. It serves as a home to various
orchids, cedars, deer, 427 different bird species and the spectacled
bear. It is also the home to the Yánesh and Ashánika native communities.
Definitely worth a visit!
In Pozuzo, rafting and canoeing are popular activities. In addition, the
central plaza is home to the 18th century San José church, and the
Schafferer Museum, which holds a small but very interesting collection
of antiques and photos from colonial times. You may also take a walk to
see a traditional house. The walk is beautiful – it gives you a great
opportunity to appreciate the wide range of flora and fauna, and once
you get to the house, you can also visit the Museo Egg Vogt. Nearby is
Recreo Guacamayo, which is made up of natural swimming pools, as well as
a viewing point for Gallitos de las Rocas, Peru’s national bird.
This area is especially great to visit during the holidays. In
March/April, during Holy Week, there are many celebrations and parties,
food and dancing. The date changes every year though, so check before
you go. The Selvámonos festival, an annual festival held in October,
celebrates the cultural background of these towns. The festival promotes
the local food (a mix of German and Peruvian), artists and dances, and
even has circus acts as entertainment! If you are in the area during
October, this is definitely one place you can’t miss!
Getting There
There are direct buses from Lima to Oxapampa through Transportes
Oxapampa and Lobato. This is a 10-hour trip, but if you want to break it
up, you can book a trip to San Ramon or La Merced, then take a
colectivo to Oxapampa. To get to Pozuzo, you can take one of the four
daily colectivos from Oxapampa.
South American Explorers
For more information on Oxapampa and Pozuzo, visit the South American
Explorers clubhouse, where you can buy our North Jungle info pack! We
are located at Calle Piura 135, Miraflores (near Av. Arequipa). South
American Explorers is an independent traveler’s club. We are a
non-profit organization that provides information to travelers and a
home-away-from-home in South America. We have clubhouses in Lima, Cusco,
Quito and Buenos Aires. For further information on the club and our
member benefits, visit us at: www.saexplorers.org
We would like to thank Mrs. Gillian Autton for allowing us to post this article.
It has been five years since the Peruvian cocktail, Chilcano de Pisco, was distinguished for the first time with a whole week of celebrations on its honor. This year, Chilcano’s Week, will be celebrated from January 10th to January 19th under the motto, ‘Learn about Pisco, learn about Peru.’
Chilcano’s Week begins this January 9th with an inaugural tour featuring an imaginary journey over the five regions where Pisco is produced: Arequipa, Ica, Lima, Moquegua, and Tacna.
If you are lucky to have a bottle of the Peruvian white spirit, Pisco, you may want to try making a Chilcano de Pisco at home; the following is the recipe:
Ingredients:
Ice cubes
2 oz. of Pisco
¼ oz. of lime juice
2 slices of lime
Ginger Ale
Method: Mix Pisco, 1 slice of lime, and lime juice, in a long glass (highball). And then, add ice and top with ginger ale.
Garnishment: 1 slice of lime on the edge of the glass.
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