Chapter 5:
Destilería Pisco Mistral
Lunch Break & Tour

We drove further along the mountainous route and I was really enjoying how well the convoy of Hyundai Tucsons seemed to be coping with all the undulations and strings of corners. Along the way, a previous-generation Tucson joined the line for a few miles and it became easy to appreciate the styling differences. Where the older model looks tall and relatively narrow, the 2016 Tucson is visibly wider and more muscular, and topped off with a functional rear spoiler that promotes better aerodynamics and reduced wind noise. 

Our next stop was at the Destilería Pisco Mistral. By now, everyone had worked up an appetite and luckily for us, there was a constant flow of food on the grill and from the kitchen. 

Grilled meats, fish, vegetables and the like seemed to be the preferred fare in Chile, and the chef did not disappoint. Perhaps even more wonderful was the pisco made at the distillery. After our meal, we were treated to some live traditional Chilean musical and dance performances. 

 

The entertainment gave way to a one-on-one Q&A session with the Hyundai representatives, who welcomed feedback on the morning drive, and the tour of the distillery where we were exposed to the entire process from grapes to fermentation to distillation and curing.

Chilean wines are world famous because a tremendous amount of care goes into every single step of preparation and production. On the way in we saw vineyards lined with structures for the vines to climb on and screens to protect them from excess wind. The natural landscape of the picturesque Elqui Valley regulates the amount of sunlight for optimum growth and Chile’s weather and seasons create near-perfect conditions in this particular region. 

Chapter 6 >>