More than 50 Local Exhibitors Showcased their Ancestral Heritage at the first Cultural, Winemaking and Lickanantay Event
20/Apr/2021
Hundreds of people took part in the first Cultural, Winemaking and Lickanantay Event, which was part of the 2021 harvest in Toconao and a virtual showcase for the traditions of the local native people. More than 50 local exhibitors presented the goodness of the award-winning high-altitude wine, Ayllu, and promoted local customs.
“We are very pleased. We think this first event was a huge success. The different participants—the exhibitors and the community—have said the same,” commented Wilfredo Cruz, Manager of the Lickanantay High-Altitude Winemakers’ Cooperative in Toconao, which organized the event.
A variety of activities (e.g., wine tastings, ceramics, handicrafts, woven goods, cultural shows and concerts) made local history the belle of the ball at the event, which was supported by SQM’s Atacama Tierra Fertil Program, Fundación La Semilla, the Lickanantay Community of Toconao, the Regional Council and the Regional Government.
WINE COUNTRY
One important part of the evening was the culmination of the 2021 harvest by the high-altitude winemakers who harvest the varieties that give life to Ayllu wines at this time of year.
The event, which also sought to position Salar de Atacama as a winemaking area at the national and international level, featured leading wine industry exhibitors, like Adriana Cerón, Mónica Vergara, Nelson Quilodrán and Carlos Arellano.
“This year, we set the goal of harvesting 20,000 kilos of grapes, and we even beat that goal. We wanted to put on a cultural show to share the heritage value and raise awareness among local, national and international audiences,” said Wilfredo Cruz.
Everyone who would like to relive the wide range of activities available at this first cultural event—which attracted more than 1,800 interactions at the peak of its live transmission—may watch the conferences and seminars on the Lickanantay High-Altitude Winemakers Facebook page or their YouTube channel at the following link: https://cutt.ly/ivyuAM6.
Furthermore, the Manager of the Cooperative issued an invitation to the High-Altitude Wine Festival on May 29th. Participants at the cultural and winemaking event will learn more about the work at different local vineyards and the ancestral heritage surrounding them.