Grape growing in the Elqui Valley (this one is with you in mind, Kila)

How grapes grow here I have no idea!!!!  It is windy, with brutal sun, and rocks for dirt and yet they do it.

The grapes must be sheltered from the wind.

The vines are trained tall so the grapes are sheltered from the sun and can be picked from below.  They are about six feet tall. 

We saw two varieties, but have to clue what they are.  Rob says that there are 13 varieties of grapes grown here to make Pisco, both red and yellow, mostly kinds of muscatel.   The one table grape grown here is the red globe.

Pretty amazing where the vines are planted.

And until the vines are established, they are covered.

They do use drip irrigation, but how are they otherwise nourished???  There is no dirt that I could see!!!!  You really can't see how steep the terrain is, but you couldn't take motorized equipment up many of the hillsides for sure.

These are the bus stops in the area.