Colombia, Aponte

Expect notes of Raspberry, Red Apple, Caramelised Nuts.

Aponte is a remote town situated in Narino. The town is situated deep inside Juanambú Canyon and surrounded by steep, rugged mountains, making it hard to reach. The cool climate and high winds are prevalent throughout the year in this town. The region is blessed with very fertile soil due to the nutrient-rich ash from the nearby Galeras Volcano. The farms are small, averaging just one hectare, and are some of the highest coffee farms in Colombia, with most situated more than 2,000 metres above sea level. The producers in the area are pioneers in developing farming and processing techniques that successfully produce coffee in such unique conditions.

Aponte is home to the indigenous Inga people and was once the northernmost point of the Incan empire. Visiting Aponte is a unique experience as the town operates as an indigenous reserve, independent of the Colombian government. The people in the town continue to wear traditional garments and speak the local Inga language, which is derived from Quechua, the pre-colonial language of people from the Amazons and the Andean Mountains. In Aponte, private property does not exist, and farms are owned by the community at large. Town leaders, known as "Taitas," have the final say on how each parcel of land is cultivated.