Something about the D.O. Pisco
Cocktail Magazine edición No 55, grateful for the opportunity.
While talking to my friends, they asked me about the Denomination of Origin (D.O.) Pisco, and I reminded them the definition of Denomination of Origin: "It's the name of a country, region, or place that is used to designate a product whose qualities are due to the geographical environment, both natural & human factors, history, traditions, and customs."
Why was the Denomination of Origin Pisco established?
(i) The word Pisco comes from a Quechua word meaning bird.
(ii) The Incas used the Quechua word Pisko to name the valley, the river, where the famous Paracas culture developed.
(iii) From time immemorial, there was a community of Indians called Piskos.
(iv) The word Pisco is part of a large number of Peruvian towns, rivers, regions, and hamlets.
comarcas y caseríos peruanos.
(v) Piskos also were the clay jars used to store the distillate, and the port of Pisco where it was shipped from. That's how it got its name.
Pisco is a spirit beverage made from recently fermented pisco grapes. It's distilled only once and not allowed to be rectified with water. Additionally, it's not allowed to be aged in barrels. Approximately six to ten kilos of grapes are used to obtain one liter of Pisco. It's only produced on the coast of Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua, and the Valleys of Locumba, Sama, & Caplina in the Tacna region, a geographic area between 0 and 2000 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.).
Our D.O. Pisco dates back to December 12, 1990. Some other Denominations of Origin in addition to Pisco are: the Giant Corn of Cusco, the Chulucanas pottery, the Ica Pallar (peruvian beans), the Villa Rica Coffee, the Lambayeque Loche (pumpkin), the Machu Picchu-Huadquiña Coffee, the Junín-Pasco peruvian maca, the Tacna Olive, and the Amazonas Peru cacao. The advantage of having a D.O. is that it adds value to the product, allowing it to improve its position in the market. All of this is important to properly value and defend a D.O. to recognize our product. Additionally, in the case of Pisco, it helps to avoid purchasing it without the proper authorization to use the Denomination of Origin Pisco on the label. This is our only guarantee that the product is genuine and has gone through the corresponding controls.
My friends asked if Pisco can be produced in other unmentioned regions. NO. They also asked it can be made with table grapes? The answer is NO! Let's be clear. One can produce distilled, brandies, spirits, macerated, liquors, or others, anywhere in Peru. But with the name "Pisco," only in the 5 mentioned regions. Likewise, one can use table grapes or other fruits to distill alcohol and give it whatever name they prefer, but they cannot call that product "Pisco." That is why it's essential to reactivate the Regulatory Council of the Denomination of Origin Pisco "CRDO-PISCO."
Belonging to the CRDO implies
(i) control over the D.O.
(ii) compliance with the regulations,
(iii) allowing CRDO-PISCO inspectors to enter the wineries,
(iv) registering the pisquera grape fields, (v) registering the winery, still, or falca.
Stay tuned because good times are coming for Pisco. Always drink responsibly.
By Livio Pastorino Wagner
Sommelier, Specialist, and Pisco Taster
Registration: CRDO-PISCO 2020 RCO-034-2011
@elmagozurdo
Cocktail Magazine No. 55, august 03, 2022.
Cocktail magazine (spanish) in issuu
Pisco & music
August 2022.
Where pisco is the only protagonist!
#lapiscoteca #piscosour #winelover #pisco #pasionporlacata #bar #elpiscoesdelperu #vino #vinosdelperu #pisco #piscolover #Lima #Peru #Moquegua #Tacna #Arequipa #Ica
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