From Doubt to the Great Gold Medal
Placeres Magazine, edition No 25, grateful for the opportunity
We were waiting with pisco-making friends and a producer for the results of a national pisco competition. Some of us had participated as tasters. The producer was chatting with us and said: “I don’t believe in these competitions, they don’t convince me, there’s something I don’t like.” We asked if he had entered and with what type of pisco. “Yes, a pure Quebranta pisco.” By then, the master of ceremonies was announcing the winners. Then we heard the brand and the producer’s winery: he had won the Great Gold Medal with his Quebranta pisco. We looked at each other… we looked at him. He couldn’t believe it. We just said: “See! Congratulations!” We hugged and toasted with his pisco. These are the things that happen at a national pisco competition.
I’m going to share some insights about the 2025 National Pisco Competition, which was held again after 6 years. These competitions are a great support for pisco producers. This time, the organizers appointed by the National Pisco Commission (CONAPISCO) asked the three tasters’ associations to submit our expert tasters. They allowed us 10, including one from each pisco-producing region, plus novice tasters and a list of recommended ones. In total, there were 42 invited judges for the tastings on November 25, 26, and 27 at the Gran Hotel Bolívar in Lima.
It’s worth remembering that the tasters’ associations are not officially recognized by CONAPISCO. We tasters are independent in the registry; before the authority, we are all one. In the Peruvian Tasters Association (ASPERCAT), since 2008 we have been training tasters, evaluating them, and keeping them informed about the latest standards from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), especially regarding international wine and grape-based spirit competitions. In this twenty-sixth national competition, the new scoring system was applied, and the new tasting sheet was used. If you’d like more information, you can follow this link: click
Regarding the change in the tasting sheet and scoring, with ASPERCAT we held update workshops on the OIV-OENO 671A-2025 Resolution standard for our members and the general public starting in the second half of 2025. As a result, a good group of tasters were prepared for the tasting challenge at the national competition. Always ready!
The National Pisco Commission (CONAPISCO) appointed Dr. Armando San Román Alva, Director of the Productive Development Directorate of the Ministry of Production (PRODUCE), as President of the XXVI National Pisco Competition Lima 2025. The three tasters’ associations, by majority, elected Eng. Juan Mendiola Huayamares as Head Taster. For the OIV, the observer was Mrs. Carmen Elena Castillo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. More than 100 pisco producers participated with 392 samples.
The president, together with the head taster, appoints the table coordinators. There were 6 tables with 7 tasters each, of which 5 were experts and two novices. Most of the time, 5 expert tasters from different regions are considered. It should be noted that, although the novices participate in the tasting like everyone else, following the rules established by the competition, their scores are not considered for the final calculation.
I had the honor of being appointed coordinator of Table No. 03 for the first stage, which is the regional competition. We were five expert tasters: from Tacna, Arequipa, and Ica; two from Lima; and two novices, one from Lima and one from Ica. Samples scoring 85 or more OIV points advance to the national competition, where they are re-evaluated by different judges.
For the national competition, according to his authority, the president decided to reconfigure the tables with changes of judges and some coordinators. Table No. 04 consisted of tasters from Moquegua, Ica, and three from Lima; the novices from Arequipa and Lima. Once again, I served as table coordinator. Aside from a few minor incidents, the competition proceeded correctly, following the OIV standard and the 2025 Pisco Competition Regulations.
In the case of Table No. 03, in the regional competition, our highest score went to an aromatic green must pisco from Moquegua, with code 842. We gave it 91.60 points, which according to the new OIV scoring equates to a Gold Medal. In the national competition, at Table No. 4, two Moscatel piscos achieved the Great Gold Medal: code MO-670, 93.8 points (Moquegua) and code MO-665, 93.2 points (Arequipa). Finally, I would like to congratulate the appointed expert tasters, most of whom had the taster code assigned since 2015 by the then Regulatory Council of the Pisco Denomination of Origin. Remember: taste, taste, taste, and keep tasting. Enjoy pisco responsibly.
Til next time!
By Livio Pastorino Wagner
Sommelier, Specialist, and Pisco Taster
Registration: CRDO-PISCO 2020 RCO-034-2011
@elmagozurdo
Placeres Magazine, No. 25 marzo 06 del 2026
Pisco & music
Where pisco is the only protagonist!
#lapiscoteca #piscosour #winelover #pisco #pasionporlacata #bar #elpiscoesdelperu #vino #vinosdelperu #pisco #piscolover #Lima #Peru #Moquegua #Tacna #Arequipa #Ica #piscopunch #piscosour #piscotonic #capitan #chilcanodepisco
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