Pisco, Peru's flagship product to be enjoyed by EU-LAC visitors

By Mariella Mazzei, Traslation: Laura Vásquez

The history of pisco goes back to the sixteenth century, when grapes, brought from the Canary Islands by Marquis Francisco de Caravantes, arrive in Peru.

Historians of that time say that the first wine was produced in Cusco. But it was in the valleys of Ica where the cultivation of the grapevine was spread, thanks to their whether conditions.

First, wine production was developed and after that a high-quality, which was called pisco.

Why that name? Because in the valley of Chunchanga river, a community called Pisko lived during the time of the Paracas civilization. The quechua word "Pisko" means bird and refers to the large number of birds inhabiting the coasts from Ica.

Long before the arrival of the Spaniards, The Piskos made large, cone-shaped pots, to ferment chicha and other alcoholic beverages made with corn, molle, cañihua and tumbo.

Years later, since the first vine crops, the grape juice (mosto) extracted was placed in mud pots that had been ordered to the people of Pisko.

Years later and naturally, when the special grape spirit was started to be made, people started to call "pisco" the big bottles (botijas) that contain the liquor. As an extension, people also started to call pisco the spirit contained in them. That is the origin and irrefutable explanation of why the Pisco is from Peru.

(END) MMB/LVT

Published: 5/14/2008