A photo of Peruvian pisco
One drink that you will definitely want to try when you attend Spanish
school in Chile or Peru is a grape brandy called Pisco. Though you may have
never heard of this drink before, it is widely celebrated in Latin America. The
word “Pisco” is actually from the Quecha language and translates to
mean birds.
The history of Pisco is very interesting. First produced by Spanish
settlers, this drink was originally meant to be an alternative to a brandy that
was popular in Europe. The grapes that went into Pisco were ones that had been
discarded because they didn’t meet the necessary criteria for wine. These
rejected grapes were given to farmers who then decided to use them for liquor.
The majority of the Pisco made in the 16th century was derived from a grape
variety called Quebranta. This was an adaptation of a black grape that was
brought to Peru by the Spanish.
In 1641, Spain was no longer allowed to import wine from the Viceroyalty of
Peru. This ruling was enacted in order to protect native Spanish wines and
grapes from competition. However, Pisco continued to be produced in Peru and
exported to other regions of the world. In fact, many sailors who traveled
between Spain and the colonies regularly drank Pisco. According to common
belief, it was the sailors who named the drink after Peru’s port located in
Pisco. Incidentally, if you learn Spanish in Peru, you will definitely want to
visit this beautiful coastal area.