A photo of Chilean 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.