Pisco Presentación

PISCO TASTINGS SESSION
PRESENTATION

Material elaborado por Aybe Domenech

Description
In this session the tastings are used to familiarize the participant with Pisco and engage him to discover its wonderful range of aromas, which make Pisco of this one of the noblest distillates in the world.
Objetives
To offer the tourist a recreational, cultural and sensory activity, which alsodisseminates worldwide the high value and quality of Pisco.
Tasting dynamic:
3 samples of Pisco will be provided for the tastings. Samples will be ordered according to their aromatic intensity. A description of each sample will be provided to the group together with a guiding work sheet. The tasting will be complemented with information on the traditional methods used to manufacture Pisco.I. INTRODUCE

What is Pisco

Pisco is a traditional Peruvian spirit obtained from the distillation of wine. Peruvian pisco is consumed young; aging or any use of wood chips is forbidden under local laws, making it a clear distillate with an alcohol content that normally fluctuates around 42o G.L. Contact with wood changes dramatically the sensorial profile of any distillate, newodors are acquired and other characteristics of the young spirit are lost. Pisco is distilled to degree; as opposed to most of the famous grape distilled (Brandy, Cognac, Grappa, chilean Pisco) which are rectified and diluted with water.



Pisco is Peru’s most important distilled spirit. It was declared National Cultural Patrimony in 1988 and is currently protected by one of thecountry’s few Denominations of Origin.

The popularity of this spirit has been growing nationally and internationally. In the past few years both demand and production have increased tenfold and its quality has gained in recognition in the form of medals and trophies in some of the most prestigious contests around the world.

History of Pisco:

The word Pisco has its origins inthe Quechua language, which means bird. Later the name was given to a Peruvian valley near the coast, due to the constant presence of sea birds in the sky. It´s also known that there once was a town by the name of “Piskos” in this valley with handy potters. These potters produce containers for the making of “chicha” and other alcoholic beverages, which also took the name of Pisco. These samecontainers were then used to produce, as well as transport, the grape spirit being born in this region, and in this manner the spirit contained in these vessels also took on the name of Pisco.

The Pisco is a genuine Peruvian product, a result of the adaptation of grapes which were brought over by the Spaniards to the newly conquered lands. Its existence has been confirmed in archives circa 1613,emerging and expanding since colonial times. Pisco was the first grape distilled beverage ever reported in SouthAmerica.

Importance of origin denomination:

Pisco is protected by one of the country’s few Denominations of Origin. The Origin Denomination is a legal protection given by the government in order to protect very special products named according to their region and theirquality which is also unique depending on the place of origin. The Origin Denomination is related with two aspects: Geographical conditions “terroir” and a traditional know how. The geographical conditions are the soil, climate and raw material; these conditions joined with the traditional way to make the Pisco makes for an exceptional product unique in the word.

Peruvian legislationrestricts Pisco production to five coastal departments: Lima, Ica, Arequipa, Moquegua and Tacna; and to eight varieties of grapes: Quebranta, Negra Criolla, Mollar, Uvina, Albilla, Italia, Torontel and Moscatel.




Another famous beverages protect by an Origin Denomination around the world are Champagne, Cognac and Tequila.

Pisco classification:

There are three...