The history of Chilean Pisco is not an easy one to tell. Many original documents from the 16th and 17th centuries were lost in the frequent natural disasters that have struck the country.
The city of La Serena, key to the evolution of this distilled beverage, was burned and looted twice during that period. Even so, it is possible to reconstruct its story.
This is the quintessential local drink, with origins tracing back to the era of Spanish colonization. Few know of its beginnings, which highlight the contribution of its production to the development of the local economy, making it one of the most influential industries in the region to this day.
Origins of Chilean Pisco
Chilean Pisco is a fine grape brandy, the result of a centuries-old winemaking tradition that began with the settlement of Spanish conquistadors starting in 1541.
As a deeply Catholic nation, Spain brought religion to the Americas, along with the Eucharistic rite, which required bread and wine.
By 1549, in the newly reestablished La Serena—originally founded in 1544 and destroyed a few years later by indigenous groups—the first grapevines intended for winemaking were planted.
According to French naturalist Claudio Gay, in his monumental Historia Física y Política de Chile (1858), the first grapes in La Serena were harvested in 1551.
The dry climate and high ambient brightness ripened the grapes with a high sugar concentration, producing a sweet, fortified wine with a high alcohol content.
In his monograph The Origin, Production, and Trade of Chilean Pisco, 1546–1931 (2005), historian Hernán Cortés noted that by 1558, the valleys of Copiapó, Elqui, and Limarí had “the highest concentration of land and indigenous labor dedicated to vineyard cultivation and winemaking” in the entire country.
Pisco Grapes
The sweet nature of the wine posed challenges for long-distance transportation. Winemakers began distilling part of the production to make brandy, which was much more stable and useful for improving the flavor of weaker wines.
Over time, this brandy gained fame for its quality. With its seductive aroma, it accompanied the long workdays of miners and laborers of the time, as well as colonial gatherings in the scarce urban centers of the period.
Various documents from the era highlight the importance of this brandy. A decree from the Cabildo of La Serena, dated November 23, 1678, set prices for basic necessities, including bread, wine, and soap, and established the price of “a quart of brandy at four reales.”
The product found a ready market among mine and gold wash workers, as well as administrative centers, which by the late 16th and early 17th centuries created a growing demand.
Initially, the local deposits of Andacollo and Brillador were the main consumers; later, Santiago, the capital, and southern Chile; and eventually, the silver mines of Potosí and Huancavelica in the Peruvian viceroyalty.
The Modernization of Chilean Pisco
The 19th century marked a turning point. In 1818, Chile definitively gained independence from Spain, ushering in an era of modernization. Numerous artisanal industries began transitioning to industrial production.
In 1819, licenses were approved for the manufacture of stills in Chile, many of which were used for Pisco distillation. Previously, many of these devices had to be imported.
From the 1850s onward, new technologies, vineyard management systems, fermentation processes, and specialized grape varieties were introduced from Europe. Copper stills replaced artisanal production.
Varieties of Chilean Pisco
In 1861, in the town of Vicuña in the Elqui Valley, local producer Juan de Dios Pérez Arce marketed his brandy under the label Pisco Italia. It sold for six pesos per jug.
Family productions gradually gave way to increasingly complex facilities. Pisco producers built specialized distilleries, cellars, and warehouses.
In 1873, a significant event shaped the future of the Chilean Pisco industry. A decree issued on November 12 established an official registry of trademarks, standards, and emblems for Pisco producers, constituting the oldest legal regulation for Pisco in the world.
Designation of Origin
By the 20th century, the fame of Chilean Pisco, reinforced by numerous international accolades, was firmly established.
On May 15, 1931, a decree reserved the name “Pisco” exclusively for grape-based brandy produced within specified regions.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the industry experienced a boom. On August 13, 2003, the Association of Pisco Producers was established to promote sustainable development, technological advancement, and scientific research within the Pisco industry.
On May 14, 2009, Decree No. 36 declared May 15 as National Pisco Day in commemoration of its designation of origin.
