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Mint
11-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Is Pisco Peruvian or Chilean? Court settles the dispute for Indian brandy connoisseurs
A brandy brawl that raged through India's patent bodies over 20 years has finally come to a close, with the Delhi High Court deciding who can lawfully sell South America's premium Pisco spirit in the country. Vineyards from Peru and Chile can market their grape-based brandy as Pisco in India, the court ruled on Monday, provided the labelling clearly mentions the country of origin. Liquor industry executives and lawyers termed it a landmark decision, strengthening India's Geographical Indications (GI) framework by ensuring authentic products are properly labelled and protected. 'This judgment reinforces the consumer protection mandate at the heart of the GI Act, ensuring that consumers receive clear and accurate information about a product's origin and characteristics," added Swati Sharma, partner & head–intellectual property at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. For lovers of Pisco, a niche premium liquor produced primarily in Peru's Ica Valley since the 16th Century, it means a wider choice of the drink, and clarity over where it came from. It is a clear, strong grape brandy with around 42% alcohol, distilled from fermented black Quebranta grapes. The tussle The dispute began in 2005, when the Embassy of Peru applied for GI protection in India for 'Pisco', seeking exclusive rights over the name for its grape-based brandy produced mainly in its Ica Valley. Chilean producers opposed, stating 'Pisco' has long been used in Chile to describe similar grape-based spirits made in its own designated regions, such as Coquimbo and Atacama. They even submitted evidence of Pisco production in Chile since 1733. In 2009, India's GI Registrar accepted Peru's application, ordering it registered as 'Peruvian Pisco' to avoid consumer confusion. Peru challenged it, and in 2018, the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB) granted it sole rights over 'Pisco', shutting out Chilean producers. Chilean associations moved the Delhi High Court, leading to the latest ruling that both countries can use the name with clear country labels. The court also ordered the GI Registrar to update Peru's registration to 'Peruvian Pisco' and process Chile's GI application accordingly. Trademark risk 'This is one of the first Indian judgments recognizing that two countries can hold valid GI rights over the same product name if they come from distinct regions with unique characteristics. It shows Indian courts focus on market recognition and production linkage rather than nationalistic or historical claims," said Amit Kumar Panigrahi, a partner at Kochhar & Co. Geographical Indications are defined under India's GI Act and the WTO's TRIPS agreement as indications that identify a product as originating from a specific region, with examples such as Darjeeling Tea, Basmati Rice, and Kanchipuram Silk. While the high court settled the GI dispute, it could lead to trademark infringement risks if labels are incorrect, said Swati Sharma of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. 'Selling Chilean Pisco simply as 'Pisco' could infringe Peru's GI, and vice versa. Importers and retailers must review all labels, menus, and listings carefully and manage separate SKUs to avoid mix-ups." Focus on market Though imports of Pisco remain minimal — just a few hundred cases annually, mainly in high-end bars, mixology events, and five-star hotels — it sits alongside other niche premium spirits like Grappa, Mezcal, and Armagnac in India. Brands occasionally imported include Barsol (Peru), Capel (Chile), La Diablada, and ABA Pisco. In India, Pisco retails at ₹3,200–4,400 a bottle, placing it among premium spirits like Grappa and Mezcal, and just below Cognac and Armagnac. 'Allowing both Chilean and Peruvian origin Pisco may open up broader availability, improve education around the spirit, and eventually spur greater category growth," said Anant S Iyer, director general, Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies. That's when demand for premium spirits is driving the growth of India's alcoholic beverage market, whichcrossed 408 million cases in 2024 and is projected to grow over 5% in 2025. Super-premium India-made foreign liquor (IMFL) grew 23% last year as companies and consumers continue to move up the value chain. Paritosh Bhandari, advisor, Three Brothers Distillery (55North Whisky), however, said that for Pisco, price sensitivity, lack of category awareness, and competition from more familiar imports like tequila, mezcal, and rum will remain hurdles in the short term. Such niche spirits are primarily seen in high-end cocktail bars or boutique retailers in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, and Bengaluru. For instance, Latoya, a Latin American restaurant in Delhi, told Mint that they serve Pancho Fierro, a Peruvian Pisco, using around five bottles a month, according to Aloke Biswas, area operations manager at Manifest Hospitality, which operates the restaurant. "While guests don't usually opt for Pisco as a straight pour, the Pisco Sour remains quite popular, with about 10–15 cocktails sold monthly."
Vox
01-07-2025
- Business
- Vox
Vox Announces Christina Vallice Joins as Head of Video
Vox editor-in-chief Swati Sharma and vice president of development Nisha Chittal announced today that veteran video journalist Christina Vallice has joined the brand as head of video. She begins her new role on July 7. 'I'm thrilled to welcome Christina to Vox. She is an exceptionally talented video journalist and newsroom leader who will be instrumental in shaping the next chapter of Vox video,' Chittal said. 'She brings a wealth of experience to the role, and understands how to break down complex topics in an accessible way. I can't wait to see how she will take Vox's explanatory video journalism to new heights.' In her role, Vallice will oversee Vox's award-winning video department, continuing the brand's signature explainer videos as well as leading expansion and experimentation with new formats in vertical shortform video and podcast video. She will oversee video strategy and publishing across all of Vox's platforms, including Vox's flagship YouTube channel with over 12 million subscribers, Instagram, TikTok, and website and owned platforms. Vallice joins Vox after serving in leadership roles at the Wall Street Journal, Yahoo Finance, and Vice, following more than a decade producing at NBC News. Most recently, Vallice was the director of video series and events at Yahoo Finance. There she led a team to deliver in-depth, original reporting on the investments that are leading to advancements in tech, science, and AI, newsmaker interviews with prominent CEOs and business leaders, and spearheaded the cross-newsroom coordination for major coverage events. At the Wall Street Journal, Vallice served as the senior executive producer of news and specials, directing a global team spanning New York, London, and Singapore to produce daily news videos, in-depth explainers, international features, video investigations and documentaries across various platforms. Under Vallice, the Journal earned two national Emmy nominations for its first feature-length documentary and its first video investigation. Before her time at Yahoo Finance and the Journal, Vallice was a supervising producer at Vice, and helped launch the award-winning HBO broadcast, Vice News Tonight. Prior to that, Vallice spent 11 years at NBC Nightly News, delivering fast-turn stories under tight deadlines both in edit and in the field, producing coverage on a wide variety of major news stories. Vallice received her master's degree in broadcast journalism from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications after earning her undergraduate degree at Binghamton University.
Vox
01-03-2025
- General
- Vox
How beef colonized the Americas
is a deputy editor of Future Perfect, Vox's section on the myriad challenges and efforts in making the world a better place. She oversees the Future Perfect fellowship program. This is the sixth in a series of stories on how factory farming has shaped the US. Find the rest of the series and future installments here, and visit Vox's Future Perfect section for more coverage of Big Ag. The stories in this series are supported by Animal Charity Evaluators, which received a grant from Builders Initiative. You've read 1 article in the last month Here at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you — threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country. Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change. We rely on readers like you — join us. Swati Sharma Vox Editor-in-Chief
Vox
28-02-2025
- General
- Vox
I'm the daughter of a cattle rancher. Could I ever ditch beef?
This is the sixth in a series of stories on how factory farming has shaped the US. Find the rest of the series and future installments here, and visit Vox's Future Perfect section for more coverage of Big Ag. The stories in this series are supported by Animal Charity Evaluators, which received a grant from Builders Initiative. You've read 1 article in the last month Here at Vox, we're unwavering in our commitment to covering the issues that matter most to you — threats to democracy, immigration, reproductive rights, the environment, and the rising polarization across this country. Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world. By becoming a Vox Member, you directly strengthen our ability to deliver in-depth, independent reporting that drives meaningful change. We rely on readers like you — join us. Swati Sharma Vox Editor-in-Chief See More: Animal Welfare Culture Food Future Perfect The Future of Meat
