Delhi HC Deals Blow to Peru in Pisco Dispute with Chile

The two neighbours have been in decades-long tussle over the right to sell the brandy in India

- Krishna Yadav

The Delhi High Court (HC) has refused to grant interim relief to the Peruvian Embassy, which sought to halt the processing of Chile's application for recognition of 'Chilean pisco' in India, marking the latest development in a decades-long tussle between the two South American neighbours over the right to sell the continent's prized pisco brandy in India.

A division bench of Justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla declined to stay a single-bench order from July that curtailed Peru's exclusive rights over the spirit in India and directed that the geographical indication (GI) mark, previously registered for Peru as 'pisco', be changed to 'Peruvian pisco'.

The plea was argued by Peru's senior counsel Neeraj Kishan Kaul, who pressed for interim protection, contending that the absence of such relief caused serious prejudice. He noted that pisco was part of Peru's cultural identity and enjoyed global recognition, but the court said it was not convinced this constituted "irreparable loss".

Pisco is a strong grape brandy with around 42% alcohol, distilled from fermented black Quebranta grapes.