The recent ruling by the Delhi High Court in India marks a turning point in the international defense of Chilean Pisco. The court decided to revoke Peru’s exclusivity over the geographical indication “Pisco” in that country and ordered the registration to be amended to “Peruvian Pisco”, thereby allowing the registration process of “Chilean Pisco” to proceed in the same market.
The court’s decision—issued after more than a decade of litigation—formally recognizes the coexistence of homonymous products with distinct characteristics from Chile and Peru, setting a significant legal precedent that strengthens Chile’s strategy for the recognition and protection of the Chilean pisco denomination of origin.
A National Achievement, the Result of a Sustained Strategy
This milestone is part of the Chilean Pisco Recognition and International Promotion Plan, driven by the Government of Chile in partnership with the national pisco industry. This public policy has achieved major progress: a 33% increase in export value, a 25% rise in the number of exporting SMEs, and new international registrations of the Denomination of Origin in key markets.
With over 300 years of tradition and the oldest Denomination of Origin in Latin America (established in 1931), Chilean Pisco has been recognized as a high-quality product on all five continents. Today, Chile is actively working on the international recognition and promotion of the Pisco Denomination of Origin, with notable achievements in exports and heritage recognition—including the nomination of the Chilean Pisco Viticultural Cultural Landscape as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a proposal supported by both national and international experts, now included in UNESCO’s Tentative List.
“This ruling is a historic triumph for Chile. It validates years of work, research, and defense of a product born in the valleys of Atacama and Coquimbo, yet representing the entire country on the world stage. Today’s decision reinforces the need to move forward toward a State policy for the defense of our identity-based products with denomination of origin” said Francisco Munizaga, President of Pisco Chile A.G.
A Precedent for Other Disputed Markets
The court’s resolution in India strengthens Chile’s position in other countries currently facing similar disputes or where efforts are underway to register the “Chilean Pisco” Geographical Indication.
In this regard, Juan Pablo Silva and Andrés Grunewaldt, partners at SILVA law firm—responsible for Chile’s legal defense—stated:
“This ruling by the Delhi High Court is an explicit recognition of the legal argument Chile has maintained for years: that the term ‘Pisco’ can be legitimately used by both countries, as it refers to homonymous and recognizable geographical indications.”
“At SILVA, we have worked hand in hand with the Chilean State and the Producers Association to ensure our denomination of origin is recognized in various countries around the world. This precedent set in India is a significant legal victory that reinforces the right of our producers to export with their own identity to international markets”, the attorneys added.
From the Chilean State—through its Ministries—and from the pisco industry, which includes more than 2,000 grape producers and generates over 40,000 direct and indirect jobs, the commitment to protecting national productive heritage, strengthening the country brand, and opening new markets for pisco producers is reaffirmed.