Import and Export Food Safety——Read and Understand Brandy

What is Brandy

The word "Brandy", originally from Dutch "Brandewijn", means "burnt wine", and it is a kind of distilled wine. It refers to grape distilled wine made from grapes through fermentation, distillation, oak barrel aging and blending. "Grape Distilled Wine" (Grape Brandy) is usually referred to as "Brandy" for short.

In addition to grapes, other fruits can be used as raw materials of fruit Brandy, such as Apple Brandy and Cherry Brandy, but they are not as well-known as Grape Brandy.

After long-term aging in oak barrels, the liquor gradually becomes translucent amber. Because of the permeation of oak smell, the bouquet becomes attractive.

 

 

 

Identify the Wine through the Wine Label

To choose a satisfactory bottle of Brandy, the first thing to see is the wine label. According to the Food Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, imported prepackaged foods should have a Chinese label. That is, for formal imported Liquor to be legally sold on the market, a formal Chinese back label should be attached to the back of the bottle.

 

Contents that must be marked: brand name, raw materials and other materials, country or region of origin, date of production (filling), storage method, alcohol content, net content, information of importer or agent, warning words, etc. It is an effective method to identify authenticity by checking whether the contents of Chinese labels are comprehensive and whether these labels are counterfeited and reprinted.

 

These letters are often seen on the wine label of Brandy, representing different grades, different characteristics in appearance, color, bouquet, and taste of Brandy. The required minimum wine age (i.e., the time of aging in oak barrels) is also different. According to Brandy (GB/T 11856-2008):

● VS: Wine age ≥ 2 years; It has the fragrance of raw materials, bouquet, and fragrance of oak, without obvious irritation and peculiar smell; Its taste is relatively pure without impurities.

● VO: Wine age ≥ 3 years; It has the fragrance of grape variety, the fragrance of oak, and bouquet, which is harmonious and strong; The taste is mellow, sweet, pure without impurities.

● VSOP: Wine age ≥ 4 years; It has an obvious fragrance of grape variety, aged oak fragrance, and mellow bouquet; The taste is mellow, sweet, comfortable, and soft.

● XO: Wine age ≥ 6 years; It has harmonious fragrance of grape variety, aged oak fragrance, mellow bouquet, elegant and strong; The taste is mellow, sweet, moist, exquisite, comfortable, and long finish.

* However, standards vary slightly from different countries (or regions).

 

 

 

What is Cognac

There are many countries producing Brandy in the world, but the brandy produced in France is the most famous. Among French-produced Brandy, those from the Cognac are the best. All Cognac is Brandy, but not all Brandy is Cognac.

The AOC in this region will name Brandy "Cognac" that meets the following three conditions:

● Specific varieties of grapes from the Cognac;

● Double distillation in Alambic Charentais;

● It must be aged in a specific French oak barrel for at least two years and bottled in the Cognac.

The French Cognac Producers Federation stated that starting from April 1, 2018, the base wine with the shortest wine age of the XO-grade Cognac will be aged in oak barrels for up to 10 years.

China implements the protection of geographical indications in Cognac.

(http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2009-12/18/content_1490597.htm)

 

 

 

Tips

● Brandy is not uniform in color, which varies slightly depending on brewing conditions.

● Brandy is usually used as dessert wine, often with desserts. It can also be used as table wine, with seafood and meat to enhance the flavor of each other.

● For the first taste of spirits, VSOP is the best choice because of its high palatability, easy-to-drink, rich bouquet, and endless aftertaste.

● For Brandy imported through formal channels, if qualified, the Inspection and Quarantine Certificate of Imported Goods will be issued by the Customs. When purchasing, you can require the importer to provide the inspection certificate.

 

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Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of thid website. The Chinese version shall prevail.