Old Latin term (burning water) for brandy; see there.
In the sense of the word "a brandy or distillate made from wine". The term is derived from the Middle High German "gebranter wīn", since the 16th century in forms such as "brandten wīn", "brenten wein" and "brantewein". Over time, this then became established in common parlance as the term for any alcoholic product with a higher alcohol content (from around 40% vol.) obtained by distillation. Even if the starting product was not wine but, for example, fruit or fruit or flavoured distillates. Due to this misuse and confusion, a legally binding definition was finally made in 1989 by EEC Regulation 1576/89.
Brandy is a spirit drink obtained exclusively by distilling wine or Brennweinwine for...
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)