Editing Brandy (section)

== Terminology and legal definitions ==

The term ''brandy'' is a shortening of the archaic English ''brandewine'' or ''brandywine'',<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Brandy |volume=4 |page=428 |first=Philip |last=Schidrowitz}}</ref> which was derived from the [[Dutch language|Dutch]] word ''brandewijn'', itself derived from ''gebrande wijn'', which literally means "burned wine"<ref name="oed">{{Cite book|title=Oxford English Dictionary|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1989|location=Oxford, England}}</ref> and whose [[cognates]] include ''[[brännvin]]'' and ''[[brennivín]]''. In Germany, the term ''Branntwein'' refers to any distilled spirits, while ''Weinbrand'' refers specifically to distilled wine from grapes.

In the general colloquial usage of the term, brandy may also be made from [[pomace]] and from fermented fruit other than grapes.<ref name=eb/> If a beverage comes from a particular fruit (or multiple fruits) other than exclusively grapes, or from the [[must]] of such fruit, it may be referred to as a "[[fruit brandy]]" or "fruit spirit" or named using the specific fruit, such as "peach brandy", rather than just generically as "brandy". If pomace is the raw material, the beverage may be called "[[pomace brandy]]", "marc brandy", "grape marc", "fruit marc spirit", or "grape marc spirit", "marc" being the pulp residue after the juice has been pressed from the fruit.

Grape pomace brandy may be designated as "[[grappa]]" or "grappa brandy".<ref name=USFCR5.22/> Apple brandy may be referred to as [[Applejack (drink)|"applejack"]],<ref name=USFCR5.22/> although the process of ''[[Applejack (drink)#Production|jacking]]'' which was originally used in its production involved no distillation. There is also a product called "grain brandy" that is made from grain spirits.<ref>EC regulation No. 110/2008, Annex II, nn 3.</ref>

Within particular jurisdictions, specific regulatory requirements regarding the labelling of products identified as brandy exist. For example:

* In the [[European Union]], there are regulations<ref name = EUOnTheDefinition>{{cite web |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:039:0016:0054:EN:PDF |title=Regulation (EC) No. 110/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 January 2008 "on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of spirit drinks" |access-date=22 July 2014 |archive-date=10 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810160710/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:039:0016:0054:EN:PDF |url-status=live }}</ref> that require products labelled as brandy, except "grain brandy", to be produced exclusively from the distillation or redistillation of grape-based wine or grape-based "wine fortified for distillation" and aged a minimum of six months in oak.<ref>EC regulation No. 110/2008, Annex II, nn 3–9u.</ref> 
* In the US, a brandy that has been produced from other than grape wine must be labelled with a clarifying description of the type of brandy production, such as "peach brandy", "fruit brandy", "dried fruit brandy", or "pomace brandy", and brandy that has not been aged in oak for at least two years must be labelled as "immature".<ref name=USFCR5.22>{{cite web | url = http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/aprqtr/pdf/27cfr5.22.pdf | title = Standards of Identity for Distilled Spirits, Title 27 Code of Federal Regulations, Pt. 5.22 | access-date = 3 March 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081217025920/http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2008/aprqtr/pdf/27cfr5.22.pdf | archive-date = 17 December 2008 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
* In Canada, the regulations regarding naming conventions for brandy are similar to those of the US (provisions B.02.050–061). According to Canadian food and drug regulations, Brandy shall be a potable alcoholic distillate, or a mixture of potable alcoholic distillates, obtained by the distillation of wine. The minimum specified ageing period is six months in wood, although not necessarily oak (provision B.02.061.2). Caramel, fruit, other botanical substances, flavourings, and flavouring preparations may also be included in a product called brandy (provisions B.02.050–059).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/C.R.C.-c.870/FullText.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713221002/http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/C.R.C.-c.870/FullText.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2012 |title=Food and Drug Regulations, C.R.C., c. 870 |publisher=Laws.justice.gc.ca |access-date=12 March 2012 }}</ref><ref name="Branch">{{Cite web|url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._870/page-30.html#h-57|title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, Food and Drug Regulations|last=Branch|first=Legislative Services|website=laws.justice.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2017-07-18|archive-date=6 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206195317/https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/C.R.C.,_c._870/page-30.html#h-57|url-status=live}}</ref>

Within the European Union, the German term ''Weinbrand'' is legally equivalent to the English term "brandy", but outside the [[German-speaking countries]], it is particularly used to designate brandy from [[Austria]] and [[Germany]].{{cn|date=December 2022}}