It is the festive season again and Feni is in the news. The Goan beverage is the first and only alcohol in the entire country to receive the GI status and it is the only Goan product to get patented!u00a0 Feni was first conceptualised by Valentino Vaz, founder of Madame Rosa Distillery, way back in 1997.

It received the GI (the Geographical Indication certification, a prestigious WTO recognition) status on December 19, 2007, which is valid up to December 19, 2017.

Incidentally, every year, the Madame Rosa Distillery lives up to an important tradition of uncasing a very premium three-year-old Feni blend and bottling the spirit in an exquisite decanter. These limited edition bottles are named 'Goan Treasures'.

Reveals Mac Vaz, director of Madame Rosa Distillery and president of the All Goa Cashew Feni Distillers and Bottlers Association, "The 2009 Goan decanter is a sleek and eye-catching package with a mouth-blown cashew fruit replica within the bottle that makes an excellent gift and hamper item. It participated in Europe's leading Wines and Spirits Packaging Competition as well as India's Inspirit 2009 Competition."

Passionate about Feni and harmony that is synonymous with the Goan spirit, Mac concludes, "Goa's two assets are its communal harmony and Feni. We need to protect and promote both." So, if you are going to indulge this festive season in Goa, you know what to gift your friends, relatives, clients for the New Year.