Cognacs of France - the main brands, classification. Rating of cognac brands in France
Every true lover of strong drinks knows that the best of them is cognac. A real elite cognac is made only in France. Drinks from other countries, on the bottles of which the same name appears, are not cognac. They are classified as brandy. What distinguishes French alcohol from the rest?
There are many legends about this drink. According to one of them, the winemaker Chevalier Jacques de La Croix was the first to prepare the drink. One night, he dreamed that the devil appeared behind him, lowered his soul into the underworld and threw it into a boiling cauldron.
Boiling in the cauldron did not harm the nobleman's soul in any way, and the Lord of Darkness threw him into the second cauldron. The next morning, inspired by a dream, Jacques decided to try double boiling method.
The winemaker partially drank the resulting drink with the guests, and hid one barrel for a future celebration. Six months later, opening the barrel, Jacques found that half of the drink had evaporated, and the rest struck him with an amazing taste.
It is difficult to judge how true this legend is. Professional historians claim that the drink appeared in the 17th century after the advent of double alcohol distillation technology. It is noteworthy that since then the method of obtaining real cognac has changed little.
Modern cooking technologies
To protect the drink, which can rightfully be considered a national treasure, the French organized a special professional institute for quality control - the National Interprofessional Cognac Bureau.
According to the established rules, to obtain a real elite drink, you must use only the following grape varieties: uni blanc, folle blanche and charentes colombard. These three components make up a large proportion of the composition of the drink, and for the rest of the volume, perhaps the addition of grapes: semillon, sauvignon, select, blanc rame or zhuranson blanc.
Modern distillation equipment is almost indistinguishable from the old one used a few centuries ago. It's all the same copper stills, the only difference of which is an alcohol meter. It is no coincidence that copper is used in devices. This metal does not oxidize and can withstand high temperatures.
Process two-stage distillation consists in the following: first, alcohol and essential components are obtained from wine, then they are separated from each other. Cognac alcohol is formed only from the middle distillate, since the former is too saturated with essential substances, and the latter has an unsuitable strength. On average, it takes 10 liters of wine to make one liter of wine.
Real cognac aged only in oak barrels, and the age of the tree must be at least 150 years. The tree is split into boards in this way - the fibers must remain intact, then dried in the sun for up to 5 years so that the alcohol does not taste bitter.
Freshly prepared alcohol is first placed in new barrels, and after a few months in older ones. During maturation, cognac alcohol absorbs pigments, tannins, polyphenols and other substances from the wood.
At different stages of aging, the drink filled with different flavors. In the first year, cognac acquires a light brown hue. After 4 years, fruit and vanilla notes appear in its aroma, the taste becomes velvety.
After ten years of aging, shades of honey and the smell of leather appear in the taste of cognac. If maturation occurs before 20 years, the drink has rich aftertaste and bright amber color. Longer than this period, storing the drink in barrels does not make much sense. It is bottled, in which it stops the aging process.
French cognac selection
All people, of course, have different tastes, so the choice of the best cognac drink for you should be based on personal experience. Usually the choice depends on the manufacturer and brand of French cognac, its aging period.
And not the last role in the choice is played by the price of French cognac, which is also due to various factors. The labeling of the rating and the top exposure time is as follows:
- Ø V. S., Selection or Trois Etoiles - at least 2 years old;
- Ø Superior - at least 3 years;
- Ø V. S.O.P., V. O., Reserve, Vieux - at least 4 years;
- Ø V.V.S.O.P., Grande Reserve - at least 5 years;
- Ø X. O., Napoleon, Extra, Royal - 6 years or more.
The best brands of France - the names of elite French brandies
In addition, the legendary cognac houses produce alcohol of impeccable taste and quality. The most famous brands and the best cognacs in the world include French cognacs:
- Delamain. The best cognac in the world is produced under this brand. The brand is not exchanged for drinks aged 7–10 years. The youngest cognac Delamain is 25 years old. As the owner of the house says, he is not interested in cooperation with popular clubs and restaurants. The main consumers of this brand are sophisticated connoisseurs. In the cellars of the cognac house there are samples of spirits dating back to the 1840s.
- Hennessy. This is one of the most popular and well-known French brands. It was founded back in 1765, and thirty years later began deliveries to the United States. This brandy has earned the title of one of the most elite. It is second only to the house of Delamain. Today, Hennessy is part of the Louis Vuitton holding, which specializes in the creation of luxury goods. It is this brand that owns the idea of classifying the aging of cognac drinks according to “asterisks”.
- Chateau de Montifaud. This cognac house appeared even earlier than the popular Hennessy. Its founder, Augustine Perrier, bought vineyards in 1837 and began the process of distilling cognac spirits. The main feature of this brand is careful control at all stages of production. In addition, before bottling the drink, each bottle is treated with purified water with cognac, which betrays a special aroma.
- Camus. Elite French cognac. The creator of the Camus house not only glorified the drink all over the world, but also organized an association of winemakers to control the quality. Today this drink is popular all over the world and often falls into the ranking of the best cognacs.
Elite cognac houses in France, of course, produce products of excellent quality. But the price of such cognac very high. How to choose a good cognac in the middle price range?
Good cognac of less elite brands is easy to find on store shelves. Usually these drinks are classified as V.S.O.P, that is, they are about 5 years old. The most notable brand is Gautier. Its bouquet uses several high-aged spirits at once. The drink has a deep fruity taste and aroma, dark amber color.
Kazumian has an eight-year exposure and is distinguished by aromas of chocolate, woody notes, tart taste. Another popular brand is Cognac Davidoff Classic. Its composition includes more than 40 alcohols. This cognac drink has a strong aftertaste and rich color. Excellent as an addition to cigars of the same manufacturer.
How to distinguish a fake
French cognacs are trying to fake most often. How to recognize a fake drink?
Price and place of purchase. First of all, you need to buy such drinks in specialized stores and large supermarkets. In such places, managers take a responsible approach to the choice of suppliers and the risk of running into a bad product is much lower.
In addition, before buying, it is important to know approximately the cost of a drink and not chase cheapness. A drink that takes so long to produce cannot be very cheap.
Appearance. Many manufacturers themselves are trying in every possible way to protect the consumer from counterfeiting. Bottles have special designations and markings. The label clearly gives information about the place of production and the exposure time. The label is not blurred, glued evenly and firmly to the container.
Eye check. It is worth turning the bottle in your hand, checking it for light. If the color of the cognac drink is from light to dark amber, most likely the product is good. In addition, the liquid should be slightly oily and flow smoothly from the walls of the container.
The smell of the drink. If, after opening the bottle, a sharp chemical smell hit your nose, it is better not to drink such cognac. Real alcohol has the aroma of dried fruits, vanilla, wood, leather and chocolate. Pleasant and durable.
Attention, only TODAY!
After many centuries, wine began to be produced in France, which was then considered a gift from the gods. Until the early 1600s, the production and sale of wine brought France good money. The trading territory expanded, and elegant wines could not withstand the harsh and long sea voyage. To improve the conditions for transporting wine, merchants began to distill it. The Dutch began to call it "brandewijn", which literally means burnt wine. This is where the name brandy comes from. In a short time "brandewijn" (brandy) became a significant economic resource of the nation.
"Brandewijn" (brandy) from the Cognac region stood out for its prestigious reputation and its name - "Cognac" (Cognac). All cognacs are brandies, but not all brandies are cognacs. Brandy can be made by distilling wine, and the wine used, according to the National Cognac Interprofessional Bureau, can be either grape or fruit. Cognac, on the other hand, should be made only from grapes grown in certain areas.
At the beginning of the 17th century, double distillation appeared in the region. Distillation made it possible to transport wines by sea in the form of au-de-vie (au-de-vie means "water of life"; it is also the base spirit of cognac before it is aged in barrels). Moreover, the transportation of eau de vie was much cheaper than the wines. The first stills in the Charentes were invented by the Dutch. The French improved the process of double distillation, now known as "charentaise".
Early in 1309, Arnaud de Villeneuve, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Montpellier, named the alembic that produces aux de vie, "charentaise." Distillation became widely known only at the end of the 16th century. The inhabitants of the Charentes began to use the distillation method and stills for the Dutch, true lovers and main importers of white wine.
The Charentaise still does not look like an Armagnac column cube. It is a simple instrument based on the retort system used by chemists and alchemists. The principle of operation was improved in Egypt, where it was used to produce eye paint.
It consisted of three copper parts: kukurvit, located above the heart, in which wood was burned, kul (gas); a big top or head for concentrating and evacuating vapours, and a serpentine or spiral, a coiled tube immersed in water which served as a coolant. The wine warmer, which saved energy, came into use in 1857. If the volume exceeded 30 hectoliters, he no longer had the right to be called Cognac. In the 18th century cognac (Cognac) began to be exported to Holland, England, Northern Europe, later to America and the Far East. The market has become more structured. In the main cities, bodies began to be created to control the conformity of the quality of products.
In the 20th century, the Ugni Blanc grape variety, which today is 90% used for the production of cognac, replaced the traditional grape varieties Colombard and Folle Blanche.
On May 1, 1909, the government approved the territory for growing grapes. Since 1939, Cognac has been a region controlled by name. During the Second World War, a bureau of wine and aux de vie was created to protect the stocks of cognac, which after the end of the war replaced the "National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognac". Now every step of cognac production is controlled and regulated. More than 90% of cognac is exported to more than 150 countries of the world.
It is possible to talk about French cognac only in superlatives - the most refined, the most noble, the highest quality. Moreover, only the result of the distillation of white wine from France can bear the name french cognac. A decree of 1909 clearly defines the territory in which cognac can be produced - this is the vicinity of the city of Cognac in the department of Charente. There are a number of mandatory conditions under which grape brandy can be called cognac. Thus, it is incorrect to call drinks from Armenia and Russia cognac, although it is allowed by the world community.
french cognac can only be produced from certain grape varieties, chief among which is uni blanc. Alcohols must be produced from raw materials from six regions: Grand Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, Bois Ordinaries. These regions are very different in soil types and climatic conditions, so cognacs of different terroirs have individual characteristics. If the grapes were grown only in Grand Champagne and bottled there, the bottle is labeled as Grand Champagne. If at least 50% of the wine material from this region is used, and the rest is from Petit Champagne, you can see the inscription Fine Champagne on the label.
In the vicinity of the city of Cognac, there are many old cognac houses. Jean-Paul Camus, owner of one of the best Houses, said: “Making a great cognac is easy. All you need for this is a great-grandfather, grandfather and father who devoted their whole lives to this". Most cognac houses have existed for several centuries, for example, Hennessy - since 1765. Our catalog contains the best French cognacs, tested by time itself: Courvoisier, Léro, Remy Martin and others. On the page of each manufacturer, you can learn about the history and features of the Houses.
French cognac - price in WineStyle
Real French cognac in WineStyle stores can be bought at a price of 231 rubles. - this is how much a miniature bottle of "Courvoisier" 50 ml costs. A liter of French cognac in WineStyle stores costs from 3677 rubles.
The first association that arises in the minds of the inhabitants of the planet when pronouncing the word "cognac" is a strong alcohol-containing drink. However, it owes its name to a town in France, first mentioned in the distant 1215. The city of Cognac is located in the Charente department in western France. It is known all over the world due to the popularity of the drink of the same name. The history of local winemaking begins in the 3rd century AD, when the Roman emperor Probus planted the first vines so that the Gauls could produce their own wine.
The strong association with cognac, which influenced the city's well-being in the 19th century, is only part of its business reputation. The city boasts not only its production, but also the richest historical heritage.
Old town Cognac
The modern city is replete with evidence of its ancient past, from 4th century dolmens and Gallo-Roman heritage from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, to medieval houses and castles. Medieval buildings are made of white stone, mined in the Poitou-Charentes region, which makes the city attractive and unique. The medieval part of the city consists of narrow cobbled streets lined with beautiful houses built between the 15th and 18th centuries. The picturesque Charente River, cognac warehouses, the old bridge, half-timbered houses that come across among the white stone buildings, medieval gates, the Valois castle create a unique atmosphere.
The city owes its wealth and initial success to King Francis I, who gave a license to trade in salt, and not at all for the drink that later glorified him. The royal symbol of Francis I - the salamander can be seen on several city buildings.
On High Street is the lieutenant's house, built in the early 17th century, with beautiful sculptures on the facade. It is impossible to pass by the church of Saint-Leger, built in the 12th century and rebuilt over several hundred years. This circumstance explains the symbiosis of architectural styles of different periods on its facade, which is made in the Roman style with large windows above the carved entrance. The monastery of Saint-Leger, built in the 17th century, serves today as the city library and attracts the eye with a beautiful arched gallery. Numerous distilleries are open to the public, during which you can taste the famous drink and buy a few bottles to go.
The medieval city of Cognac was protected by a substantial defensive wall with three entrance gates. Two gates were destroyed in the 19th century, but Saint-Jacques still attracts tourists to this day. This entrance was designed to control the movement and served as a defensive structure in case of attack. Now, entering the gate, along the cobbled street of the old town, you can get to the castle. A corner tower and a small fountain open before the eyes.
Market town of Cognac
Thanks to its port on the Charente River, Cognac was able to become the center of a lively salt trade during the medieval years. Starting from the 10th century, ships loaded with goods went up the river. The port served as the basis for the prosperity of the city, the starting point for a prosperous future, the first step towards international fame. For five whole centuries the port will prosper.
The city of Cognac becomes a center for salt storage and distribution. He managed to charm overseas merchants already in the eleventh century with his unique wines.
It was thanks to trade that the wines of this unique region became known all over the world.
Cognac was formed in two stages, stretching for several centuries. The place gained its first breath between the 11th and 13th centuries, but the Hundred Years War became a disastrous episode in his life. The city alternately fell into the hands of the British and French.
Cognac acquired a second wind in the 15-16th centuries. The city developed under the control of the Count of Angouleme. As a result of the union of Charles of Angouleme and Louise of Savoy, Francis of Angouleme is born. The future king of France later became the Count of Angouleme, located 44 kilometers from Cognac, and from 1515 - the monarch. In the second half of the 16th century, the city witnessed violent religious clashes, at the end of which the era of creation began, leaving many architectural monuments to posterity.
An important prerequisite for the development of the city was the trade in cognac. In the 19th century, thanks to the demand for products in European countries, the size of the city increased by 6 times, and the population increased from three to eighteen thousand inhabitants. Despite this boom, Cognac has preserved magnificent old green parks, including the Francis I park and the garden near the city hall.
Cognac: tradition and experience
During the Renaissance, the volume of trade increased significantly. The navigable Charente is conducive to the city's commercial success. The Dutch traded very actively with the region. The natural wines of the region, with a low alcohol content, deteriorated during long sea voyages. In the sixteenth century, the Dutch decided to distill their wine in order to better preserve it during transportation. Subsequently, the Dutch will find it more profitable to distill wine at the place of its production, which significantly reduced the volume of transportation. The first distilleries in the region are opened. The traditional method of double distillation of cognac wine materials, now known as French, was introduced precisely at this time. The resulting distillate was aged in oak barrels. The only condition for the transfer of technology was the use of Dutch copper in the distillation apparatus.
In 1860, a trade agreement was concluded between France and England, which serves as fertile ground for the rapid rise in popularity of the product. However, in 1875, phylloxera insects, deadly for vineyards, affecting the roots of vines, destroy most of the vineyards.
It took a lot of effort to restore the industry and to strengthen the economy of the region.
Cognac is part of the city's national identity. It is based on a long tradition and experience, which are carefully passed down from generation to generation. The successful production of demanded products led to the development of related industries: cooperage, glass, printing. There is also an architectural trace, thanks to the commercial, industrial and warehouse areas built in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Cognac is exported by local factories to more than 150 countries of the world: from Europe to the Far East and America.
Myths and legends, the realities of life and rigorous scientific research accompany the noble French drink throughout its development. The unusual chemical composition and special, incomparable taste and aroma make French alcohol the “drink of the gods”. A centuries-old history, a complex production process and a desire to achieve perfection have led to the emergence of unsurpassed in taste and quality brands that are known and appreciated all over the world.
- Raw and juice. For the manufacture of French cognac, uni blanc, folle blanche, and Charente Colombard grape varieties are used. Their share in the composition should be at least 90%. The remaining 10% are semillon, sauvignon, select, blanc frame, zhuranson blanc. The vines must be planted at a distance of three meters from each other in order to be able to harvest with a special machine. Harvesting of the product begins in mid-October. Then the grapes are sent under a press, which only slightly crushes the berries.
- Fermentation. The juice is sent to special containers for fermentation. The volume of containers can be from 50 to 200 hectoliters. At this stage, the addition of sugar is prohibited, but it is allowed to add antioxidants and sulfur dioxide in strictly regulated proportions. Fermentation is controlled very strictly, since at this stage the quality of the finished product is laid. The result of fermentation is an unfiltered, unclarified dry wine, which contains a large amount of acid and 8-9% alcohol. Before the start of the distillation process, it is stored on its own yeast sludge.
- Distillation. For distillation, copper distillation cubes - alambiks are used. They have practically not changed over their 400-year history, only an alcoholometer has been added. Such cubes must be registered. Copper was chosen for a reason, it is resistant to oxidation and has a high thermal conductivity, which is very useful for preserving the taste of the drink. Before entering the alambicas, the wine is preheated. The distillation takes place in two stages. At the first stage, raw alcohol is obtained. The raw strength is 27-32 °. The second stage is the separation of the first, second and third fractions of the distillate. As a result of this separation, the middle fraction remains, which is cognac spirit. Fortress - 69-72 °. On average, distillation lasts a day and must be carried out within a certain geographical area. Distillation must be completed by March 31st of the year following the harvest year.
- Excerpt. The aging barrels are made of wood, do not contain metal parts, and the use of glue-based joints is also prohibited. The oak from which the best barrel boards are made must be 150 years old or more. When wood is split into boards, the fibers must remain intact. Then they are dried so that the cognac spirit does not become bitter as a result. Drying can last from 2.5 to 5 years. Cognac alcohol is poured into the formed barrel for aging. Substances from wood actively pass into alcohol and form its color and aroma. Barrels are used repeatedly. During storage, every year 0.5 percent of alcohol is eroded from the barrel - “the share of angels”.
- Mixing. Mixing cognac spirits of different aging is actively used to obtain the final product. In this case, the aging of French cognac is determined by the minimum aging period for the spirits that make up the composition.
Did you know? The most expensive French cognac in the world is Henri IV Dudognon. The basis of the drink is the best cognac spirits aged for a hundred years. The price per bottle is $2,000,000.
Rating of the best French cognacs
In France, there are more than two hundred companies that produce alcohol, and some of them produce elite cognacs, famous all over the world.
Hennessy
The turnover per year is 50 million bottles, which is more than 40% of the total sale of cognacs worldwide. The French brand was founded in 1765 by Irish captain Richard Hennessy. The Prince of Wales, the future King of Great Britain, in 1817 made an order for French cognac very superior old pale. The resulting abbreviation v.s.o.p. still used in the classification of cognacs.
Great-grandson Morris Hennessy in 1865 proposed to classify the drink using stars. This classification is used in many countries today, only slightly modified. Some countries replace the stars with letters.
In the 19th and part of the 20th century, Hennessy produced French cognac with three, four and 5 stars. Now Hennessy is part of Louis Vuitton-Moet Hennessy, which is considered to be a recognized manufacturer of products for those who love luxury.
Remy Martin
The story began at the end of the 17th century with a small family distillery. Now this brand belongs to the second place in terms of sales of alcohol. Every year, more than 24 million bottles of the drink are sold and exported to 165 countries around the world.
Their reputation is so impeccable that they can afford not to state the exact age of the youngest spirits that make up alcohol.
Martell
The founder of the brand is Jean Martel, a native of Jersey. In 1726, he married the daughter of a major cognac merchant and began first selling and then producing alcohol.,
The 19th-20th century was a time of absolute market leadership, but by the mid-1990s it had given way to Hennessy and Remy Martin. Despite such concessions, every year 22 million copies of eminent alcohol are sold, which are exported to 150 countries of the world.
Courvoisier
Closes the "big cognac four". became popular thanks to the love of Napoleon Bonaparte.
A feature of the production of alcohol is that Emmanuel Courvoisier and his descendants do not distill the base wine. This approach allows you to maintain an unusual soft taste and at the same time a high level of quality of the drink. Export is about 15 million bottles every year.
Marnier
The Grand Marnier company was formed after the marriage - the granddaughter of the producers of fruit liqueurs Lapostol and the son of winemakers Marnier. Among the wreckage of the Titanic, a bottle of Grand Marnier was found, which is on display at the museum.
This brand is the "favorite" of the British royal family, and in 2006 a series of bottles in purple tones was released specifically for the 80th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II.
The company is the fifth largest in its region. To this day, the traditions laid down by the ancestors are preserved in production. "Grand Marnier" is exported to 150 countries of the world.
Baron Otard
Also known as the Chateau de Cognac, it was founded in France in 1795 by Jean Baptiste-Antoine Otard. The company has been under the leadership of the Otard family since its inception and is the most respected brand with a 200-year history.
The whole secret of product quality lies in the cellars of the brand. The cellars of the Chateau de Cognac have walls 3 meters thick and an extremely high level of humidity due to the proximity of the Charente River. Such an environment plays a decisive role in the maturation of the various cognacs offered by the company.
Hardy
In 1863, Anthony Hardy, a gentleman from London, settled in the town of Cognac and established himself as a producer of high quality wine. Five generations later, Hardy Cognac has become known for its unique characteristic taste and mastery of aging, the tradition of which is passed down from generation to generation.
Hardy is the sales leader in the French domestic market. The annual volume of French alcohol sold is about 2 million bottles.
Gautier
It is one of the oldest brands in the region. In 1644, Charles Gauthier married Jacquette Brochet, the daughter of winemakers. Since 1700, Louis Gauthier, their grandson, was engaged in the development of the cognac trade. He helped expand the market and contributed to a significant expansion of the brand.
In 1755, Gauthier received official permission to produce cognac from King Louis XV. The products are unique largely due to the aging of spirits in cellars on a humid river island. About a million bottles of Gauthier are sold every year in 70 countries around the world.
Delamain
Delamain is located in Yarnac, France. The brand was founded in 1759 by James Delamen and Jean-Isaac Ranson, who was the owner of an export company whose history dates back to the early days of cognac. After his death in May 1800, the company disbanded.
And only in 1924, his grandson Anne-Philippe Delamen and cousins from the Roulette family restored the name of Roulette and Delamen as a cognac producer. "Delamen" offers only cognacs of France of the XO category with an exposure of 25 years. About 600 thousand copies of products are sold annually.
Augier
The Ogier brand was founded in 1643 by Philippe Ogier de Châteauneuf. The products were of high quality and were accepted with dignity by the public. XVIII-XIX century was the dawn of the popularity of the drink in the region. Nowadays, the share of brand sales is not very large, but thanks to the highest quality, which is achieved by strict adherence to production technologies, he finds his fans around the world.
Camus
In the old days, it was the preferred drink of royal and royal courts. To date, it can only be purchased in special alcohol boutiques.
Alcohol is the elite among the elite. The brand is relatively young and was founded in 1863 by Jean-Baptiste Camus. Alcohol is sold in many countries, international airports, on board the aircraft of many airlines. It has offices in eight countries on three continents.
Bisquit
It was founded in 1819 by Alexander Biscuit and is now one of the most famous manufacturers. The hallmark of alcohol is a harmonious combination of aging traditions and modern production technology. Alcohol is exported in large volumes to the United States and many European countries.
Frapin
is a cognac manufacturer located in the city of Segonzac, in the heart of the Grande Champagne region, in France. The Frapin family settled in the southwest of France in 1270 and was engaged in winemaking. Then they began to distill their products, turning them into a noble drink, and have continued this tradition for 20 generations.
The headquarters is located in Fontpino Castle, in Segonzac. Today, Frapin covers 300 hectares of Grande Champagne, which is officially included in the list of Premier Grand Cru du Cognac. Ugni Blanc occupies 200 hectares.
The history of French cognac and its name
Alcohol was named after the French city of Cognac, located on the Charente River. The Roman emperor Probus in the 3rd century granted the Gauls, who lived in France, the privileges of growing grapes and producing wine. Later, in the XII century, Guillaume X creates large vineyards in the Poitou-Charentes region.
Dutch ships that transported salt from France to other countries constantly took with them barrels of wine from the vineyards of Champagne and Borderies. Due to overproduction and as a result of the deterioration of the quality of wine, long-term transportation became impossible. To remove the obstacle, the Dutch began to use new stills and try to distill wines in brandwijn.
All this was a prerequisite for the start of cognac production, but the main role in the emergence of production technology was played by Jacques de la Croix Maron. An unusual legend is associated with his name. Jacques de la Croix Maron was a valiant and faithful knight who, in between wars, was engaged in winemaking.
Returning from another military campaign, he found his wife and her lover and in a fit of anger killed them both. After that, he had nightmares every night. Taking advantage of the weakness of Jacques, the devil decides to take possession of the soul and appears in a dream, threatening to boil his body twice in boiling water and thus get the soul.
Jacques took the dream as a sign and distilled the wine twice. Then he cut off the upper and lower fractions of alcohol and as a result received the "soul" of wine. He poured the "soul" into a barrel and brought it as a gift to the monks. The monks hid the barrel and safely forgot about it for many years.
When it was found and uncorked, the alcohol had already turned into a noble drink. And so the first cognac appeared.
Since the 18th century, many intermediary trade enterprises have appeared that were engaged in the purchase of distillate and distribution in Central and Northern Europe, America and the Far East.
In the middle of the 19th century, trading houses opened in the city of Cognac and some other cities, which sent their products not in barrels, but in bottles. This contributed to the development of other industries, such as the production of glass, boxes, corks and printed matter.
At that time, the vineyards in the Charente region already covered 280,000 hectares.
Gradually weakened varieties were replaced by a more resistant trebbiano, known in France as Ugni Blanc. And it is uni blanc that today provides most of the production of French alcohol.
In 1936, the name "cognac" was legally approved and protected at the world level as a controlled name of origin.
French cognac is not just an alcoholic drink, it is a lifestyle in which halftones are not allowed, only high quality and unsurpassed taste. Be sure to tell in the comments about your acquaintance and your favorite brand of French alcohol.
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