Names of famous cognacs. Old town Cognac

The city of Cognac (1 hour 45 minutes drive from Bordeaux) is picturesquely located on the Charente River. Here are the most famous cognac houses. The city is widely known all over the world, thanks to the glory of the noble cognac. Almost all the buildings in the town of Cognac are built from local yellowish-white limestone. But on those where precious cognac is produced, black spots flaunt. These are traces of the "share of angels", alcohol vapors ascending to heaven.

Program "Cognac"

In the 13th century, Dutch ships sailed for coastal salt in the Charente and returned with wine, which was then taken away for sale in Northern Europe. The wines of the Poitou region at that time were highly valued in the Scandinavian countries, which contributed to the rapid development of trade in the Charente. By the 16th century, wine production increased, but the wine was poorly preserved, as long-term transportation by sea adversely affected its quality. Upon returning to their homeland, Dutch merchants begin to turn wine into "burnt wine", which gives rise to distillation.

In the XVII century Charente winemakers "discover" double distillation. Cognac spirit is transported to oak barrels. Over time, winemakers notice that oak favorably affects its quality. This is how cognac is born. At that time, all trade was concentrated around the counters, the owners of which bought cognac spirits from the population and resold them further in bulk. In the middle of the 19th century, trading houses began to develop, and cognac began to be sold in bottles. In 1858, Henry Munier creates his own company.

In 1875, the phylloxera aphid destroys most of the Charente vineyards. It will take several decades for the region to recover its economy. Nevertheless, in the 20th century, the productivity of vineyards improved significantly due to their reconstruction and planting of Ugni Blanc seedlings, which are more resistant to diseases. Since then, the popularity of cognac has not ceased to grow.

The city of Cognac in France (1 hour 45 minutes drive from Bordeaux) is picturesquely located on the Charente River. Here are the most famous cognac houses. The city is widely known all over the world, thanks to the glory of the noble cognac. Almost all the buildings in the town of Cognac are built from local yellowish-white limestone. But on those where precious cognac is produced, black spots flaunt. These are traces of the "share of angels", alcohol vapors ascending to heaven.

We advise you to first take a stroll through the old town, see the port of Saint Jacques (XV century), Saint-Leger Cathedral, a 12th-century priory with a Romanesque facade and flamboyant Gothic ornamentation. The Franciscan monastery (Recollets) with wells, a bell tower and a monumental staircase has been superbly preserved. You should definitely visit the houses of the main cognac firms and the Cognac Museum on Denfert-Rochereau Boulevard, walk along the main street with the facades of Renaissance houses.

Most cognac houses organize visits and various tastings, advance booking is required.

Cognac OTARD (OTARD). Château de Cognac 16100 COGNAC

In the center of Cognac stands the ancient castle of Valois, where King Francis 1 was born. The castle was destroyed in the 12th century and then rebuilt in the 15th century. During the visit of the castle you will be told about the history of the region, you will see the "Helmet Hall", where the wedding of the son of Richard "Lionheart" Philip with Amelie de Cognac took place, banqueting hall built according to the plans of Leonardo da Vinci. In the cellars of the castle you will be told about the process of production and aging of OTAR cognac. Then, at your choice, you will be offered a tasting of cognac either in its pure form or in a cocktail.

The duration of the visit is about 1 hour.

Cost of visit and tasting: 6 € / person.

The castle is open: from November 1 to December 31 - daily from Monday to Friday, except holidays.

Visits at 11:00, 14:30, 15:45, 17:00, and on Fridays at 11:00, 14:30, 15:45 and 17:00. From January 1 to March 31 - visits by prior confirmation only.

Cognac HENNESSY Quai Hennessy 16101 COGNAC

The Hennessy trading house is located 2 km from the center of Cognac on the Charente embankment and invites its visitors to a delightful 19th century castle. The Hennessy House has existed since 1765, when Richard Hennessy, an Irish liquor merchant, established his firm in Cognac. 8 generations develop and maintain the quality and prestige of the brand. The cellars are located on the other side of the Charente River, where you will go on a pleasure boat.

You have the opportunity to choose one of several options for visiting and tasting (advance booking is required):

General visit + Hennessy VS tasting - 1 hour 15 minutes - price 6 €/person.

General visit + tasting of Hennessy Fine de Cognac - 1 hour 15 minutes - price 9 € / person.

Individual (max. 10 people) visit + tasting of Hennessy XO and Hennessy Paradis - 2 hours - price 30 €/person.

Excursion in the footsteps of the creator + tasting of 3 varieties of cognac Hennessy XO, Hennessy Paradis and Richard Hennessy - duration 2 hours - price 40 € / person.

Hennessy "a la carte" - personal visit + tasting of Private Reserve, Paradis and Richard Hennessy) from 14-00 to 17-15, the cost is 50 € per person.

The Hennessy House is open from March to December daily from 10 am to 5 pm. January and February by reservation only. The Hennessy House is closed January 1st, May 1st and December 25th.

Cognac "Hennessy"

Cognac REMY MARTIN 20, Rue de la Société Vignicole 16100 COGNAC

Remy Martin created his trading house in 1724. Today it is a world-famous brandy production. The House of Remy Martin organizes an exclusive 2-hour guided tour. The tour runs (from May to September) on a small train that will take you through the vineyards and through the interior. They will tell you about the history of this cognac house, show the production and offer a tasting of two VSOP, XO cognacs, accompanied by cold appetizers. The vineyards and farm are open to the public from May to September.

From October to April, visits are by prior confirmation at 10:00 and 15:00 and guests will be shown the interior of the Rémy Martin House followed by a tasting.
The cost of a guided tour with tasting is 20 €/person.

It is possible to organize exclusive visits with thematic tastings of LE CLUB FINE CHAMPAGNE COGNAC (duration from 2 to 3 hours). The cost is from 70 to 115 € per person. It is also possible to organize an exclusive "Remy Martin Day" program with an individual tour, tastings, a gastronomic lunch and a visit to a cognac house and farm - the cost is 240 € per person.

Cognac CAMUS 29, rue Marguerite-de-Navarre 16100 COGNAC

Maison Camus is a family business that has been in existence for five generations. Cognac Camus is the supplier of the most prestigious restaurants in the world. Once this cognac was served to royal table, and one of the sons of the creator of the house was invited by the king to hunt. Camus House offers an interesting visit, during which you will get acquainted with the world of cognac, its production, composition of flavors, bottling techniques.

The cost of the simplest tasting visit is 6 €.

It is possible to order more intense programs of visits - such as, for example, an excursion in which you can create your own XO cognac. At the end, you will receive a bottle of cognac created by you as a gift. This tour is followed by dinner with the owner of the castle, Jean-Paul Camus. The total cost of the program (with the creation of cognac and dinner) 210 € per person + booking costs. Camus House is open from June to September daily from Monday to Saturday.

Visits at 11:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00. From October to May visits are by appointment only.

Cognac "Camus"

Cognac MARTELL Place Edouard Martell16100 COGNAC

In 1715, Jean Martel, at the age of 20, created a cognac house, which today is known throughout the world and is the oldest in Europe. Decisive and energetic in all his undertakings, in his letter dated 1721, he wrote: "I can say without empty praise that my enterprise is one of the most successful in these parts ...". After the death of Jean Martel in 1753, having inherited his relentless pursuit of excellence, the sons Jean and Frederic continued his work, preserving and enhancing the traditions of the House of Martel. Here you can also book a production visit and tasting. Price from 6 € per person.
House Martel is open from April to October daily from 10 am to 5 pm. Friday and Saturday from 12:00 to 17:00.

Cognac COURVOISIER place du Château 16200 JARNAC

At the beginning of the 19th century, Emmanuel Courvoisier and Louis Gallois created a trading house for wines and spirits. Their personal connections gave them the opportunity to become one of the suppliers of the imperial court. In 1835, Courvoisier consolidated all his activities around Cognac. When Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena, barrels of Courvoisier cognac followed with him. During the visit you will see rooms with an interesting collection of things that belonged to Napoleon.

The House of Courvosier is open for visits from May to September, daily from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00. The rest of the time - only by prior confirmation.

The cost of the visit is 6 €.

Excursions in Cognac are conducted by Russian-speaking guides from Bordeaux, so when starting an excursion in the city of Cognac, the cost of the guide includes his travel and the travel time that he will need to get from Bordeaux to Cognac and back (the journey there and back takes 4 hours).

The duration of the tour with departure from Bordeaux is 10 hours.

Duration of the tour with departure from Cognac - 6 hours.

The cost of services of a Russian-speaking guide - 510 € /

The cost of booking visits-tastings - 50 € / visit. The cost of the tasting is paid on the spot.

Some cognac houses ask you to make an advance payment, depending on the chosen form of tasting, our manager will inform you about this. In this case, 5-7% will need to be added to the cost of the tasting.

gastronomic restaurant "La Ribaudière" (8 km from Cognac) 16200 Bourg Charente

restaurant "Pigeons Blancs" 110, rue Jules Brisson 16100 Cognac
(Closed Sunday evening and Monday afternoon)

gastronomic restaurant Domaine de l "Echassier 72, rue de Bellevue - 16100 Chateaubernard
(Closed for lunch and Sunday)

Gastronomic restaurant Domaine du Breuil 104, rue Robert Daugas - 16100 Cognac

Gastronomic restaurant Château de l'Yeuse 65, rue de Bellevue - 16100 Chateaubernard
(Closed for lunch on Saturday and Sunday evening)

Room rates: 230-525 euros.

Chateau de Mirambeau Hotel

An elegant Renaissance castle - Chateau de Mirambeau is located in the wine region between Bordeaux and Cognac, between dream and reality… The unique magical atmosphere, caring service and wonderful gastronomic cuisine attract the most demanding guests from all over the world.

It was built on the ruins of an old medieval fortress founded in the 11th century by Art de Mirambel. At that time the castle was known by the name of Mirambellum. The castle became the way we see it now in 1820. The complete renovation of the castle was in September 2002, after which the Chateau de Mirambeau became one of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux hotels.

This is an attractive place not only for corporate meetings, but also for romantic honeymoon!

In a hotel:

In each room:

Air conditioning, Satellite TV, Telephone, Internet access, WI-FI.

Services:

A 30-minute drive from the castle, near the town of Cognac, there is an 18-hole golf course.

Wellness center with jacuzzi, hammam, outdoor and indoor swimming pool, tennis court, 4 conference rooms with a capacity of 40 people. Park 8 hectares.

Gastronomic restaurant. Breakfast on the terrace in summer. Car services, laundry and dry cleaning services, babysitting services.

What are the best French cognacs. Why the Cognac region has the exclusive right to produce cognac in the EU.

The French city of Cognac has been incredibly lucky since the country entered the European Union: only a drink produced on its territory can be officially called "Cognac" (or Cognac French). All other producers of the 40-degree drink urgently renamed their offspring if they were lucky to enter the EU sooner or later. By the way, the same story happened with champagne from the Champagne region, but about sparkling wines we'll tell you another time.

The boundaries of the wine-growing (non-administrative) region were legally fixed in January 1909 and have not changed since then. So, what territories are included in the mysterious region of Cognac, which is not on the map?

Cognac is located near the city of Bordeaux, on the banks of the Charente River, around the famous port of La Rochelle. It includes the Department of Charente-Maritime ( Charante Maritime), a significant part of the Charente ( Charante), Dordogne ( Dordogne) and a small part of De Sèvres ( Deux-Sevres). Here, on this modest square by all standards, the French manage to produce the most expensive cognacs in the world.

Gastronomic tours in Paris

One of the most booked gastronomic excursions on Tripster- (2-hour tour of Parisian bakeries, cheese shops and wine boutiques). Those with a sweet tooth will like it (famous French desserts and gastronomic legends of the Marais in 3 hours).

Top 10 brands of French cognac

There are many trading houses in Cognac, but we have selected the 10 most famous ones. Each of the presented brands produces products that can be attributed to luxury goods. Some of them are of interest for collecting.

1. Camus cognac house

Exhibition at the cognac house Camus

Camus is one of the legendary cognac houses. It was founded by Jean-Baptiste Camus only in 1863, far from the first in France - believe me, there are even older trademarks in this country. However, until now, part of the secrets of distilling wine into spirits from Jean Baptiste, who acquired the first vineyards in the area of ​​Cognac and Borderies, is kept secret and passed on to subsequent generations of the Camus family.

2. Cognac house "Martell" (Martell)

The cognac house "Martel" was founded by an Englishman who replaced the island of Jersey in Foggy Albion with an estate in the city of Cognac. He did not immediately engage in the production of alcohol, he tried to sell woolen products, grain and much more. But in 1715 he invested all the money he got as a dowry from Madame Martel in cognac business. And later a short time achieved incredible success: the French cognacs of his production began to be sold for export abroad.

Before the French Revolution, Martel was a leader in the production of cognacs. Since then, eight generations of owners have changed, and the trading house is still alive and well. True, in 1988 he had to become part of the Sigram alcohol concern.

3. Cognac house "Courvoisier" (Courvoisier)

Famous cognacs from Courvoisier (Courvoisier)

Trading house "Courvoisier" appeared on the map of France in 1835. This is one of the "basic" brands of French cognac. Its creator was the Parisian winemaker Emile Courvoisier, who successfully owned a castle in the village of Jarnac, near the city of Cognac. After years of work, by 1860, Courvoisier managed to become a cognac supplier to the imperial court. At the beginning of the 20th century, the British Guy and George Simon bought the trademark.

It was they who came up with the idea to call French cognac more high quality than V.S.O.P. with the word "Napoleon". Since then, bottles of the French Courvosier have been emblazoned with this marking and the silhouette of Napoleon Bonaparte.

4. Remy Martin cognac house

The emblem of the cognac house Remy Martin

The legendary brand of cognac was founded in 1721 in the vicinity of Cognac by winemaker Remy Martin. A little later, the businessman had a partner, Jean Jay. Together they created one of the most fragrant French cognacs. In the 20s of the 20th century, the owner of the trading house changed, Andre Renault became it. "Remy Martin" began to produce luxury brands cognac and achieved the highest reputation.

Food, spices, wine
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5. Hennessy Cognac House

The cellars of the Hennessy cognac house

The house of "Hennessy" got the fate of the unchanging leader cognac production. Its founder in 1765 was an Irish immigrant and at the same time an officer French army Richard Hennessy. French Hennessy cognacs instantly conquered the whole world, already in 1784 they were admired by Louis XVI, and a little later their fame reached and Nicholas I became a fan of Hennessy.

Cognac House "Hennessy" was an innovator in many ways. So, in 1817, at the request of the future King of England, George IV, they released Hennessy V.S.O.P. cognac. In 1865, they were the first to come up with the idea of ​​bottling the drink, and not delivering it in barrels, as before, - so they found a way to protect themselves from fakes. In the same year, Maurice Hennessy, a descendant of Richard, who became the head of the House, proposed marking cognac with asterisks to indicate the age of the spirits in the blend. So, as you probably guessed, the first French cognac "three stars" appeared. And five years later, Maurice Hennessy released products of the X.O category.

In the early 70s of the XX century, the House merged with the largest manufacturer Moet & Chandon, and in 1987 the combined company became part of the Louis Vuitton Moet-Hennessy holding, which specializes in the creation of luxury goods. However, the House of Hennessy is still run by his descendants, and it retains the original structure not only on paper.

Under the auspices of Louis Vuitton, the Henessy trading house has achieved unprecedented heights: in 2018, it became the No. 1 cognac brand in the world.

6. Cognac house "Shabass" (Chabasse)

Vintage cognac Chabasse

The trading house "Shabass" is not as world famous as "Hennessy", but it produces worthy cognacs. What is important: the prices for their products are much lower. Cognac production was founded by Jean-Baptiste Chabasse from the town of Saint-Jean-d'Angely in 1818. From a young age, he was fond of creating cognacs and managed to realize his talent to the fullest.

7. Cognac House Croizet

8. Cognac house "Hardy" (Hardy)

Trading house Hardy (Hardy)

Once upon a time, Scottish alcohol importer Anthony Hardy despaired of controlling the supply and quality of drinks from a distance and found nothing better than to personally settle in the Cognac region. In 1863, it occurred to him that it was much more profitable to produce alcohol than to sell French cognac abroad. This is how the cognac house "Hardi" was founded, producing elite products.

9. Cognac house "Otar" (Otard)

Another businessman of Scottish origin, Jean Baptiste Antoine Otar, acquired a castle in the city of Cognac, which at that time belonged to the royal dynasty. There, together with his partner Jean Denyu, he founded the Cognac House "Otar" in 1796. They say that in the cellars of the castle they managed to create reference conditions for cognac aging. In 1968, the idea arose to bottle Otar products in drop-shaped bottles. Today the company is part of the Martini&Rossi holding.

10. Cognac house "Frapin" (Frapin)

Frapin Cognac House is one of the oldest firms in France. Since the 18th century, the Frapin family owned a vast estate in the area, which was later called Grande Champagne (the name of the area is on the bottles next to the Frapin marking). The House owned 350 (!) hectares of vineyards, and the soils on which they were planted were considered the most fertile in the Charente. As many as 10 generations of the family have been producing cognac, but he has not managed to outshine such brands as Camus, Hennessy and Remy Martin.

Retro cocktail from french house Remy Martin:

Brief guide
- description and photo
- prices / routes

The French city of Cognac is the heart of cognac production. But, in addition, the city can be safely called a model of medieval architecture, because only here you can find buildings, towers and structures dating back to the distant 15th century.

One of these ancient sights is the main city gate, which was built in 1499. The most interesting thing is that, despite such an "honorable age", appearance The gate is very well preserved. They survived the devastating World War II with steadfastness, almost unscathed.

The stone gates are two towers connected by a travel arch. Each of the towers has a window, which is covered with bars.

Making a tourist excursion to Cognac, this attraction cannot be missed, because, as before, the gate is the main entrance to the city.

Cognac House Martel

Hearing the name of the city of Cognac, which is located in France, you involuntarily recall the alcoholic drink of the same name. And rightly so, because only here are concentrated the most famous cognac houses in the world. One of them is the Martell Cognac House, which is considered one of the oldest in Europe. it was founded in 1714 by Jean Martel.

The power of the house is so great that it allows you to have your own cooper production and a school of coopers. At the same time, each brandy barrel is made by hand and has the personal seal of the master.

Excursion to the cognac house is very exciting. Behind the fenced area, a stone fence is an old beautiful building with large columns. In front of the house you will be "greeted" by a restored rare car with a high blue side. There are oak barrels in the back, obviously, it used to be used to transport barrels for customers.

Inside the building, the atmosphere of that time is completely preserved: study rooms, books, bottles, handwritten notes. No less interesting is the room with an exhibition of soil, where the vine grows. But the most interesting part of the tour is cognac cellars: storages where cognacs are aged in oak barrels, which are 5, 10, 15 years old and even there are those whose age is more than half a century.

And what sights of Cognac did you like? There are icons next to the photo, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Hennessy Cognac House

The Hennessy Cognac House is one of the oldest cognac houses. It was founded in 1765 by Irish immigrant Richard Hennessy. Today this brand of cognac is known and appreciated all over the world.

Tours to the cognac house are open for tourists. Here they tell about the history of the House, which creates cognac over the centuries, explain how ordinary alcohol, in oak barrels, turns into such gourmet drink. It is interesting to hear about where the 3% of cognac goes - the “share of angels” that evaporate through the pores of the barrel.

In addition, the entire blending process is presented here. different varieties cognac spirit, having a different exposure time. Visiting wine halls and cognac cellars, you will be given a tasting.

In order to get to the Hennessy cognac house, you need to make an exciting crossing over the Charente River on a small branded boat. Directly on the shore are the old vaults of the cognac house.

In addition to the resulting aesthetic pleasure, here you can buy all types of skates at a reasonable price.

The center of the famous city of Cognac adorns the ancient castle of Valois. The great French king Francis I was born here. During the XII century, the castle was destroyed, and reconstructed only in the XV century.

The complex consists of the Church of Saint Léger and monastic buildings built in 1031. The castle is made of stone and has an imposing front door with docks. The facade of the building is crowned with a large window, better known as the "King's Balcony", which is decorated with carved medallions (in particular, the profile of Francis I). The castle and all its buildings belong to the Middle Ages. The peculiarity of the castle is the thickness of its walls (about 3 meters) and the location of some rooms below the water level, which were previously used as prison cells.

Tower Saint-Jean, has two rooms and numerous windows. A rare system of medieval ovens has been preserved here. Inside the castle, an amazing “Helmet Hall” opens up and a banquet hall built according to the plans of Leonardo da Vinci.

The "Governor's House" is a tower with a spiral staircase and a beautiful Gothic door. Today, the world-famous Otard Cognac House is located in the ancient castle of Valois.

Cognac House Otard

The center of the city of Cognac is adorned by the ancient castle of Valois, where King Francis I was born. It is here, since 1796, that the Otard Cognac House has been located. Throughout its existence, the owners and production technologies have repeatedly changed in the house, but on the terms of cognac aging - a strict taboo.

The location of the castle and its design features are great for creating cognac. Cognac spirits are kept in the cellars of the ancient castle, because the thickness of its walls, about 3 meters, and the location of some rooms below the water level, just contribute to this.

For tourists, an extensive excursion is conducted, including an acquaintance with the history of the house, creating its own brand, visiting wine cellars and getting acquainted with the blending process. At the end of the tour, a tasting is held, which is designed to acquaint visitors with different types of Otard brandy. In addition, here you can buy all kinds of manufactured products at a very nice price.

The most popular attractions in Cognac with descriptions and photos for every taste. Choose the best places to visit the famous places of Cognac on our website.

Nothing better than France has yet been invented.
Charles de Gaulle

Incredibly beautiful and eternally young France has always attracted and continues to attract the attention of a huge number of people. This country has its own irresistible charm, and its cosmopolitanism, amazing culture of different eras and daring modernity cannot go unnoticed. The Champs Elysees, the Eiffel Tower, Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral... Of course, this is only the beginning of a long list of French attractions.

Every educated person knows about the main attractions and unique places of this country, but there is a very small corner in France that is so rich in individual cultural characteristics that it alone can outshine any other country in the world. It's about about a small town whose name speaks for itself - this is the incomparable city of Cognac France.

Today we are used to believing that “cognac” is a common noun. For some, cognac is just a drink, for some it is a lifestyle, and for some, perhaps, its purpose (for example, for winemakers). But in fact, this word refers to a small French town on the banks of the river, widely known for its excellent alcoholic drinks. So, it turns out, “Cognac” is also a proper name. This proud name, no doubt, is known to every reader, because this is the name of one of the most elite alcoholic drinks in the world. Yes, it is this place that is the birthplace of the magnificent French cognac, which today adorns the tables of the whole world. This is the great cognac-producing city of France.

One glance at the map is enough to understand that Cognac is a very small city. It can be walked up and down in just a couple of hours. And the population here is sparse: only about 20 thousand people live in Cognac. But the whole world speaks of this small French place with awe, reverence and respect, and this is not surprising! In addition to the fact that everyone's favorite cognac drink is produced in this city, here you can see a huge number of beautiful places, architectural monuments, natural landscapes, which all tourists and guests of the city look with admiration.

So, having seen Paris, which is, unfaithfully, the most trampled place on earth, you can’t die in any way, because there is also Cognac, which is really worth a visit! This is what we will do today - we will look, albeit virtually, at the most significant places in the city, at its breathtaking sights. I suggest you, dear readers, pour some French cognac into a glass, which is probably hidden in your bar, and delve into the culture and features of a small, but such a beautiful and incredibly significant city in France.

City location

If you came to France with the intention of visiting the homeland of your favorite alcoholic drink, then you won’t be able to see Cognac, as they say, in transit. It is necessary to get to this city intentionally, since it is located somewhat to the side, like a separate piece of paradise. From Paris - a favorite of all foreign tourists - to Cognac is somewhere around 450 kilometers.

The city of Cognac France is located in the department of Charente, 44 kilometers from the French city of Angouleme, 15 kilometers from Jarnac and 29 kilometers from Saintes. Cognac has stood proudly on the Charente River for thousands of years, with most of the city located on the left bank of this river. Once upon a time, the Charente River was used for commercial navigation, but with the advent of the 20th century and the advent of faster modes of transport, the Charente has become a beautiful natural monument.

Today, the Charente is popular among visitors to the city, it is used for river tourism. The fairway of the river was completely restored up to the city of Angouleme. By the way, it was thanks to this magnificent river that the economy and industry of the French town called Cognac developed rapidly. Perhaps if Cognac had not stood on the Charente, we would never have tasted one of the most amazing French spirits.

Looking at the city from a bird's eye view, you will see a huge number of beautiful manicured vineyards surrounding it. And then you finally understand the seriousness of the situation, you realize how important this tiny town is in the economy of the whole country. Only one thing is surprising - how such a tiny place could turn into the strongest producer of liquor that the whole world drinks, but at the same time maintain its quiet, provincial little world! In Russia, in such a case, they usually say: “The spool is small, but expensive!”

The centuries-old history of Cognac

As I said, the long history of the city of Cognac began precisely from the moment when a port for the salt trade was built on the Charente River. The first mention of this trading settlement dates back to 1215. Gradually, houses, castles and other buildings appeared on the river until people settled in this most beautiful piece of land. Throughout the medieval period, the port on the Charente river was involved in the transportation of the main goods: salt and French wine.

In the XII century, Cognac became part of the county of Angouleme, and then a significant center french art and literature. A little later, one of the most important events in history took place in Cognac, which all locals are proud of today - on September 12, 1494, the future King of France Francis I was born in the Valois castle, who raised the country to its feet, made his hometown an important economic center and gave him the honorable right to trade salt up the river, which later led to the flourishing of urban industry and the transformation of the city into a center for the production of cognac. Francis I managed to break the "dark forces" of the Middle Ages, bringing to France the splendor and splendor of the Renaissance.

I will not go into details of the history of the origin of such a drink as cognac, but only note that over time, wine producers have understood the main problem of product spoilage during transportation. Then they decided to subject the wine to distillation, so that the drink would reach its destination safe and sound. This is how everyone's favorite French cognac appeared. But there is another alternative story of the appearance of the drink: they say double distillation wine was dreamed by a certain Chevalier de la Croix in a dream. But this, of course, is more like a fairy tale. However, who knows! After all, strange things are also said about Mendeleev and his periodic system! In general, the French are great inventors and dreamers, don’t feed them with bread - but let me compose some kind of legend or story. Sociologists say that the love of fantasies and inventions is one of the most striking features of the French national character.

However, about history. In 1651, during the noble movement of the Fronde, the city of Cognac withstood the strongest defense, thanks to which it fell on home page French history books. King Louis XIV generously thanked the city of Cognac France, granting him a number of important privileges. As a result, the production of cognac and its sale were established, and the city firmly established its position.

After the revolution, the production of cognac was briefly suspended, and it resumed in the 19th century. Gradually, the volume of sales of the drink and the number of residents of the city grew, so, of course, the “face” of the city also changed. Numerous factories, distilleries and other buildings associated with the creation of alcoholic beverages appeared literally from nowhere. And all this happened despite the terrible phylloxera epidemic that destroyed most of the vineyards in the 1860s of the XIX century. This terrible misfortune did not break the will and spirit of the society of French winemakers. They shook their heads, complained about life, and then loudly said "Se la vie!" and rushed to put their farms in order. Entrepreneurs have made every effort and time to restore the vineyards. And they've restored it!

In 1888, another important event for the city took place: on November 9, in Cognac, a boy, Jean Monnet, was born in one of the merchant families. Then no one could have imagined that this person would subsequently make a huge contribution to the development of France, and indeed of all of Europe. French businessman and statesman Jean Monnet is today considered the founding father of the European Union, sometimes called the "Father of Europe". However, the great Jean Monnet is not the only world-class “star” whose birthplace is the small town of Cognac. In 1974, Louis Delage, the most famous mechanic, was born here, and it was in Cognac that the glass blowing machine was created by engineer Claude Boucher. In addition, in 1875, the chemist and explorer Paul Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran, a native of Cognac, discovered in his hometown gallium, a new chemical element, designated number 31 in Mendeleev's periodic table.

At the beginning of the 20th century, when one of the most terrible wars, the First World War, ended, the city of Cognac, like many cities in the world, experienced a severe economic crisis, and the population of the city decreased markedly. However, the resilient French continued to produce and drink their excellent cognac, as well as supply it to other countries. Trains gave way to barges, on which the drink was transported. So, around 1924, the "wheel of commerce" was set in motion. And in 1930, the city of Cognac France became the base of the country's air force.

Today, this stunning city is known throughout the world not only as a cognac-producing city in France, but also as a beautiful historical site. We are accustomed to associate this town with an amazing alcoholic drink, and for the French it was and remains a place where the national spirit and culture are incredibly developed. Therefore, as they say, Cognac does not live by cognac alone (I apologize for the tautology). This city has always been ready to change, depending on the events taking place in the country or even abroad. Cognac is a small city that plays a big role in the development of France.

Walk in Cognac

Cognac every year attracts a huge flow of tourists, including both famous cognac tasters of the world, and simple lovers and enthusiasts. There is something to see here! Getting to the city, first of all, it is worth seeing neat, exemplary rows of vineyards, from the harvest from which cognac legends are created. Time in this place flows very slowly, and it is measured, let's say, by the “cognac cycle”. There are no seasons here, here spring and summer are the spraying and cutting of grapes, autumn is the distillation of alcohol, winter is the bottling of spirits in barrels. And so from year to year!

For those who love hiking, Cognac is just a godsend, as getting around it on foot is just "spit"! I advise you to start your walk from the main square, which, of course, is named after Francis of Angouleme (aka King Francis I of France). I think you will not be surprised to see here a monument to the great king and a native of Cognac on horseback, as well as a luxurious hotel, the best in the city, also named after the monarch. In general, Francis I is simply deified in Cognac, for the inhabitants of the city he is the main pride, but, of course, after cognac. King Francis I was known as a great admirer of art and literature, by the way, it was he who invited Leonardo da Vinci to his court.

Walking further through the city, you will undoubtedly see another attraction - the gate of St. James with towers from 1499, which overlooks the beautiful embankment and the church of Saint-Leger with three naves dating from the 13th - 14th centuries and a rose in the Gothic style of the 15th century. Further, the church of Saint-Martin with some remains of burials that have been preserved since the Middle Ages. At any time, you can also look into one of the stunning city museums: the Museum of Art, the Museum of History and Art, as well as, perhaps, one of the most interesting places - the Cognac Museum. By the way, the latter was founded quite recently, in 2004, which seemed rather strange to me, given the centuries-old history of the cult drink.

Historical architectural monuments in Cognac are undoubtedly beautiful, but all the residents of the city and tourists are directly hurt by any mention of cognac. The local population is ready to talk for hours about their legendary drink. The whole city is literally saturated with this drink, since every year cognac stored in barrels evaporates, and the contents of oak containers are reduced by about 2-3%. The romantic French call these cognac vapors the beautiful phrase “angels' share”. These "angelic" vapors hover in the air in large numbers and, together with dust, settle on ancient buildings and other pieces of architecture, covering them with a noble patina. It is difficult to imagine how much vapor is in the air, because barrels of cognac are stored in the cellars, the number of which exceeds tens of thousands. It seems that here you can get drunk only by taking more air into your lungs. French inventors believe in the legend that if you listen closely, you can catch strange sounds in the light haze that envelops the city: these are tipsy angels rustling with their white wings!

Incredibly, in small Cognac you can see a huge number of ancient castles or, as the French say, a chateau. The most famous is the Valois castle, where Francis I was born. Currently, this chateau houses one of the most famous cognac houses in the world - Otard. The saliva just “flows like a river” when you pass or drive past luxurious buildings with inscriptions, such as Martell, Hennessy, Courvoisier, Camus, etc. These are the largest cognac houses in France, whose names are known to all world gourmets. Today in this city you can count 600 cognac companies! This is just a huge number for such a miniature town! In each of the cognac houses you will be welcomed by friendly staff who will conduct an interesting tour of the property. Yes, this offer is hard to resist!

Probably, none of the visitors to cognac factories will be able to resist and try legendary drink, as they say, "first hand". After tasting excellent French cognac, it's time to relax and unwind. The inhabitants of Cognac have thought of this! You can take a walk on the river bus along the beautiful Charente. This route was once used by cognac merchants.

By the way, in this town they are also engaged in the production of glass, and in particular bottles for cognac, as well as labels for finished products, and much more.

Despite the fact that the city is just tiny, it hosts a number of fairly well-known events. One of the most interesting events is the International Detective Film Festival, which brings together the best police films. This very unusual event has been held annually at the end of June since 1982. For music lovers, the Passion for the Blues festival is of great interest, where people gather in the last week of July. Of course, without a cognac holiday in this town anywhere. In mid-July, all connoisseurs of this strong drink gather together to honor His Majesty Cognac and taste individual samples. However, the matter, as a rule, does not end with “tasting individual samples”. Still would! How to stay here!

In autumn, when all the winemakers have already distilled their spirits, they can relax and have a great time visiting the street art festival, during which theater actors arrange a beautiful carnival. And fans of literature are delighted with the event, called the "Salon of European Literature", which is organized in November.

If you ask me to describe a cognac-producing city in France in one word, I would probably say “cozy”. Perhaps such a feeling of comfort is due to the quiet measured life of the townspeople or the intricacies of narrow neat streets, along which it is a pleasure to walk. As I said above, a small haze constantly hangs over the city. Ecologists attribute it to the individual characteristics of the city's climate, while the French say that these are cognac vapors. By and large, it doesn't matter. The main thing is that Cognac is the great pride of France, its legend, its love!

It's no secret that genuine cognac is produced only in the vicinity of the French city of the same name, located in the province of Charente. Nowadays, about 250 different-sized companies are engaged in this business. However, the most famous are the so-called Four Great Cognac Houses: Martell (appeared in 1715), Rémy Martin (known since 1724), Hennessy (existed since 1765) and Courvoisier (founded in early XIX century). It is these famous brands of cognac that account for about 80% of the products supplied to the world market. So, we present to you, perhaps, the most famous brand of cognac.

Martell

Cognac House Martell is the oldest enterprise in its category. Its founder, Jean Martel, who moved to the cognac region from the island of Jersey, for the first few years of his company's existence, traded in everything from coal to colonial goods. But in 1726, a native of Jersey married the daughter of a major brandy merchant, as a result of which he reoriented his business to the sale, and then the production of cognac products. Throughout the XIX-XX centuries, the company remained the undisputed leader of the cognac industry, but by the mid-1990s, it began to lose ground, losing ground to the houses of Hennessy and Rémy Martin. At the same time, even today, the brainchild of a successful entrepreneur sells 22 million bottles of his famous products every year, exporting them to almost 150 countries around the world.

In addition, this house owns such brands as:

1. Augier
2. Briand 8c Co
3. Cohiba
4. Jules Robin

Remy Martin

Rémy Martin brand began its almost three hundred years of history with a small family distillery. Today it is the second largest enterprise in terms of production, annually selling more than 24 million bottles of cognac, exported to 165 countries. At the same time, the reputation of Rémy Martin is so impeccable that this manufacturer can afford not to indicate on the labels the exact age of the youngest spirits contained in the drinks sold.

Today, Rémy Martin is also the owner of a number of other brands, namely:

1. Deluze
2. Roulleaud Larret
3. Etienne Gasqueto

Hennessy

At the origins of the Hennessy house- To date, the largest representative of the cognac industry was not a Frenchman, but an Irish military man, Richard Hennessy, who was in the service of the French King Louis XV. Subsequently, it was the owners of this company, in the framework of the fight against fakes, who were the first to supply their products not in barrels, but in bottles. They also introduced the practice of designating the number of years of cognac aging with the help of asterisks.

Unlike the other three cognac houses, Hennessy is still fully controlled by the direct descendants of its founder. The export of drinks produced directly in Hennessy distilleries exceeds 30 million bottles per year.

In addition, from the spirits provided by this cognac house, drinks are produced under the brands:

1. Comandon
2. Davidoff
3. Denis-Mounie
4. Monnet
5. Pellisson

Courvoisier

The youngest of the great cognac houses, Courvoisier, in terms of sales volume, is somewhat inferior to its main competitors. Its annual export is approximately 15 million bottles. In addition, unlike the other meters of the cognac industry, Courvoisier has neither its own vineyards, nor its own cognac production, or even its own distilleries. The company buys everything necessary from the surrounding owners and craftsmen.

At the same time, this circumstance does not prevent the company from owning a number of rights to well-known brands of cognac:

1. Sag pass
2. Carvalho
3. Comte Louis de Naives
4. Curlier
5. Garde Imperiale
6. Grandier
7. Lafontaine
8. Royal Symbol
9. Salignac
10. Symbole Royal
11. Frederick Wildman

It is curious that the history of this house is quite closely and intricately intertwined with the history of the imperial house of Bonaparte. It was this company that was the court supplier of cognac under Napoleon III. In addition, there is a legend that Napoleon I, captured after the defeat at Waterloo, either tried to find the location of British officers, generously treating them to Courvoisier cognac, or planned to escape to America on a ship carrying this very cognac. Although, in fairness, it should be noted that, according to official documents, this French enterprise appeared only 20 years after the collapse of the great emperor.

Gautier

One of the oldest cognac houses in the region, Gautier, received official permission to engage in entrepreneurial activities from King Louis XV in 1755. The uniqueness of its products is largely due to the practice of aging cognac spirits in a cellar located on a rather humid river island. Today, under the Gautier brand, about a million bottles of cognac are sold annually, supplied to almost 70 countries of the world.

Bisquit

Cognac House Bisquit founded in 1819 by twenty-year-old Alexander Biscuit, still preserves cognac spirit in its cellars dated to the year of its foundation. Although today the funds of such a reputable company as Pernod Ricard are invested in the development of the brand, the annual sales volume of Bisquit cognacs is a little more than 3 million bottles.

Delamain

Delamain Company although it was founded in England by one of the descendants of French Huguenot emigrants, Henry Delamen, however, from the moment of its creation in 1824 to the present day, no one doubts its right to be ranked among the original cognac houses. The fact is that the cognac produced by it is made exclusively from authentic French raw materials, and its exposure is made only in the Charente region. Drinks from Delamain are usually aged in old barrels in order to give them softness. Every year the company sells about 600 thousand bottles of cognac produced by it, which invariably find their admirers.

Godet Freres

Cognac House Godet Freres, officially founded in 1838, appeared thanks to the efforts of the Dutch trading dynasty Godet. A well-recognized slogan of a company that buys grape spirits entirely from local distillers is the phrase: “We choose spirits as friends are chosen.” Every year, about a million bottles of Godet Freres products reach stores in 45 countries around the world.

Hardy

Company Hardy, founded in 1863, also has foreign roots. At its origins was a native of the UK, Anthony Hardy. The Hardy House is one of the few active retailers of its own products. At the same time, he is the leader in the sale of cognac in the domestic French market. The total annual sales of Hardy at times is almost 2 million bottles.

Camus

Enterprise Camus was founded in the same 1863 by the great-grandfather of the current owner of the company, Jean-Baptiste Camus. The annual sale of cognac of this brand is 4.5 million bottles of its products, exported to almost 150 countries. In addition, Camus is the owner of the Planat cognac brand. Special attention employees of the company pay attention to the quality of water used for irrigation of vineyards. It is interesting that this cognac house, at one time, maintained very close trade ties with both Tsarist Russia and the former USSR.

Other brands worth knowing about

In addition to all the above brands, there are many other brands of cognac that can be found in specialized outlets, especially those located in the Duty free zone.

If you've had enough of world-famous cognac brands and want to try something new, you should pay attention to the following brands:

1. A.E.Dor

   Currently, Jacques Riviere, a descendant of Amadeus Edouard Dora, owns the A.E. Cognac house A.E.Dor is one of the three best cognac houses in the world. Their cognac collections are unparalleled.

2. Chabasse (Bowen)

   Founded in 1818 by Jean-Baptiste Chabasse, he also created excellent cognac spirits, which were the basis of the future family business. At the beginning of the 20th century, Louis Oliver Chabasse, head of the Chabasse Cognac House, traveling and promoting his cognacs around the world, met Elizabeth Bowen, who struck him with her passion for nature, wild life, courage and freedom of spirit. Returning to France, he created a blend of noble cognac with a delightful range of subtle aromas, unsurpassed charm, strong character and named this drink in honor of Elizabeth - "Bowen".

3. Croizet

   The Croiset family was known back in the 12th century for its extensive vineyards located in Grand Champagne (Grand Champagne). The history of the cognac house began in 1805, when Leon Croizet, holder of the Order of the Legion of Honor, started producing cognac. Croiset received the highest award of France, exploring methods of dealing with phylloxera - grape aphids. Enclosing part of the vineyards with stone fences and planting vines American seedlings, Leon Croiset has achieved the preservation of valuable varieties. At first, the Croizet house was engaged in the production of inexpensive cognacs, supplying them mainly to the Scandinavian countries.

4. Delon

   A brand positioned at a high level, bearing the name of the French actor Alain Delon and actively promoted by him. The brand is represented by XO Reserve Speciale cognac, made from Grand Champagne, Petit Champagne and Fain Bois spirits, with an average age of thirty years.

5. Denis Charpentier

   The brand was refounded in 1984. It gained its fame in the wake of the “pre-crisis” growth in demand in Asian countries. The products of this house, produced on the basis of Grande Champagne and Fine Champagne cognac spirits, have won several prizes in their not very long history. international competitions and establish themselves, for example, in such an important market as China, as well as in Duty Free stores.

6. Edgard Leyrat

   A fourth generation small family grower owning the Domaine de Chez Maillard (Che Mayar) estate in the Feng Bois sub-region. The vineyards of "Edgar Lehr" (53 hectares), according to the head of the company, are located on an exceptionally favorable territory for the cultivation of grapes, noted in the 19th century by the famous geologist, Professor Henri Cocan, who conducted the first scientific research in Charente.

7. Frapin

   The Frapin family has been known as a dynasty of winemakers since 1270, whose vineyards settled in the South-West of France in the Grand Champagne region, in the Premiere Grand Cru du Cognac. The residence of the Frapin house is located in the Fonpino family castle in the vicinity of Segonzac. For 20 generations, family members have been producing cognacs. One of the representatives of the Frapin family was the famous 16th-century writer Francois Rabelais, son of Antoine Rabelais and Catherine Frapin, author of the world-famous work Gargantua and Pantagruel.

8. Gaston de Lagrange

   In 1961, the famous concern Martini & Rossi founded the Cognac House Gaston de Lagrange, which got its name in honor of the French aristocrat. For the production of cognac Gaston de Lagrange, cognac spirits from the most famous regions are used: Grande Champagne, Borderies, Fain-Bois, Petite Champagne. Preference is given to Ugni Blanc grapes. Cognac is created from a perfectly matched ratio of alcohols, the maturation of which takes place in Limousin oak barrels. Alcohols that have matured to 55-65 degrees are softened with water aged in old barrels, this process is called reduction. As a result, the fortress of all cognacs is 40 degrees. Gaston de Lagrange products are exported to more than 50 countries around the world.

9. hine

   Hine is now part of the LVMH (Louis Vuitton-Moet-Hennessy) group. The company is managed by sixth-generation descendants of Thomas Hine: cousins ​​Bernard and Jacques Hine.

   The company does not have its own vineyards and alambikov. Most spirits come from Grand Champagne and Petit Champagne, with very little from Feng Bois. Hine prefers to reduce alcohols, reducing the strength to 60% immediately after distillation. Alcohols are aged in barrels only from Tronsey oak.

10. Louis Royer

    The cognac house was created in 1853 by Louis Royer and is known a wide range quality cognacs and Pineau des Charentes. The company is located in the city of Jarnac on the banks of the Charente River, its offices and cellars are located where they were built over 150 years ago. Until recently, the company did not have its own vineyards - only in 2012, Louis Royer acquired a winery in Grand Champagne - Domain du Ménis, so grapes are bought from five of the six sites allowed for cognac production.

11. Marnier

    In 1827, Jean-Bastiste Lapostol founded a plant for the production of fruit liqueurs with the addition of cognac. In 1876, his granddaughter married Louis Marnier, the son of a prominent family of winemakers. Thus, the Grand Marnier company was formed, which has been owned by the Marnier-Lapostol family for more than 150 years. In 1921, Louis Marnier acquired the Château de Bourg-Charentes in the Cognac region, in the cellars of which cognac spirits began to age. Since then, the company has been the fifth largest cognac house in the region, buying brandy spirits from more than 200 producers. Today, the House of Grande Marnier is headed by the sixth generation of the Marnier-Lapostol family, namely Jacques Marnier-Lapostol. In the production of drinks, Jacques remains true to the traditions that were laid down by his ancestors. Marnier cognacs range from VS to XO.

12. Meukow

    Founded in 1862 by Russian citizens, the Meukov brothers, with the blessing of the Russian Tsar Alexander II, is the first and only Russian cognac house today.

13. Otard

    Baron Otard is the most respected cognac and has been around for 200 years. It can easily compete in terms of sales with Hennessy, Martel and Rémy Martin. The secret of this amazing drink lies in the impeccable and completely unique conditions of aging alcohol in the cellars of Château de Cognac. This castle was bought by Otard in 1796, just after the founding of the whiskey brand.

14. Paulet

    Founded in 1848 by Jean-Maurice Lacroix on the basis of a distillery that produced cognac back in the 18th century, this brand is now owned by the Cointreau family, owners of the Frapin house. Paulet's extensive range includes several cognacs with a noticeable presence of Borderie spirits - it is thanks to them that the style of the house is recognizable by its rich floral aroma.

15. Prince Hubert de Polignac

    Prince Hubert de Polignac comes from the oldest noble families in France. Their history dates back to 860 and is associated with the name of Armand de Polignac 1st. Over the centuries, some of the members of this family have played an important role in the history of France. The honorable commitment of the Polignac family is reflected in their motto, "Sacer Custos Pacis", which can be translated as "The Sacred Guardian of Peace".

16. Ragnaud Sabourin

    Elite French cognac, which is very difficult to find not only on the shelves of large stores, but even in specialized alcohol boutiques. The thing is that Ragnaud-Sabourin is a small family business that produces its own alcoholic masterpieces V small quantities and only for true connoisseurs of quality cognac. The French brandy Ragno-Sabourin (Ragnaud-Sabourin) has a very complex production technology, which has been kept secret by the owners of the house for a long time. They pass it on only by inheritance to their sons. In addition, all cognac brand Ragno-Sabourin (Ragnaud-Sabourin) are not blended, but are made from their own grapes by specialists who have devoted almost their entire conscious life to the alcoholic business. After that, French cognac is sent to long time grow old and be filled with wonderful palatability in their own cellars, which are constantly monitored.

17. Renault

    The cognac house was founded in 1835 by Jean-Antoine Reno. In the 19th century, he was one of the first to supply cognac not in barrels, as was customary before, but in bottles, thanks to which he achieved considerable fame in the markets of Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries. Acquired Castillon in 1963. In 1991, he entered the Pernod-Ricard group through its Bisquit cognac house, after which it became known as Renault-Bisquit. After that, the headquarters of the house was moved from Cognac to the former possession of "Remy Martin" - the Château de Lignier.

If you set out to get acquainted with the products of other two hundred enterprises, including those sold only to selected restaurants, you should, at least for a while, settle in a glorious French town called Cognac or in its vicinity.