The vineyards
Birthplace of a kind of French way of life, the vineyard of cognac covers about 75 000 hectares, shared between Charente-Maritime, most of the Charente, and small parts of Dordogne and Deux-Sèvres.
Origins and Appellation
The history of the cognac is closely linked to the history of distillation. Introduced in the 15th century by the Dutch, this technique enabled Charente's wine to preserve its quality during transportation, especially in Northern kingdoms, where the « brandwijn » (burnt wine) was much appreciated.
Cognac Distillation
The process of distillation is still the same since the cognac was born… in the 17th century ! Cognac distillation is performed in a two-stage process, with a specific Charentais copper still, with its pot (or boiler), its swan's necks ans its cooler and its condensing coil.