Cognac

French Cognacs: The Ancient Elegance of a Great Distillate

French Cognacs are a refined creation protected by a denomination of origin that lays down strict rules on production, the ageing process and raw materials. This exclusive distillate is reserved for delimited areas in the historic Charente region, where the tradition and craftsmanship of local producers shine through.

The history of Cognac has deep roots: the Benedictine monks of Fontdouce Abbey introduced viticulture in the region in the 12th century. Over the centuries, however, the fame of the Clarets of Bordeaux eclipsed the lesser-known productions of the Charente peasants, who were forced to sell their goods to the Dutch at low prices. In the 16th century, inspired by the Dutch, local producers learned to distil wine to create what was called 'brann vjn', or brandy. This practice was also promoted by English merchants, who imported discontinuous stills from Scotland. Thus were born the Charentais stills, made of copper, with swan necks to preserve the delicate aromas and a more compact design than the Scottish pot stills. The idea of double distillation and the use of wood for ageing led to the creation of the first French bottles of Cognac.

The production of this fine spirit developed around the town of the same name, an area protected by the AOC (appellation d'origine contrôlée) established in 1909. The increasing quality of production and the navigability of the Charente River contributed to the commercial success of Cognac, engraved in history and legend.

The territorial designation of Cognac was established in 1909 along with the 'map of crus', which divided the production area into 6 concentric areas around the city. This division is based on the geological mapping of the soil carried out in 1850 by Henri Coquand, demonstrating the correlation between the soil and the quality of production.

The finest Cognacs come from two crus close to the city: Grande Champagne and Petit Champagne, which produce elegant, floral and fruity spirits with excellent ageing capacity. The combination of these crus allows for the label 'Fine Champagne'.

The small cru Borderies extends north of the city, producing fine, sweet and round distillates with good structure and ageing capacity. The Bois cru, characterised by clayey and sandy soils, is divided into Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaire, producing more rustic distillates that are less suitable for ageing.

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Your destination for the best Cognacs online. Our selection includes the most prestigious brands and a variety of Cognac types, from the classics to the most innovative. Explore the world of Cognacs on xtraWine and find the perfect bottle for your preferences, whether you are an enthusiast or a novice.