In the 15th century, there was a growth in wine trade in France. Unfortunately, many bottles of wine arrived "spoiled" and were undrinkable. That’s when certain wine houses began distilling their wine to ensure it remained consumable, giving rise to “brandy,” which actually means burnt wine. In the 17th century, the Dutch brought the revolutionary distillation tool, the alembic, to Charente. In the 18th century, the English and Dutch took inspiration from the “double distillation” technique used for certain whiskies and applied it to Cognacs.

At the end of the 19th century, Napoleon signed a trade agreement between France and England, which significantly increased the export of Cognac to England, much to the delight of French Cognac houses. Unfortunately, this favorable export climate did not last, as the Cognac vineyards were ravaged by insects known as phylloxera, with production only resuming at the beginning of the 20th century. As for Cognac itself, it’s important to remember that it originates from grapes! The most commonly used grape varieties are Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and Folle Blanche (white varieties). Cognac is mainly produced in the western part of France, around Charente, Charente-Maritime, Dordogne, and Deux-Sèvres.

So, how is Cognac made? Cognac is produced through a double distillation process, commonly known as “Charentais distillation.” The liquid from the grapes is distilled for the first time, a process known as the “first heating.” This is followed by a second heating, commonly called the “good heating.” The liquid produced by this double distillation is then aged in barrels for a minimum of two years in the Tronçais or Limousin forests, a process called “aging.” The final step is blending, where several eaux-de-vie are combined to create the final Cognac, which is then sold. Since 1936, Cognac has held the designation of Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC). We regularly offer bottles of Cognac at our 'Wines & Spirits' auctions. If you are a Cognac enthusiast, we encourage you to attend our auctions!

Contact our expert for valuations on Cognacs.