Many centuries later, 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 good money to France. The trade territory expanded, and elegant wines could not withstand the harsh and long sea voyage. To improve the conditions for transporting wine, traders began to distill it. The Dutch began to call it "brandewijn", which literally means burnt wine. This is where the name brandy comes from. Soon "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". All cognacs are brandy, but not all brandies are cognacs. Brandy can be produced by distilling wine, and the wine used, according to the National Interprofessional Office of Cognac, can be either grape or fruit. Cognac must 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 eau-de-vie (eau-de-vie means "water of life"; it is also the base spirit of cognac before it is aged in barrels). Moreover, transporting o-de-vie was much cheaper than transporting wine. The first stills in Charente were invented by the Dutch. The French improved the process double distillation, now known as "charentaise".

At the beginning of 1309, Arnaud de Villeneuve, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Montpellier, named the alembic that produces the eau-de-vie “Charentaise.” Distillation only became widely known at the end of the 16th century. The inhabitants of Charente began to use the distillation method and stills for the Dutch, true lovers and major importers of white wine.

The Charentaise still is not like the column still used to make Armagnac. 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 eyelid paint.

It consisted of three copper parts: kucurvit, located above the heart, in which wood and kul (gas) were burned; a tent or head to concentrate and remove vapors, and a serpentine or spiral, a spiral tube immersed in water that served as a cooler. A wine heater that saved energy came into use in 1857. If the volume exceeded 30 hectoliters, it no longer had the right to be called Cognac. In the 18th century, cognac (Cognac) began to be exported to Holland, England, Northern Europe, and later to America and Far East. The market has become more structured. Bodies began to be created in the main cities to monitor the conformity of product quality.

In the 20th century, the Ugni Blanc grape variety, which today accounts for 90% of cognac production, replaced the traditional Colombard and Folle Blanche grape varieties.

On May 1, 1909, the government approved the territory for growing grapes. Since 1939, Cognac has been an appellation-controlled region. During the Second World War, the Bureau of Wine and Eaux-de-Vie was created to protect cognac stocks, which after the end of the war replaced the "National Interprofessional Cognac Bureau". Now every step of cognac production is controlled and regulated. More than 90% of cognac is exported to more than 150 countries.

Cognac from A to Z: map, hotels, attractions, restaurants, entertainment. Shopping, shops. Photos, videos and reviews about Cognac.

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A little history

The history of the city begins around the 9th century, when defensive fortifications appeared here, and Cognac received city status at the beginning of the 13th century. In the 15th century, Francis I, a native of Cognac, gave the city the green light to trade in salt, which led to the construction of a port on the Charente River and the subsequent economic boom. In the 17th century, the city received new concessions from the king himself as a stronghold of citizens loyal to the monarchy, and from that time on, cognac production was able to develop here in full force.

Entertainment and attractions of Cognac

In Cognac there is no point in looking for transport for local travel: you can easily walk here. The central modern city square is named after Francis I - this is where you can start exploring the city. Or finish it, because this is where most of the restaurants, boutiques and wine terraces are located. The square is adjacent to Francis Park with a rose garden, and the nearby Armory Square hosts a lively indoor market. The quarter of medieval houses starts from the Porte Saint-Jacques with two plump round crenellated towers and goes along the river bank to the Romanesque church of Saint-Léger - a beautiful building dating from the 12th to 16th centuries, decorated in the Flamboyant Gothic style. The houses in the center of Cognac have been preserved mainly from the 15th-18th centuries, the streets are narrow and paved with cobblestones. The central city street in the Middle Ages and up to the 19th century, Rue Grande, built up partly with wooden houses, will lead you to the Lieutenant's Mansion (house no. 7), the most famous in the city - it was built in the 15th century, and a century later it was built residence of Lieutenant General Cognac.

Going down from the Old Town to the river, you will see ancient warehouses with darkened walls - the result of many years of fumes from cognac.

You can easily reach the river port of Saint-Jacques, built in the 15th century. The Church of Saint-Martin with its medieval graves preserved on its territory is also attractive. You can examine the central gate at the entrance to the city, built at the turn of the 15th and 16th centuries. It will also be interesting to look at Saint-Gabin, the production of glass bottles and barrels for cognac.

Having started talking about the sights of Cognac, we inevitably have to move on to listing the most famous cognac houses that are open here. The main city attraction is the Valois castle, where King Francis was born, today it is the headquarters of the Otar cognac house. The medieval castle was built in the mid-10th century, then almost completely destroyed in the 12th century, but three centuries later it was rebuilt from scratch. Here in the Helmet Hall, Philip, the son of Richard the Lionheart, celebrated his wedding with the Princess de Cognac. The banquet hall of the castle was created according to the design of the great Leonardo da Vinci.

Another cognac house - "Hennessy" - occupies a more modern castle built in the 19th century, right next to the river, and its red flag proudly flies over the embankment. To visit its cellars, guests are transported by boat to the other side. And the Remy Martin house takes tourists on a special train that goes through the vineyards. It should be borne in mind that all cognac houses, without exception, do not accept tourists. all year round, but only in certain seasons and most often - by prior agreement.

In the heart of Cognac is the city garden, one of the few public gardens in France designed after an English park. The park arose as a result of the union of two neighboring gardens: the town hall and the museum. The dominant feature of the park is the Hautard-la-Grange mansion, since 1892 the Hotel de Ville, and now the city hall. A monumental marble staircase leads to it, near which swans and ducks swim in a landscaped pond. And the Museum of Art and History occupies the elegant mansion of the Dupuis family, built in 1838. It houses several collections, including an archaeological one with a Neolithic canoe, as well as sculptures, furniture, ceramics, fine glass containers and artistic canvases. There is one work by Rodin, a collection of Art Nouveau glass, Delft porcelain, and works by the Flemings and Italians of the 16th century.

A small cognac museum was opened only in 2004 on the territory of the Old Town, not far from the embankment. The museum displays medieval machinery for cultivating land and processing grapes, an impressive selection of bottles from the most iconic brands, barrels, bottle labels, glasses and more. Here you can see an oak press from 1760, a semi-automatic mechanism for making bottles from 1898, and also appreciate the aromas of many samples.

When cognac is stored in a barrel, some of the alcohol inevitably evaporates (about 2%). Winemakers poetically call this part “the angel’s share.” In Cognac, the share of angels is so significant that, as the locals joke, you can get drunk just walking the streets.

Neighborhood

If, after a comprehensive acquaintance with Cognac (and cognac), you still have enough strength left in you, you can travel around the surrounding area by car. There are quite a lot of old castles and monasteries located near Cognac - however, most of them are in a ruined or dilapidated state. Less than 10 km from the city is the town of Saint-Brice. The Abbey of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is located here, a former Augustinian monastery founded in the 11th century. In the 16th century, the abbey was badly damaged during the wars of religion, but the western façade is still preserved, as are the pointed arches with carved friezes. In addition, in Saint-Brice you can admire the 12th century parish church and the 16th century castle - all three sites are classified as historical monuments.

Events

To keep guests from getting bored, Cognac hosts many events every year. This includes a detective film festival at the end of June, a blues festival in July, and, of course, a large-scale cognac festival in the very middle of summer. In September, Cognac hosts a street art festival; a separate company organizes a wide variety of cognac tours around the city.

French cognacs have always been the standard of elite alcohol. All over the world, manufacturers are focusing on the French, trying to bring the quality of their products closer to the quality of a real masterpiece from the Poitou-Charente region. Among the most expensive samples - as well as among the unique, most rich, sophisticated and elegant - the majority are French.

You can join the history and culture of the famous country, which are inextricably linked with this alcoholic drink. In our catalog you will find real French cognacs from famous houses that have earned the praise of the most severe and picky critics around the world. None alcohol collection will not be considered complete if it does not contain at least one of them. Our prices, even for the most seasoned ones, are quite affordable.

On our website we have collected best cognacs France and other countries, including Armenia or Georgia, that deserve your attention. Among the images we present there are unique ones, with unforgettable taste and aroma, like the famous one. They also have a special texture, due to which no other analogues can compare with them. Once you try one of them, you will not forget it and cannot confuse it with anything else.

How the Dutch helped the French conquer the world

If the French received the historical title of chic winemakers, then the Dutch can be called the most inventive and active traders. And it was thanks to them and their ideas that the French learned to make their own alcohol.

In the 16th century, the Dutch who sailed to Poitou-Charentes willingly traded with local salt and wines. But by this century there was an overproduction of wine, its quality fell, there was less alcohol in it, which made it difficult to transport it by sea for a long time. In order to maintain the quality of the wines and make more profit, the Dutch decided to install stills in Poitou-Charentes, which allowed distillation or distillation and the making of the so-called “burnt wine”, which later became. But just like that New Product not consumed: it was distilled only for transportation, and diluted on site clean water. According to their plan, this was to return the drink to the properties of the original French wine.

The French saw their benefit in this. They took over Dutch technology, improved them and began to sell the distillate as an independent and ready-to-drink product, which was richer than any of the wines and had a stronger aroma. In addition, it was much more profitable to transport it. And when the Dutch traders had to stay in the French port, having already loaded barrels of distillate on board, it turned out that aging in oak containers was only beneficial for the drink.

As a result of the confluence of all these circumstances, French cognac was born, which Dutch traders transported to all the countries with which they traded. This is how the drink conquered the world.

Features of modern cognac production

Today, the boundaries of the region in which French cognac can be produced are clearly defined, and production is regulated by legislation and strictly controlled. Thus, the following grape varieties were usually used in the manufacturing process:

• montil;
• Folle Blanche;
• Colombard and others.

But they are gradually being replaced by Trebbiano grapes (aka Ugni Blanc), which are more disease-resistant and less sensitive to changing weather conditions. Also, unlike the varieties listed above, it is not weakened by American rootstocks. 90% of all French cognac is made from Trebbiano.

Only a few dozen deserve to be called the best of the best. Most of them originated in France, and we took them as the basis for the ranking of the TOP 10 cognac brands.

Hennessy (Hennessy)

This is one of the most important cognac houses in France, recognizable and revered in every corner of the world. The brand was founded in 1765 and already in 1794 carried out the first export of cognac to North America.

In addition to its classic range, which includes the well-known Hennessy V.S. (Very Special), Hennessy V.S.O.P. Privilege, Hennessy Richard and Hennessy Paradis, in the Hennessy product line you can also find special cognacs produced for special occasions.

For example, the following stand out:

• Hennessy Library. This drink was created as a reminder that the company treats its products as antiques that must be protected;
• Hennessy Private Reserve- this is a cognac with a surprisingly floral range, created on the basis of 14 alcohols;
• Hennessy Ellipse, consisting of 7 the best alcohols. In addition, this cognac has a strength of 43.5%, although classic options cognac houses usually offer 40%.

Rémy Martin (Remy Martha)

This cognac house ranks second in popularity, following immediately after Hennessy. The Remy Martin brand was founded in 1695 and has since been actively developing, successfully competing with numerous cognac brands.

The secret of the success of the cognacs of this house was that it did not waste time on trifles. Remy Martha, as a matter of principle, did not produce V.S. brand drinks, concentrating his efforts only on alcohol of the highest quality.

Only in the late 90s the company decided to expand its line of affordable cognacs and released Remy Martin VS Superior.

Augier

The Ogier cognac brand is the oldest of all existing ones in the world. It was founded in 1643 and still stands out for the consistency of the quality of its products. Until recently, the recipe for this brand of cognac remained ancient and secret, passed down from generation to generation.

However, in 1968 the company was bought over, and although the new owners for a long time remained true to tradition, time forced them to give up and change the recipe.

Bisquit

The founding father of this cognac house is 20-year-old Alexander Biscuit, who skillfully organized production in 1819. All Bisquit cognacs stand out for their long aging and rich taste.

Camus

The elite and exquisite cognac of this house went on sale in 1863. In those days it was preferred by all the royal courts of Europe. Today Camus remained elite alcohol and is sold only in specialized stores.

Courvoisier

Courvoisier is Napoleon's favorite and revered cognac. The pride of this cognac house is:

• very rich and complex taste a drink that opens slowly and gradually;
• noble color;
• aroma of citrus and pear.

All this made Courvoisier one of the most popular and best-selling cognacs in the world.

Delamain

The founder of this brand was an Englishman who settled in France and bought an entire estate for his favorite pastime.

Delamain drinks gained fame due to their very light color and amazingly rich fruity taste.

Croizet

The appearance of the House of Croizet is a significant date at the beginning of the 17th century, because the cognacs of this brand are still recognized as one of the best. In addition, this house is one of those rare producers offering cognacs created on the basis of spirits of the same year.

Martell (Martel)

Martel Cognacs are a treasure trove of ancient and exquisite cognac spirits that can date back as far as 1830. All retro spirits are stored in special cellars and only in Tromsey oak barrels. It was this method of storage that helped achieve amazing mild taste drinks Martel.

Davidoff

Our rating is completed by a young cognac brand that began its history with a Ukrainian emigrant and cigarettes. Cognacs appeared on the market as a complement to cigars, however, they soon gained independence and ceased to be associated with tobacco. Other features of the brand include exclusive bottles and production based on Hennessy cognac.

Almost every cognac listed above You can always buy it at the WineStreet store. With us you choose from the best!

The noble drink that we will talk about today has its own characteristics and a rich backstory. French cognac is not just a drink containing alcohol. This is a multi-stage painstaking work of many people and many years spent to achieve a good result.

What is cognac?

According to terminology, cognac is Reviver having high content alcohol. Moreover, this version of brandy is made only from certain grape varieties. There is a specific production technology, all must be followed the necessary conditions and nuances, namely: double distillation of dry and further aging of the resulting raw materials (distillation) in special oak barrels.

French cognac is produced in several departments of the country. These are Charente, De Sèvres, Dordogne. The most significant city in the history of the drink is Cognac, but Segonzac and Jarnac are considered no less important.

The emergence of cognac

Back in the 3rd century, Probus gave permission to engage in winemaking. Already in those days, in the territory where French cognac is produced today, mass planting of vineyards began, which exist to this day.

As for more modern documents, in 1909 a decree was issued in France, according to which products called “cognac” could only be produced in a certain territory. The established boundaries included departments of France, distinguished not only by their extremely favorable climate for viticulture, but also by their unique calcareous soils. It is believed that fruits grown in other areas do not have the necessary taste properties for cognac.

Harvesting

The optimal time to prepare raw materials for the drink is mid-autumn. In order to receive real cognac French, only a few varieties are used white grapes. Of these, Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano) is considered the most common. This sour grape variety has a high yield, it ripens slowly, but is quite resistant to disease. Colombard, Folle Blanche or Montille can also be used. They allow cognac to acquire new flavors, but are very difficult and capricious to grow.

Production stages

After the harvest is harvested and brought to special warehouses, the best French cognacs begin to be produced. Let's look at this process step by step:

1. Extracting juice from grapes. Horizontal presses are used that do not crush the seeds of the berries. Traditional screw ones are strictly prohibited by law.
2. Fermentation. The resulting juice is fermented for three weeks. In this case, sugar is not added so as not to spoil the quality of cognac alcohol (this is also prohibited). The resulting wine (with an alcohol content of 9%) is sent for distillation.
3. Obtaining primary base alcohol (raw). This is the first stage of distillation, which sets the taste and character of the future cognac. Extraction of 30% alcohol is carried out without filtration. The entire wine is distilled, including the lees.
4. Obtaining the final cognac alcohol High Quality. This is a secondary distillation, dividing the raw material into three 70% strength (the second) is placed in oak barrels, is aged and becomes cognac itself.

ABOUT last stage We will tell you about production in more detail.

Aging, or maturation, of cognac

As is known, finished alcohol obtained from grape juice, placed in special oak barrels. This is necessary so that the future cognac is filled with additional flavors and aromas and becomes a pleasant golden color.

They are often made by hand, without damaging the integrity of the tree trunk (this is important). Once their shape is set, firing begins. This softens the structure of the wood, and a small layer of burnt sugar is formed on the inner surface of the barrel, which also affects the aromatic and taste qualities cognac

The drink must mature for at least two years, but no more than 70. During the first period of aging, it extracts from the wood the necessary tannins, sugars, amino acids, oils, resins and enzymes. There is simply no need to increase the ripening period of cognac. After 70 years of aging, its taste remains virtually unchanged.

Cognac is stored in cellars. Maturation first takes place in barrels and then it is bottled glass bottles. In addition to aging and the varieties of grapes used, French cognac (its name) differs depending on the area where it was produced.

By what qualities are cognacs classified?

As we have already said, there are three main criteria for evaluating a drink: grape variety, terrain and aging time. If the first two are written on the bottle without abbreviations, then the latter has its own characteristics. The longer the cognac has matured, the better it is. However, legislation has established that it is difficult to control the aging of cognac for more than 6.5 years. Therefore, today the following drinks are considered the most common:

1. Very Special (V.S.) - minimum shutter speed(2 years).
2. Superior - ripening for at least three years.
3. (V.S.O.P), Very Old (V.O.), Reserve - four-year aging.
4. (V.V.S.O.P.) - maturation within 5 years.
5. Extra Old (X.O.) - aged for more than six years.

French cognac is classified according to these standards.

The names - Napoleon, Royal, Tres, etc. - indicate the brand, not the brand. There are also drinks aged for more than seven years, but their cost is extremely high and they are considered collectible.

Cognac "French Standard"

This is a drink made using a specific technology, in accordance with all its inherent traditions. The name “Cognac “French Standard” 5 stars” indicates that this drink is strong and tart in taste thanks to the V.S.O.P. This brandy is bottled in Russia, but only original materials can be used (i.e. from France). In the taste of this cognac you can feel fruity shades and warm floral notes. The aftertaste gives off honey aroma and raisins. The color of the drink can be seen through the transparent glass of the bottle - it should be copper-golden. It can rightfully be given the name “French cognac”; its price is much lower. The explanation is simple - local bottling, but not the worst quality.

Cognac "French Order"

In addition to the greatest French producers, our country also has wineries that produce high-quality products that are much more affordable. One of the most striking examples is the city of Kaliningrad. This is where the factory that produces best brands cognac, wine and various liqueurs.

"French Order" is a drink with five stars. This cognac is aged for five years in our country. Of course, as throughout the world, it is supplied from France, but bottling is carried out here. Thanks to this, the price of good products is significantly reduced, and the taste is impeccable and unique.

This cognac is a drink more likely for men. It is quite strong and tough. It is better for the fair half of humanity to drink cognac with fewer years of aging, when its taste is more delicate and soft. “The French Order” is beautifully packaged; such a gift would be appropriate for any occasion.

How to drink cognac correctly?

How and with what to use this drink? There is a whole art. In order to fully appreciate the taste of cognac, you will have to work hard.

1. We start with choosing dishes. Experts recommend a tulip glass, but a traditional spherical glass may also work.
2. Before you taste the drink, you need to evaluate its color. The lighter the shade, the less aging the cognac has. Color varies from straw yellow to fiery red.
3. You need to inhale the aroma of cognac. You can feel both floral and fruity notes, shades of smells hazelnut or chestnut, citrus fruits... After a while, shake the glass and inhale again: let the drink open.
4. You should try cognac in small sips. So that the entire oral cavity feels its complex taste and personality.

Cognac is appropriate in a close circle, a warm environment, in harmony and tranquility. As gourmets say, other drinks and French cognac are consumed separately. Reviews from connoisseurs agree that it should be room temperature. As an addition, black coffee and a piece of chocolate are suitable.

As for dishes, nuts or nuts go very well with cognac. creamy soufflé, our favorite charlotte and all types hard cheeses. It is no less successful to combine this drink with seafood and meat dishes(from veal).

But if we talk about cocktails, then tonics or other carbonated drinks go well with cognac. Lemon or orange juice would also be good. The average proportions are 1:3, i.e. 20 ml of cognac is diluted with 60 ml of tonic or juice. Ice is welcome. It is worth noting that young cognac is recommended for making cocktails. Aged is best consumed undiluted.

Learning to choose cognac

In order not to make a mistake in choosing and buy a real one grape brandy, should Special attention give it a label. This is what is indicated on a bottle of quality cognac:

1. Name (it must be stated that this drink is cognac).
2. Bottle volume.
3. The number of revolutions as a percentage (drink strength) must be indicated on the front of the label.
4. The address of the enterprise and its legal name.
5. Belonging to an appellation (for example, Grande Champagne Appellation Contrôlée).

NMBK (National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognacs) is responsible for control of the production and bottling of the drink. And remember: the cost in this case directly depends on the quality of the product. If you come across a French cognac whose price is suspiciously low, think three times before purchasing it.