Top 100 wines of Cognac
Discover the top 100 best wines of Cognac as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Cognac and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Cognac
Cognac is the most famous brandy in the world, more famous even than its OldGascon cousin, Armagnac. It comes from the Charentais, a vast region of western France immediately North of Bordeaux, and takes its name from the historic town of Cognac - the long-standing epicentre of local brandy production. In French, cognac is technically classified as an eau-de-vie de vin - a category that covers all spirits distilled from wine. The Full and official name of the brandy is actually "Eau-de-Vie de Cognac" or "Eau-de-Vie des Charentes", but the Short version has become so common that these longer versions almost never appear on labels.
Although little known, the Charentais is one of the largest vineyards in France. It is made up of two administrative departments (Charente and Charente-Maritime), each of which produces more wine per year than the whole of Burgundy. While some of this wine is basic table wine (sold as IGP / Vin de Pays or Vin de France), the vast majority is produced specifically for distillation into Cognac. Legally protected and regulated since May 1936, Cognac was among the very first AOC titles confirmed when the INAO was created in the mid 1930s.
Discover the grape variety: Jurançon blanc
Mainly cultivated in the south-western part of France, white Jurançon is part of the Cognac and Armagnac grape varieties. It is not related to Jurançon Noir, even though it is quite similar. This grape variety comes from a cross with the white gouais and is in the process of disappearing. Its young leaves are bubbled and downy. The more mature ones have 5 lobes and a petiolar sinus. Jurançon Blanc has small, compact clusters and medium-sized berries. It is hardy and vigorous. Jurançon blanc is associated with an average budburst. This variety is upright. To avoid exhaustion, it is recommended to prune it short. Jurançon often suffers from gray mold, mildew and powdery mildew. Its maturity is early in the third period. In other words, this grape variety matures 20 days after Chasselas. The white wines obtained with white Jurançon are low in alcohol, acid and neutral. If they are distilled, the result is an eau de vie that is not very strong and not very marked.
Food and wine pairing with a wine of Cognac
wines from the region of Cognac go well with generally quite well with dishes of beef, lamb or pork such as recipes of tibs (ethiopia), lamb stew with yoghurt and coriander or rabbit socks in gibelotte.
News from the vineyard of Cognac
LVMH buys Napa Valley’s Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Philippe Schaus, chairman and chief executive of the Moët Hennessy division of LVMH, called Joseph Phelps Vineyards ‘an iconic name and an iconic winery’. Joseph Phelps founded his eponymous winery on a 260ha former cattle ranch in Napa Valley in 1973. He turned it into one of California’s most prominent producers, famed for its flagship Insignia – a Bordeaux-style blend – and its pioneering use of Rhône varieties, which kick-started the ‘Rhône Rangers’ movement in the Golden State. The founder’ ...
Decanter magazine latest issue: May 2022
Inside the May 2022 issue of Decanter Magazine: FEATURES: The new ‘Super-Italians’ Michaela Morris, Richard Baudains, Aldo Fiordelli and Susan Hulme MW highlight 12 innovative wines opening the door to Italy’s future Campania: 20 top Fiano & Greco dry whites selected by James Button Sicily: sustainability driving change Filippo Bartolotta Brunello di Montalcino latest releases: 2017 and Riserva 2016 Michaela Morris Regional profile: Lugana Richard Baudains California: the Italian influence C ...
Shirakawa 1958 single malt set for release
Shirakawa 1958 is the only official single malt bottling from the demolished distillery, and is also said to be the earliest single vintage Japanese whisky bottled to date, although part of its back story remains shrouded in mystery. The whisky was distilled at the Shirakawa distillery, located 200km north of Tokyo, in 1958, and survived an era when Shirakawa’s malt whisky was almost all used in owner Takara Shuzo’s flagship ‘King’ blend. Shirakawa was opened in Fukushima Prefecture by previous ...