Armagnac & Brandy

Question 1

What are the three regions of Armagnac?

Answer 1

Haut-Armagnac
Bas Armagnac
Armagnac Tenarèze

Question 2

How is Armagnac distilled?

Answer 2

Typically one distillation in a simple continuous still, but may be 2x in a Charentais pot still.

Question 3

What is Blanche Armagnac AOC, and when did it gain status?

Answer 3

A clear spirit of Armagnac bottled 3mos after distillation.

2005

Question 4

Previously, what were the aging requirements for Armagnac?

Answer 4

VS: 2 years
VSOP: 5 years
XO: 6 years

Question 5

What are the current requirements for aging Armagnac? When did this change?

Answer 5

VS / ***: 1-3 years old
VSOP / Napoléon: min 4 years old
XO: min 10 years old
Hors d’Age: min. 10 years old
XO Premium: min. 20 years old
2013

Question 6

What is the minimum abv for Armagnac?

Answer 6

40.00%

Question 7

What organization oversees production of Armagnac?

Answer 7

Bureau National Interprofessionel de l’Armagnac (BNIA)

Question 8

Who are two major Armagnac producers?

Answer 8

Larressingle

Château Laubade

Question 9

How long must vintage Armagnac age before release?

Answer 9

10 years

Question 10

What is the alternative name for the continuous still used in Armagnac?

Answer 10

Alembic Armagnacais

Question 11

Other that VS, what term indicates an Armagnac of 1-3 years of age?

Question 12

Other than VSOP, what term indicates an Armagnac of years 4 of age?

Answer 12

Napoléon

Question 13

Other than XO, what term indicates an Armagnac of at least 10 years of age?

Answer 13

Hors d’Age

Question 14

What does XO Premium indicate on a bottle of Armagnac?

Answer 14

Minimum 20 years aging.

Question 15

What is Weinbraund?

Answer 15

Germany brandy, produced by Asbach in a Charentais pot still using Cognac base wine.

Question 16

What is Brandy de Jerez?

Answer 16

Brandies distilled from Airén and Palomino grapes, aged in solera.

Question 17

What are the copper stills of Spain?

Answer 17

Alquitaras

Question 18

How long do Solera labeled brandies age?

Answer 18

1 year

Question 19

How long do Solera Reserva labeled brandies age?

Answer 19

3 years

Question 20

How long do Solera Gran Reserva labeled brandies age?

Answer 20

10 years

Question 21

What is Pisco?

Answer 21

A brandy produced in Chile and Peru, not aged in wood.

Question 22

What are the Pisco DO’s of Peru?

Answer 22

Lima
Ica
Arequipa
Moquegua
Tacna 
(north to south, all on the coast)

Question 23

What varieties are used for Pisco in Peru and Chile?

Answer 23

PERU
Aromatic: Italia, Albilla, Moscatel, Torontel
Non-Aromatic: Quebranta, Negra Criolla, Mollar, Uvina

CHILE
Muscat of Alexandria, Pink Muscat, Torontel, Muscat of Austria (Torrontes Sanjuanino), Pedro Jimenez
There are 13 allowed varieties; these are the top five.

Question 24

What are the differences between Peruvian and Chilean pisco in terms of production?

Answer 24

Peruvian pisco is distilled once in a pot still, and may not be cut with water.
Chilean pisco may be distilled in either a column or alembic still, and may have water added.

Question 25

What are the three classifications of Peruvian Pisco? What is the required alcoholic strength?

Answer 25

Pisco Puro: single varietal
Pisco Acholado: base wine blended from different varieties
Mosto Verde: made from partially fermented must from either a single variety or a blend. Blends are labeled Mosto Verde Acholado.

All Peruvian Pisco must be between 38 and 48% abv.

Question 26

What are the classifications and labeling terms for Chilean Pisco?

Answer 26

Pisco Tradicional: Min. 30% abv
Pisco Especiale: Min. 35% abv
Pisco Reservado: Min. 40% abv (aged in wood)
Gran Pisco: Min. 43% abv (aged in wood)

Pisco Guarda: 180 days of aging in new French or American oak
Pisco Envejecio: Aged for 1 year in new oak
Transperante: unaged pisco. Also called Pisco Blanco.

Question 27

What are the French AOC’s for Marc?

Answer 27

d’Alsace
de Bourgogne
du Jura