Brandy and Eau-de-vie Flashcards
In what region is Cognac located?
The Charentais, immediately north of Bordeaux
When was the Cognac region delimited?
1936
There was a 1909 decree before then
What are the sub-appellations of Cognac in ascending order of prestige?
Bois Ordinaires Bons Bois Fins Bois Borderies Petite Champagne Grand Champagne
What are the largest houses in Cognac?
Hennessy
Martell
Remy Martin
Small growers tend to sell their produce to them
How old is a VS Cognac?
What does VS mean?
What are some other titles with a similar age designation?
2 years
Very Special
3 Etoiles, 3 Stars, Selection, De Luxe
How old is a Superior Cognac?
3 years
How old is a VSOP Cognac?
What does VSOP mean?
What are some other titles with a similar age designation?
4 years
Very Special Old Pale
Reserve, Vieux, Rare, Royal
How old is a Vielle Reserve Cognac?
What are some other titles with a similar age designation?
5 years
Reserve Rare, Reserve Royale
How old is a Napoleon Cognac?
What are some other titles with a similar age designation?
6 years
Tres Vieux, Tres Vieille Reserve, Heritage, Tres Rares, Excellence, Supreme
How old is an XO Cognac?
What does XO mean?
What are some other titles with a similar age designation?
10 years
Extra Old
Extra, Ancestral, Ancetre, Or, Gold, Imperial
How old is an XXO Cognac?
When was it added and who was the first to produce one?
14 years
It was added only in 2019 after Hennessy made one.
What does the phrase Hors d’Age indicate?
It is used for any Cognac aged beyond the official age statements.
Previously it was a fixture of the XO category, now more so with the XXO category.
What are the most important qualities of the grapes used for Cognac production?
Why?
Low sugar levels mean low alcohol, meaning the wine can be distilled more times.
High acidity is a natural antiseptic, keeping out bacterial spoilage. Sulfur cannot be used in distillation as its concentration would be unpleasant.
What is the most important grape used for Cognac production?
What are some other grapes that are used?
Ugni Blanc, 95%
Folle Blanche and Colombard are the other 2, though Semillon, Montils, and Folignan are allowed.
What additives are authorized in the production of Cognac and Armagnac?
Sugar, Caramel, and Oak Chips are all allowed for final adjustment and coloring
Distilled water may be added to reduce ABV
What is the minimum aging requirement of Cognac?
2 years in oak
Does Cognac develop in bottle?
No
What are the base wine requirements of Cognac?
7-12% ABV
No chaptalization
No use of sulfur dioxide during fermentation
What are the steps of Cognac production?
- Distillation in copper pot to 28-32%, producing the “brouillis”
- Second distillation, the “bonne chauffe,” produces:
- Tete (head), couer (heart), secondes (second cuts), queue (tails) - The couer (40% of the “brouillis”) is separated and becomes Cognac alone.
What is the maximum ABV of Cognac following the second distillation?
When must a harvest be distilled by?
72.4% ABV
By March 31st of the year following harvest
If a Cognac has a sub-zone labeling, how much must come from that zone?
If a Cognac is labeled “Fine Champagne,” where must it come from?
What Cognac may be labeled fine?
100%
min. 50% must come from Grand Champagne, and whatever the remainder must come from Petite Champagne.
“Fine” may be applied to either Grand Champagne or Petite Champagne, but offers no other information.
What soils define the Grand and Petite Champagne subzones?
What about the others?
The Champagne subzones are high is limestone and soft chalk.
Fine Bois: “groies” (hard red limestone), clay
Bon Bois, Bois Ordinaires: Sand
What are the grapes allowed for the production of Armagnac?
Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche, Baco Blanc
What is the only hybrid grape authorized for use in any AOP?
What is the crossing?
Where?
Baco Blanc
Folle Blanche x Noah
Armagnac AOP
What are some differences between Armagnac and Cognac?
- Armagnac is more likely to be made from a blend of different grapes.
- 95% of Armagnac undergoes only 1 distillation in a continuous still. The spirit is more flavorful, less pure, less alcoholic.
- Armagnac has traditionally been released as a vintage product and at cask strength
What were Armagnac aging designations prior to 2013?
What are they now?
Before 2013:
- VS: 2 years
- VSOP: 5 years
- XO: 6 years
After 2013:
- VS or ***: 1 to 3 years
- VSOP: 4 to 9 years
In what region is Armagnac located?
Gascony
What is “boise?”
A liquid of boiled oak chips used to correct the final products of Cognac and Armagnac
Armagnac coming from what sub-region tends to show the most finesse?
Bas-Armagnac
What are the regionally based brandies produced in France?
Fine de Bordeaux
Fine de Bourgogne
Fine de la Marne
What is “Weinbraund?”
Germany Brandy
Asbach is a producer
What is a notable protected designation for Brandy from Spain?
What grapes are used?
Who are some producers?
Brandy de Jerez
Airen and Palomino
Lustau, Domecq, Osborne
What are the average age ranges for the following grades of Brandy de Jerez:
Solera
Solera Reserva
Solera Gran Reserva
Solera: 1 year average
Solera Reserva: 3 year average
Solera Gran Reserva: 10 year average
What are some examples of pomace spirits?
Marc - France
Grappa - Italy
Bagaceira - Portugal
What are the appellations and their encepagement requirements for Calvados in Normandy?
Calvados AOC
-May be produced from Apple and Pear
Calvados Domfrontais AOC
-May be produced from Apple and min. 30% Pear
Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC
-May be produced from Apple and max 30% Pear
How many years do the following age statements indicate on a bottle of Calvados?
Vieux/Reserve
VSOP/Vieille Reserve
XO/Hors d’Age/Extra/Napoleon
Vieux/Reserve: 3 years
VSOP/Vieille Reserve: 4 years
XO/Hors d’Age/Extra/Napoleon: 6 years
What type of Eaux-de-vie is produced with the following fruits?
Black Cherry Williams Pear Raspberry Plum Fig Apricot
Kirschwasser
Poire Williams
Framboise
Slivovitz, Mirabelle, Quetsch, Prunelle
Boukha: popular in Tunisia
Barack Palinka: popular in Hungary
