Chapter 6: Cognac Flashcards
Two French departments located within the legally-defined Cognac region
Charente & Charente-Maritime
Year that cognac was granted its original AOC status
1936
The six districts (crus) of the Cognac region
Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, Bois Ordinaires (Bois à Terroirs)
Important (most renowned) soil type of the Cognac region
Chalk
Highest-quality cru (district) of the Cognac region
Grande Champagne
District (cru) of Cognac that surrounds Grande Champagne (in a semi-circle to its south)
Petite Champagne
Label term used to indicate a cognac produced with grapes grown within the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne districts
Fine Champagne (note: a minimum of 50% of the grapes must be from Grande Champagne)
The smallest of the six Cognac crus; located entirely to the north of the Charente River
Borderies
District (cru) of Cognac with the most plantings (contains 40% of total vineyard plantings)
Fins Bois
District (cru) of Cognac that includes the westernmost area and two islands
Bois Ordinaires (Bois à Terroirs)
Leading grape variety of the Cognac region
Ugni Blanc (also known as Trebbiano or Saint-Émilion)
Three grapes used in the “standard base wine” for Cognac
Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Colombard
Three other grapes that are allowed for use in Cognac
Montils, Sémillon, Folignan
Grape that is legally limited to 10% of all plantings in the Cognac region
Folignan
Parentage of the Folignan grape variety
Folle Blanche x Ugni Blanc
Type of still used in the distillation of Cognac
Charentais Still (a traditional alembic [pot] still)
Term used for the two-step distillation used in Cognac production
À repasse
Term used for the first stage of Cognac distillation
Première Chauffe
Product of the first stage of Cognac distillation
Brouillis
Term used for the second stage of Cognac distillation
Bonne Chauffe
Type of oak extract allowed for use in Cognac
Boisé
Date at which all Cognac distillation must be completed (for the season)
March 31 of the year following harvest
Minimum required wood aging time for Cognac
Two years (this is equivalent to *** [three stars] or VS)
Minimum wood aging required for Supérieur Cognac
Three years
Minimum wood aging required for VSOP Cognac
Four years
Minimum wood aging required for Vieille Réserve Cognac
Five years
Minimum wood aging required for Napoléon Cognac
Six years
Minimum wood aging required for XO Cognac
Ten years (note: this rule was revised in 2018; before April 1, 2018, the requirement was six years)
Minimum wood aging required for Ancestral or Hors d’Âge Cognac
Ten years
Minimum wood aging required for XXO Cognac
14 years
Product made from the third distillation runs of Cognac; used in sparkling wines
Esprit de Cognac AOC
The four leading Cognac houses
- Hennessy * Martell * Rémy Martin * Courvoisier (together, these account for 80% of sales)
The oldest Cognac house (founded in 1643)
Maison Augier
French government agency that oversees the production of Cognac
Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC)
Certification required to accompany each consignment of Cognac
Acquit Régional Jaune d’Or (‘Golden Certificate’ issued by the local tax office)
