Chapter 6: Cognac

Question 1

Two French departments located within the legally-defined Cognac region

Answer 1

Charente & Charente-Maritime

Question 2

Year that cognac was granted its original AOC status

Answer 2

1936

Question 3

The six districts (crus) of the Cognac region

Answer 3

Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, Bois Ordinaires (Bois à Terroirs)

Question 4

Important (most renowned) soil type of the Cognac region

Answer 4

Chalk

Question 5

Highest-quality cru (district) of the Cognac region

Answer 5

Grande Champagne

Question 6

District (cru) of Cognac that surrounds Grande Champagne (in a semi-circle to its south)

Answer 6

Petite Champagne

Question 7

Label term used to indicate a cognac produced with grapes grown within the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne districts

Answer 7

Fine Champagne (note: a minimum of 50% of the grapes must be from Grande Champagne)

Question 8

The smallest of the six Cognac crus; located entirely to the north of the Charente River

Answer 8

Borderies

Question 9

District (cru) of Cognac with the most plantings (contains 40% of total vineyard plantings)

Answer 9

Fins Bois

Question 10

District (cru) of Cognac that includes the westernmost area and two islands

Answer 10

Bois Ordinaires (Bois à Terroirs)

Question 11

Leading grape variety of the Cognac region

Answer 11

Ugni Blanc (also known as Trebbiano or Saint-Émilion)

Question 12

Three grapes used in the “standard base wine” for Cognac

Answer 12

Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, and Colombard

Question 13

Three other grapes that are allowed for use in Cognac

Answer 13

Montils, Sémillon, Folignan

Question 14

Grape that is legally limited to 10% of all plantings in the Cognac region

Answer 14

Folignan

Question 15

Parentage of the Folignan grape variety

Answer 15

Folle Blanche x Ugni Blanc

Question 16

Type of still used in the distillation of Cognac

Answer 16

Charentais Still (a traditional alembic [pot] still)

Question 17

Term used for the two-step distillation used in Cognac production

Answer 17

À repasse

Question 18

Term used for the first stage of Cognac distillation

Answer 18

Première Chauffe

Question 19

Product of the first stage of Cognac distillation

Answer 19

Brouillis

Question 20

Term used for the second stage of Cognac distillation

Answer 20

Bonne Chauffe

Question 21

Type of oak extract allowed for use in Cognac

Answer 21

Boisé

Question 22

Date at which all Cognac distillation must be completed (for the season)

Answer 22

March 31 of the year following harvest

Question 23

Minimum required wood aging time for Cognac

Answer 23

Two years (this is equivalent to *** [three stars] or VS)

Question 24

Minimum wood aging required for Supérieur Cognac

Answer 24

Three years

Question 25

Minimum wood aging required for VSOP Cognac

Answer 25

Four years

Question 26

Minimum wood aging required for Vieille Réserve Cognac

Answer 26

Five years

Question 27

Minimum wood aging required for Napoléon Cognac

Answer 27

Six years

Question 28

Minimum wood aging required for XO Cognac

Answer 28

Ten years (note: this rule was revised in 2018; before April 1, 2018, the requirement was six years)

Question 29

Minimum wood aging required for Ancestral or Hors d’Âge Cognac

Answer 29

Ten years

Question 30

Minimum wood aging required for XXO Cognac

Answer 30

14 years

Question 31

Product made from the third distillation runs of Cognac; used in sparkling wines

Answer 31

Esprit de Cognac AOC

Question 32

The four leading Cognac houses

Answer 32

• Hennessy * Martell * Rémy Martin * Courvoisier (together, these account for 80% of sales)

Question 33

The oldest Cognac house (founded in 1643)

Answer 33

Maison Augier

Question 34

French government agency that oversees the production of Cognac

Answer 34

Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC)

Question 35

Certification required to accompany each consignment of Cognac

Answer 35

Acquit Régional Jaune d’Or (‘Golden Certificate’ issued by the local tax office)