Cognac

Question 1

What is the EU definition of Brandy?

Answer 1

Spirit distilled from grapes (not pomace).
Minimum abv of 36%
6 mos minimum oak aging.

Question 2

What are the six regions of Cognac?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What is the major soil type in Grande and Petite Champagne?

Answer 3

limestone and Soft Chalk

Question 4

What are the grapes of Cognac?

Answer 4

98% ugni blanc
Colombard, Folle Blanche, Montils, Sémillon, Ugni Blanc; plus a max. 10% Folignan (Folle Blanche x Ugni Blanc)

Question 5

How is Cognac distilled?

Answer 5

Twice, in a Charantais pot still.

Question 6

What is the first distillation of Cognac?

Answer 6

Brouillis, a spirit of 28-32% abv.

Question 7

What is the second distillation of Cognac?

Answer 7

Bonne Chauffe

Question 8

How is the bonne chauffe divided?

Answer 8

Tête
Coeur
Secondes
Queue

Question 9

What cut of the bonne chauffe becomes Cognac?

Answer 9

The Coeur, making up about 40% of the Bonne Chauffe

Question 10

What is the traditional oak for Cognac?

Answer 10

Limousin or Tronçais

Question 11

What is VS or ***?

Answer 11

Very Special: Cognac aged at least 2 years in cask.

Question 12

What is VSOP?

Answer 12

‘Réserve / Vieux / Rare / Royal, Very Special / Superior Old Pale: Cognac aged at least 4 years in cask.

Question 13

What is XO?

Answer 13

Extra Old / Hors d’Age / Ancestral: Aged 10 years

Question 14

What does the minimum age refer to?

Answer 14

The youngest eau-de-vie in the blend.

Question 15

Does vintage Cognac exist?

Answer 15

Yes, but it’s very rare.

Question 16

To list a specific region, how much of the Cognac must come from there?

Answer 16

100.00%

Question 17

What is Fine Champagne Cognac?

Answer 17

Cognac from wines produced exclusively in Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, with at least 50% coming from Grande Champagne.

Question 18

What is the minimum aging for all AOC Cognac?

Answer 18

2 years in oak

Question 19

Along with VS and ***, what terms indicate a Cognac with at least two years of age?

Answer 19

de Luxe
Grand Choix
Surchoix

Question 20

What is Supérieur Cognac?

Answer 20

Cognac with a minimum 3 years of aging; also called Cuvée Supérieure / Qualité Supérieure

Question 21

What terms indicate a cognac with at least four years of age?

Answer 21

VSOP / Réserve / Vieux / Rare / Royal / VO

Question 22

What terms indicate a Cognac with 5 years of age?

Answer 22

Vieille Réserve / Réserve Rare / Réserve Royale / VVSOP and Grande Réserve

Question 23

What terms currently indicate a Cognac with at least 6 years of age?

Answer 23

Napoleón / Très Vieille Réserve / Très Vieux / Héritage / Très Rare / ‘Excellence / ‘Suprême

Question 24

What terms indicate a Cognac with 14 years of age?

Answer 24

XXO

Question 25

What is Esprit de Cognac AOC?

Answer 25

The product of a third distillation in a pot still, with an average alcohol of 80-85%. Used solely as an agent to adjust alcohol in Champagne.

Question 26

What is the abv of the base wine for cognac?

Answer 26

7-12% ABV

Question 27

What is the max abv of the spirit after the second distillation?

Answer 27

73.7% ABV

Question 28

What terms indicate a Cognac with 2 years of age?

Answer 28

VS / *** / Sélection / VS / De Luxe / Very Special / Millésime

Question 29

What terms indicate a Cognac with 3 years of age?

Answer 29

Supérieur / Cuvée Supérieure / Qualité Supérieure

Question 30

If a Cognac is labeled by a subzone, what percentage of the spirit must come from that subzone?

Answer 30

100%

Question 31

What dose Fine indicate on a label of Cognac?

Answer 31

this term may be applied to either Grande Champagne or Petite Champagne (Grande Fine Champagne and Petite Fine Champagne), but it does not provide any additional information

Question 32

What is the main soil of Fine Bois?

Answer 32

hard red limestone and clay

Question 33

What is groies?

Answer 33

The hard red limestone found in Fine Bois.

Question 34

What is the predominant soil of Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaíres?

Answer 34

Sand

Question 35

What is Folignan

Answer 35

Folle Blanche x Ugni Blanc

Question 36

What are the distillation procedures for Cognac?

Answer 36

Base wines must be distilled twice in a copper Charentais pot still For distillation, the copper boiler must be heated over an open flame The still used for the first distillation must not exceed a capacity of 140 hl (5% tolerance), with a volume of base wine not exceeding 120 hl The still used to distill the bonne chauffe must not exceed a capacity of 30 hl (5% tolerance), with a volume of spirit not exceeding 25 hl After the second distillation, the spirit must not contain more than 73.7% alcohol Distillation must be completed by March 31 of the year following harvest

Question 37

What is the capacity of the pot still for the first distillation of Cognac? What is the max volume of the base wine?

Answer 37

140hl max 120hl

Question 38

What is the max capacity of the still used to distill the bonne chauffe? Max volume of spirit?

Answer 38

30hl 25hl

Question 39

When must distillation of Cognac be complete for Cognac?

Answer 39

March 31 of year following harvest.