Cognac and Armagnac

Question 1

Name the six defined regions of production for cognac is descending order of quality are

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What does the word champagne mean in cognac?

Answer 2

Champagne” in Cognac does not indicate sparkling wine; rather it is a reflection of the word’s etymological origin—a derivation of the Latin word for “plain”—and a similarity in soil.

Question 3

How is Cognanc distilled?

Answer 3

Twice in a copper charentais pot still

Question 4

What is the first distillation of cognac called?

Answer 4

Brouillis

Question 5

What is the second distillation of cognac called?

Answer 5

bonne chauffe

Question 6

What are the ageing requirements for V.S. Coganc?

Answer 6

youngest eau-de-vie is at least 2 years old

Question 7

What are the ageing requirements for V.S.O.P. Coganc?

Answer 7

youngest eau-de-vie is at least 4 years old

Question 8

What are the ageing requirements for Napoeon, XO and Hors d’Age Coganc?

Answer 8

youngest eau-de-vie is at least 6 years old

Question 9

What type of wood is cognac aged in?

Answer 9

Troncais: Sessile, fine grain (timber forest)

Limousin: Pedunculate, wide grain (natural forest)

Question 10

Where is the Cognac AOC located?

Answer 10

Northeast of the Bordeaux region

Question 11

Where is the Armagnac region located?

Answer 11

Southeast of Bordeaux

Question 12

What are the three regions of production in Armagnac?

Answer 12

Haut-Armagnac
Bas-Armagnac
Armagnac-Ténarèze

Question 13

What are the grapes of Armagnac?

Answer 13

Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche (Picpoul), and Baco Blanc (the only hybrid grape authorized in any French AOC/P appellation). Unlike Cognac, Armagnac is more frequently produced from a blend of varieties than a single grape.

Question 14

How is Armagnac distilled?

Answer 14

95% of brandy from this region undergoes only one distillation in a copper continuous still.
But can be distilled twice in a copper pot still

Question 15

What is Blanche Armagnac AOC?

Answer 15

An appellation for a young armagnac bottled after 3 months in an inert cask. It is a clear spirit.

Question 16

What are the ageing requirements for VS or *** Armagnac?

Answer 16

The spirit has rested in barrel for between 1 and 3 years

Question 17

What are the ageing requirements for VSOP Armagnac?

Answer 17

The spirit has rested in barrel for between 4 and 9 years

Question 18

What are the ageing requirements for XO and Hors d’Age Armagnac?

Answer 18

The spirit has rested in barrel for 10+ years

Question 19

What were the Armagnac ageing requirements prior to 2013?

Answer 19

VS indicated that the youngest eau de vie in the blend was aged for at least 2 years in wood, VSOP indicated at least 5 years, and XO promised at least 6 years of oak aging prior to release. However, the Bureau National Interprofessionel de l’Armagnac (BNIA), which oversees production, has simplified the grading system

Question 20

What is the minimum ABV for Armagnac?

Answer 20

40%

Question 21

What are the ageing requirements for vintage Armagnac?

Answer 21

A minimum of 10 years in cask before release