Cognac/Armagnac/Brandy Other

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Grande Champagne
Petite Champagne
Borderies
Fins Bois
Bons Bois
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. /*** / de Luxe / Grand Choix / Surchoix Cognac?
What is VS an abbreviation for?

Answer 6

indicates at least 2 years in cask

Very Special

Question 7

What are the ageing requirements for VO / V.S.O.P. Cognac? What is VSOP an abbreviation for?

Answer 7

indicates at least for 4 years in cask

Very Special or Superior Old Pale

Question 8

What are the ageing requirements for XO/Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve cognac?
What is XO an abbreviation for?

Answer 8

indicates at least 6 years in cask
Prior to 2018 XO indicated at least 6 years in cask. As of 2018 the requirement has been raised to 10 years. In practice, the better producers age their brandies much longer, and many XO Cognacs will be aged for at least fifteen or twenty years prior to release

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

Question 22

What is the EU definition of Brandy

Answer 22

Brandy is defined by the EU as a distillation of wine—not pomace—with a minimum abv of 36% and a minimum oak aging period of six months.

Question 23

How much of the eau de vie must originate from the area if the area is named on a cognac label?

Answer 23

100%

Question 24

What does Fine Champagne mean on a cognac label?

Answer 24

Fine Champagne Cognac is distilled entirely from wines produced in the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions, with Grande Champagne composing at least 50% of the blend.

Question 25

What are the grapes of cognac?

Answer 25

``` Ugni Blanc (98% of plantings) Colombard, Folle Blanche, Montils, Sémillon, plus a max. 10% Folignan (Folle Blanche x Ugni Blanc) ```

Question 26

What are the ageing requirements for XXO cognac?

Answer 26

indicates at least 14 years in cask

Question 27

What are the ageing requirements for VVSOP / Grand Reserve cognac?

Answer 27

indicates at least 5 years in cask

Question 28

If cognac carries a vintage date does it refer to the year of harvest or the year of distillation?

Answer 28

Year of Harvest

Question 29

What are the ageing cellars known as in Armagnac?

Answer 29

Chai

Question 30

What is Grand Bas Armagnac?

Answer 30

The most famous area within Bas Armagnac within the county of Les Landes

Question 31

Discuss 1985 Delord Armagnac

Answer 31

- Established in 1893 now 4th generation distillers - 42 hectares of vineyards divided into 11 parcels, is located in the village of Lannepax. It is made up of the four traditional Armagnac grape varieties: Ugni Blanc 56%, Colombard 24%, Baco 14% and Folle-Blanche 6%. All year round, Rinaldo, the vineyard manager, takes the greatest of care of the vines throughout their development. - One of the only Armagnac houses using the two methods of distillation; the continuous distillation method that is typical for Armagnac and the double distillation A deep topaz Bas-Armagnac, the nose is very rich with notes of wood, candied orange and vanilla. The mouth is just as rich with aromas of dried flowers and fruit stones before finishing on very fine spicy notes

Question 32

Discuss 1981 Francis DArroze Domaine de Busquet

Answer 32

Darroze has to be considered the top negoçiant in Armagnac. Francis’ father had an extraordinary restaurant in the region where Armagnacs from local producers were served. Francis purchased these in larger lots and began selling them around the world. His son Marc has now taken over the affair. Methods have remained the same: Darroze contracts Armagnacs distilled at the property (usually with heavy Baco proportions), then the young spirit is shifted to the Darroze chai, where they are meticulously raised. Releases are at cask strength and they always bear the domaine name and bottling date. - Busquet is a little estate in the village of Labastide d’Armagnac in Les Lande. With its exceptional terroir and grapes thriving on its sandy soils, the estate produces fine Bas Armagnacs with lots of richness and character made from the Baco grape. -

Question 33

What is the name of the protected designation for brandies in Spain?

Answer 33

Brandy de Jerez

Question 34

How is Brandy de Jerez distilled and what are the common grape varieties? What type of casks are used>

Answer 34

- distilled in copper stills (alquitaras) from wines based on Airén and Palomino grapes. - Used American oak sherry casks comprise the solera, which allows Brandy de Jerez producers to achieve excellent consistency year after year.

Question 35

What is the ageing requirements for Spanish Brandies labelled Solera?

Answer 35

Aged for an average of one year

Question 36

What is the ageing requirements for Spanish Brandie labelled Solera Reserva?

Answer 36

Aged for an average of 3 years

Question 37

What is the ageing requirements for Spanish Brandies labelled Solera Gran Reserva?

Answer 37

Aged for an average of 10 years

Question 38

Name some producers of Spanish Brandy

Answer 38

Domecq Emilio Lustau Osborne Equipo Navazos

Question 39

What is the difference between brandy and Marc?

Answer 39

Marc is a pomace spirit produced from pomace—the remnants left after pressing grapes—rather than wine and are therefore not brandies, but they share similar characteristics