Cognac COPY

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

Soft Chalk

Question 4

What are the grapes of Cognac?

Answer 4

Ugni Blanc (98% of acreage), Colombard, Folle Blanche

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

Very Special/Superior Old Pale: Cognac aged at least 4 years in cask.

Question 13

What is XO?

Answer 13

Extra Old: Cognac matured at least 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

Sélection / VS / De Luxe / Very Special / Millésime

Question 20

What is Supérieur Cognac?

Answer 20

Cognac with a minimum 3 years of aging

Question 21

Along with VSOP, what terms indicate a cognac with at least four years of age?

Answer 21

‘Réserve / Vieux / Rare / Royal

Question 22

What do Vieille Réserve / Réserve Rare / Réserve Royale indicate on a bottle of Cognac?

Answer 22

Cognac with a minimum 5 years of aging

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Napoléon
Extra
Royal
Très Vieux
Vieille Réserve

Question 24

What is Esprit de Cognac AOC?

Answer 24

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 25

What are the aging designations for Cognac?

Answer 25

VS / *** / Sélection / VS / De Luxe / Very Special / Millésime: 2 years
Supérieur / Cuvée Supérieure / Qualité Supérieure: 3 years
V.S.O.P. / ‘Réserve / Vieux / Rare / Royal: 4 years
Vieille Réserve / Réserve Rare / Réserve Royale: 5 years
Napoléon / Très Vieille Réserve / Très Vieux / Héritage / Très Rare / ‘Excellence / ‘Suprême: 6 years
XO / Hors d’âge / Ancestral : 10 years
XXO: 14 years

Question 26

What is the term for a Cognac aged 14 years?

Answer 26

XXO

Question 27

What is the aging designation for Cognacs with terms Napoléon / Extra / Royal / Très Vieux / Vieille Réserve?

Answer 27

6 years