Grande champagne
Geology
Home to the most famous Cognacs, particularly well-suited to aging in barrel.
Characteristics
Fierté
Finesse
Distinction
Montant
Longueur
Souplesse…
Aromas
Dominance florale,
fleur de vigne,
tilleul séché,
sarment sec…
Petite Champagne
Geology
Features the same soil type as in Grande Champagne. However, the influence of the oceanic climate is greater here.
Characteristics
Fierté
Distinction
Souplesse
Légèreté
Aromas
Floraux (fleur de vigne)
et fruités
Borderies
Geology
The soil is decalcified on the surface. Produces very aromatic Cognacs that age more quickly than those from the Champagnes.
Characteristics
Finesse
Légèreté
Longueur
Aromas
Dominance florale,
violette,
iris
Fins Bois
Geology
In the north, the soil consists of “groies”, or thin clay-limestone (from the Jurassic period). In the south, the soil dates back to the Cretaceous and Tertiary periods. Cognacs produced here are less well-structured and age faster than those in the Champagnes.
Characteristics
Intensité odorante importante,
rondeur, onctuosité
Aromas
Dominance fruitée (raisin pressé),
légère odeur florale (fleur de vigne)
Bons Bois
Geology
A more heterogeneous appellation with formations dating back to the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The climate is oceanic in the west and continental in the east. A wide variety of Cognacs are grown here.
Characteristics
Apparition de goût de “terroir”
Aromas
Fruités (raisin pressé)
Bois Ordinaires ou Bois à Terroirs
Geology
This appellation covers the coast and two neighboring islands, resulting in Cognacs strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean.
Characteristics
Goût de “terroir” caractérisé
(influence de l’Atlantique)
Aromas
Fruités
Since it is a Geographical Indication (GI), Cognac can only be produced within a delimited geographical area, defined by the French decree of 1 May 1909. The “Cognac”, “Eau-de-vie de Cognac”, and “Eau-de-vie des Charentes” appellations are exclusively restricted to wine spirits grown and distilled within the defined regions of Charente-Maritime and Charente, as well as several villages in the Dordogne and Deux-Sèvres departments.
Keys figures
{
- Vineyard stretching out over 86,182 hectares
- 1 white wine region in France
- 10% of the total French vineyard area
- 19 hectares, average area under vine of each wine estate
Henri Coquand: the first man to map out the different “crus”
Henri Coquand (1813-1881), a geology professor, studied the Cognac region’s soil and terroir in the 19th century and, with the help of a knowledgeable taster, classified the various soils according to the type of eau-de-vie they produced. This led to the definition of various Cognac producing areas in around 1860 and served as the basis for the decree of 13 January 1938, setting the boundaries of these areas.