Currently cognac has to be manufactured in accordance with the law and by using only some specified grapes, of which the Ugni Blanc grapes are the most common. Otherwise, it is just considered distilled brandy. Besides Cognac, this brandy is also produced in Moldova, Georgia, Dagestan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. However, Cognac is a world renowned region of production of this noble drink.
Manufacturing of cognac takes place by the double distillation of white wine, which is very dry and thin. Few of the grapes which are allowed to be used in the production of cognac are Ugni Blanc, Folle blanche and Colombard. These grapes have to constitute the majority. Wild yeasts are used for the fermentation process.
Earlier, storage was a huge problem. However, in the seventeenth century, Frenchmen came up with a method of distilling wine, and repeated the process, which produced the first cognac brandy with high alcoholic content. When the cognac is stored in oak barrels, it slowly loses its alcohol and water content. The alcohol content in the resulting cognac is about 40%.
The equipment and generations of winemakers have gradually changed over time, but the basic procedure of manufacturing remains constant. After harvesting, the juice is kept for three weeks to ferment, and then there is a two-level distillation in special copper stills.
After this process, the cognac is left to age in Limousin oak casks. It has to age for at least two years before it can be sold to the public. The age of the cognac is calculated according to the youngest brandy used in the blend. There are also many grades of Cognac:
• V.S. (Very Special or Superior): This is a blended cognac in which the youngest brandy is stored for at least two years.
• V.S.O.P. (Very Special or Superior Old Pale): It is a blended cognac in which the youngest brandy is stored for at least four years in a cask.
• XO(Extra Old): This is a blended cognac in which the youngest brandy is stored for at least six, and up to twenty years.
Winestyle is the most exquisite online cognac shop. In our catalogue, we offer drinks from the best vineyard houses of France. The history of each of the wine houses is unique, and all of them have won the hearts of our customers. The five leading houses are Hennessy, Camus, Courvoisier, Remy Martin and Маrtell.
On our website you can learn more about each manufacturer and find many versions of the French cognac. We also stock rarer brands of cognac. Quality is guaranteed — at WineStyle we only offer the best and high quality cognac!
Buying cognac from WineStyle will not take up much of your time or money. We sell drinks at a professional level, and therefore almost all our buyers become our permanent clients. Good quality French cognac may not be inexpensive, but we try to please our clients by keeping our prices competitive, and also provide regular discounts, coupons and deals. The price of Cognac at WineStyle remains low compared to the general price in UK. You can buy cognac for special occasions and for home bar.
