The impression is that the country is probably more exposed to cognac than to other wines. When it comes to cognac brandy, people tend to think of successful people and their subdued and sophisticated temperament. If you disregard its expensive price, mysterious conceptual image, and longer aging time, then you should love Cognac brandy. Here are some of the things that a beginner should know about Cognac.

I. Introduction to Cognac

Cognac is a type of brandy, i.e. it is a spirit that needs to be fermented, distilled and then aged in oak barrels. It is worth noting that the brandy that can be called "Cognac" must be the kind that is made from the raw materials of the Cognac region in western France. The process of making Cognac is slow and time-consuming, involving the blending of several white grape varieties and distillation using the traditional double distillation method. The distilled product is then matured in oak barrels for more than 20 months before it can be called "Cognac" brandy.

Second, the bottle

The label on the bottle of French Cognac is generally more ornate. In addition, the label often contains a combination of initials that indicate the age of the wine.

1. "V.S." stands for Very Superior, a cognac that has been matured in oak barrels for at least four and a half years.

2. "V.S.O.P." stands for Very Superior Old Pale, a cognac that has generally been matured in wooden casks for four and a half to six and a half years. Cognacs of the same level can also be labeled as "VO" or "Reserve".

3. "X.O." stands for Extremely Old, which is usually expensive, and can also be labeled as "Napoleon," "Hors d'age," or "Hors d'Or." Hors d'age", "V.S.S.O.P", "Cordon Bleu", "Grand Reserve". Grand Reserve" or "Royal". Cognacs are aged in casks for a minimum of five and a half years and a maximum of 40 years.

Three Famous Brands

If a beginner wants to start with a higher-end cognac brandy, go straight to Remy Martin. This brand of brandy has a history of 300 years. For beginners, start with Remy Martin's V.S.O.P., a brandy that typically costs $35 per bottle (foreign price). If you've won the lottery or are particularly wealthy, then you can also sample the brand's Louis XIII, which can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $100,000 per bottle. In addition to Remy Martin, better-known brands include Martell, Hine Cognac, Hennessy, Hardy and Courvoisier.

Four, Cognac flavor

Cognac usually brings a smooth and deep taste, but also with complex aromas of vanilla, caramel and smoke. It is best served in a deep, wide glass, which is the only way to gather the aromas of Cognac brandy so that the drinker can better enjoy the wonderful scent. In addition, Cognac brandy is a good accompaniment to cigars and steaks.

Cognac is one of the most popular foreign wines in China, how much do you know about Cognac? The encyclopedia of red wine (micro-signal: wikiwine) will answer 14 questions about Cognac that are often asked in the context of everyday drinking.

1. How much is this bottle of cognac worth?

The price of cognac can be asked by contacting the company marketing the cognac directly, or by asking for a price on a cognac forum. Generally speaking, the price of a cognac is largely determined by how long it has been aged in oak barrels.

2. What is the difference between cognac and brandy?

Like Cognac, Brandy is also known by its foreign name "Brandy", which means "water of life". Cognac is a type of brandy, and must be produced in the Cognac region, which is distinguished from brandy by the rigorous production process and commercial regulations.

3. How many years does Cognac age?

Each Elixir of Life has its own personality, and the aging potential of Cognac varies depending on the appellation and the environment in which it is aged. The average Cognac can be aged for 70 years. The cellar manager will pay close attention to how long the liquid is stored in oak barrels to avoid it passing its peak.

4. Does Cognac continue to age and develop in the bottle after bottling?

Once bottled, Cognac will not continue to age and develop.

5. Is there any relationship between the Cognac Champagne region and the Champagne region?

There is no relationship between the Cognac Champagne region and the Champagne region, except for the use of the word "Champagne".

6. Can Cognac be produced in any other region than Cognac?

No. The boundaries of the Cognac appellation were established as early as 1909, and only brandy from the Cognac appellation can be called Cognac.

7. Why are the walls and roof of a Cognac cellar black?

This is caused by a fungus called "Torula

compniacensis", which feeds on the evaporated alcohol and causes black velvet to cover the walls and roof.

8. What do VS, VSOP and XO mean?

According to the French Cognac Industry Bureau, the regulatory organization for Cognac production, there are 3 quality levels of Cognac as follows:

V.S (the full name is Very Special): This level indicates that the youngest of the blends used in Cognac have been stored in oak barrels for at least 2 years.

V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old

Pale): this grade indicates that the youngest of the blends used in Cognac has been in oak barrels for at least 4 years.

XO (Extra Old): this grade indicates that the youngest spirit in the blend used for the Cognac has been in oak barrels for at least 6 years.

9. How should I drink Cognac?

Different types of Cognac are served in different ways. Generally, young VS grade Cognacs are used to make cocktails. If you want to drink Cognac neat, you should choose Napoleon or XO aged for many years, and VSOP grade Cognac can be used for both cocktails and neat.

10. How long can I keep a bottle of Cognac?

If a bottle of Cognac is kept out of the light, unopened, and the corks are not replaced, it will keep for a very long time. It should be noted, however, that in contrast to wine, Cognac does not age in the bottle and does not improve in quality with time in the bottle.

11. How long does Cognac last after opening the bottle?

It is recommended that Cognac be consumed within a month of opening the bottle, or that the remaining liquid be placed in smaller bottles to prevent oxidization and damage to the quality of the Cognac.

12. What is meant by the term "Cognac

Winery"?

Currently, a cognac house is a company that markets cognac.

13. What is the difference between a Cognac House and a Cognac Producer?

Usually, the term "Cognac House" refers to a wholesaler, while Producer refers to a producer who makes Cognac, and may also be a retailer.

14. How many Cognac houses are there?

There are around 300 Cognac houses (wholesalers) in the Cognac region, almost 600 retailers and a few cooperatives.