Cognac & Grape brandies

DREAM BANDS

Grape brandies such as Cognac and Armagnac from France, Pisco, Brandy and from Spain, Chile and Peru, as well as Marc from Switzerland

Grape brandies are eaux-de-vie. This means that a base wine is first produced from grapes, which is then distilled into a spirit. Like other high-quality spirits, grape brandies are drunk at room temperature or slightly chilled.

The elegant Cognac is produced in the eponymous town of Cognac in western France and in the surrounding regions. It is therefore a protected designation of origin. The Cognac regions are called Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois and Bons Bois. The most famous Cognac houses are Hennessy, Rémi Martin and Martell. However, there are also smaller, highly respected estates such as Gourmel and Tesseron. Cognac is available with different ages. V.S. Cognac refers to cognac that is at least two years old. V.S.O.P Cognac is also called Vieux or V.O. Cognac. It is at least four years old. The age indication Napoléon, also known as X.O. or très vieux, refers to Cognac that is at least six years old. Most Cognac merchants use much older eaux-de-vie for production than is prescribed for the designations. Most houses have a so-called paradise, a place where they store extremely old cognac. The particularly exquisite Cognac variations contain portions of these old bottles and are extremely precious. Cognac has flavours of flowers and fruit, but also spicy aromas. It is always matured in barrels.

Armagnac is the oldest known French spirit and is produced in south-west France. Similar to cognac, there are the age designations VS, VSOP, Hors d'Age and XO and Armagnac is also always matured in barrels. However, the decisive difference to Cognac lies in the production process. While Cognac is produced using the double distillation process, Armagnac is only distilled once. Famous wineries are Ferté de Partenay and Laberdolive. The white grape varieties Ugni Blanc, Baco Blanc, Colombard and Folle Blanche are used. As there are many vintage Armagnacs, it is particularly attractive as a birthday present.

Brandy generally refers to any brandy. However, the most famous brandy from the Spanish region of Jerez is also called brandy. These spirits are matured in the solera system, which gives them very nutty flavours and guarantees consistent quality over many years. Famous brandies are the Carlos from Osborne and the Lepanto from Gonzalez Byass. But there are also excellent results from Lustau and Ximénez-Spínola.

Pisco comes from Chile and Peru, with premium pisco being produced primarily in Peru. Pisco is usually a very fruity eau-de-vie that is characterised by the aroma of the grape varieties. The fruity flavour comes from the fact that pisco is not aged in barrels.

In Switzerland and in many regions of France, grape brandy is called Marc. Beautiful products from Switzerland are produced by the Obrecht and Niklaus Zahner wineries..

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