The noble drink, which will be discussed today, has its own characteristics and a rich background. French cognac is not just a drink containing alcohol. This is a multi-stage painstaking work of many people and many years spent on achieving a good result.
What is cognac?
According to terminology, cognac is a strong drink with a high alcohol content. Moreover, this brandy is made only from certain grape varieties. There is a specific production technology, all necessary conditions and nuances must be observed, namely: double distillation of dry wine from grapes and further exposure of the obtained raw materials (distillation) in special oak barrels.
French cognac is produced in several departments of the country. This is Charente, De Sevres, Dordogne. The most significant city in the history of the drink is Cognac, but Segonzak and Zharnak are considered equally important.
The emergence of brandy
As far back as the 3rd century, the Roman emperor Probus was given permission to engage in winemaking. Already in those days in the territory where French cognac is produced today, the mass planting of vineyards, which exist to this day, began.
As for more modern documents, in 1909 a decree was issued in France, according to which products called "cognac" can be produced only in a certain territory. The established borders included French departments, distinguished not only by an extremely favorable climate for viticulture, but also by unique calcareous soils. It is believed that fruits grown in another locality do not have the taste properties necessary for cognac.
Harvesting
The optimal time for the preparation of raw materials for the drink is mid-autumn. In order to get real French cognac, only a few varieties of white grapes are used. Of these, Uny Blanc (Trebbiano) is considered the most common. This acidic grape variety has a high yield, it ripens slowly, but is quite resistant to disease. Can also be used Colombard, Folle Blanche or Montil. They allow cognac to acquire new taste shades, but it is very complex and capricious to grow.
Production stages
After the harvest is harvested and brought to special warehouses, the best French cognacs begin to produce. Consider this process in stages:
- Spin juice from grapes. Involved horizontal presses that do not crush the seeds of berries. Traditional screw are strictly prohibited by law.
- Fermentation. The resulting juice is fermented for three weeks. At the same time, sugar is not added so as not to spoil the quality of brandy alcohol (this is also prohibited). The resulting wine (with an alcohol content of 9%) is sent for distillation.
- Obtaining primary base alcohol (raw). This is the first stage of distillation that sets the future cognac taste and character. The extraction of 30% alcohol is carried out without filtration. All wine is distilled, including sediment.
- Getting the final brandy spirit of high quality. This is secondary distillation, dividing the feed into three fractions. A fraction of 70% of the fortress (second) is placed in oak barrels, exposed to aging and becomes cognac itself.
We will talk about the last stage of production in more detail.
Aging, or ripening, cognac
As you know, the finished alcohol obtained from grape juice is placed in special oak barrels. This is necessary in order for the future cognac to be filled with additional taste shades and aromas, to become a pleasant golden color.
Oak barrels are often made by hand, without violating the integrity of the tree trunk (this is important). After their shape is set, firing begins. Thus, the structure of the tree softens, and a small layer of burnt sugar is formed on the inner surface of the barrel, which also affects the aromatic and taste qualities of cognac.
The drink should ripen for at least two years, but no more than 70. For the first time of exposure, it extracts the necessary tannins, sugars, amino acids, oils, resins and enzymes from wood. There is simply no need to increase the ripening period of brandy. After 70 years of aging, its taste remains almost unchanged.
Cognac is stored in the cellars. First, ripening takes place in barrels, and then it is poured into glass bottles. In addition to aging and the grapes used, French cognac (its name) differs depending on the area where it was produced.
What are the qualities of cognac?
As we have already said, there are three main criteria for evaluating a drink: grape variety, locality, and aging time. If the first two are spelled out on the bottle without abbreviations, then the latter has its own characteristics. The longer cognac ripened, the better. However, the legislation established that it is difficult to control cognac aging over 6.5 years. Therefore, today the following are considered the most common drinks:
- Very Special (VS) - minimum shutter speed (2 years).
- Superior - ripening for at least three years.
- Very Superior Old Pale (VSOP), Very Old (VO), Reserve - four-year exposure.
- Very Very Superior Old Pale (VVSOP) - ripening for 5 years.
- Extra Old (XO) - excerpt more than six years.
According to these standards, French cognac is classified.
Names - Napoleon, Royal, Tres, etc. - indicate the brand, not the brand. There are drinks with aging for more than seven years, but their cost is extremely high, they are considered collectible.
Cognac "French standard"
This is a drink made according to a specific technology, in accordance with all its inherent traditions. The name "Cognac" French standard "5 stars" suggests that this drink is strong, tart on the palate thanks to the VSOP aging. The bottling of this brandy is carried out in Russia, but the source materials can only be used original ones (i.e. from France). In the taste of this cognac you can feel the fruit shades, warm floral notes. The finish gives a honey aroma and raisins. The color of the drink can be seen through the clear glass of the bottle - it should be copper-gold. He can rightfully be given the name "French cognac", while the price is much lower. The explanation is simple - local bottling, but not the worst quality.
Cognac "French Order"
In addition to the greatest French manufacturers, in our country there are also wineries that produce high-quality products, much more affordable. One of the most striking examples is the city of Kaliningrad. It is here that the factory that produces the best brands of cognac, wine and various tinctures is located.
The French Order is a five-star drink. This brandy is aged for five years in our country. Of course, as elsewhere in the world, cognac spirit is delivered from France, but bottling is carried out with us. Thanks to this, the price of good products is significantly reduced, and the taste is impeccable and unique.
This brandy is more likely a drink for men. It is quite sturdy and tough. It is better for a fair half of humanity to consume cognac with less years of aging, when its taste is more delicate and soft. The "French Order" is beautifully packaged, such a present will be appropriate for any occasion.
How to drink cognac?
How and with what to drink this drink? There is a whole art. In order to fully appreciate the taste of cognac, you have to work hard.
- We start with the choice of dishes. Experts advise a tulip glass, but a traditional spherical glass may come up.
- Before tasting the drink, you need to evaluate its color. The lighter the shade, the lower the exposure for cognac. Color ranges from straw yellow to fiery red.
- It is necessary to inhale the aroma of cognac. You can feel both floral and fruity notes, the shades of the smells of hazelnuts or chestnuts, citrus fruits ... After a while, shake the glass and inhale again: let the drink open.
- You should try cognac in small sips. So that the entire oral cavity feels its complex taste and personality.
Cognac is appropriate in a close circle, warm atmosphere, in harmony and tranquility. As gourmets say, other drinks and French cognac are consumed separately. Reviews of connoisseurs agree that it should be at room temperature. As a complement, black coffee and a piece of chocolate are suitable.
As for the dishes, walnut or cream soufflé, our favorite charlotte and all kinds of hard cheeses go very well with cognac. It is equally successful to combine this drink with seafood and meat dishes (from veal).
But if we talk about cocktails, then tonics or other carbonated drinks are suitable for cognac. Lemon or orange juice will also be good. Proportions are taken on average 1: 3, i.e. 20 ml of brandy is diluted with 60 ml of tonic or juice. Ice is welcome. It is worth noting that for the manufacture of cocktails, young cognac is recommended. Aged is best consumed undiluted.
Learning to choose cognac
In order not to make a mistake in choosing and buy a real grape brandy, special attention should be paid to its label. Here is what is indicated on a bottle of quality cognac:
- Name (it should be spelled out that this drink is cognac).
- The volume of the bottle.
- On the front of the label should indicate the number of revolutions in percent (strength of the drink).
- The address of the company and its legal name.
- Appellation affiliation (e.g. Grande Champagne Appellation Contrôlée).
NBK (National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognac) is responsible for controlling the production and bottling of the drink. And remember: the cost in this case directly depends on the quality of the product. If you come across French cognac, the price of which is suspiciously low, think three times before purchasing it.