The Cognac region lies west of the Massif Central and north of Bordeaux...

Grapes are delicate things. The last weekend in May 2016 saw hailstorms destroy fruit on the vine across Chablis, Beaujolais, and Cognac.

Over a ten-year period in the mid-19th century French geologist Henri Coquand carried out the first scientific study of a wine-producing region.

In many ways the river Charente, which flows from Hute-Vienne to the Atlantic, made the Cognac region.

Long before the grapes reach the press, before they’re even picked, yeasts are there waiting for an opportunity.

If we look at some of the flavours we find in Cognac we can start to pinpoint styles where these characteristics will be dominant.

The department of Calvados is about three hours west of Paris and six hours south of Portsmouth.

The Armagnac region of Gascony in Southwest France is 300km south of Cognac and 100km east of the Atlantic.

Crack open a copy of the Bon Vivant’s Companion or the Flowing Bowl and you’ll find them filled with serves that call for Cognac, or simply brandy.