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Coming from the best vineyards and transported in ships to Northern European countries, the Poitou, La Rochelle, and d'Angoumois wines have been greatly appreciated by the English, the Dutch, and the Scandinavians since the 13th Century.
Starting from the 12th Century, they were transformed in eau-de-vie (literally, "water of life") to later become Cognac following an ageing process in oak casks. And this is how the adventure of a city that was to become the capital of a world class business begins.

3rd Century

Expansion of the Saintonge vineyards: The roman emperor Probus extends to all Gauls the privilege of owning vineyards and growing wine.

12th Century

William X, Duke of Guyenne and Count of Poitiers creates a large vineyard known as the "Vignoble de Poitou".

13th Century

The Vignoble de Poitou produces wines that are transported by Dutch ships that bring salt to the area to Northern European Countries, where they are greatly appreciated. Thanks to him, in the Middle Ages and in the Charente region, a mentality that favors commerce is born.
The vineyard progressively expands inwards, occupying Saintonge and Angoumois. By then, the city of Cognac becomes distinguished by its wine commerce, which adds to its salt-stocking activity, in operation since the 11th Century.

16th Century

Dutch ships come to Cognac and Charentais ports in search for the famous wines of the "Champagne" and the "Borderies" growth areas.
The Aunis vineyards produce such quantities of wine that its sale become quite difficult, all the more given their low quality, since long sea journeys affect both the quality and taste of these wines.
At this time, Dutch merchants start using it in their new distilleries. They transform it into "brandwijn" or burnt wine, from which the word "Brandy" originates. To recreate the initial wine, the Dutch drink this beverage mixed with water.

17th Century

At the beginning of the century double distillation is introduced in the region, allowing the product to travel in an unalterable eau-de-vie form; Given its higher concentration compared to that of wine, its transportation was not as onerous. The Dutch are the first to install stills in Charente, though these are progressively modified. Finally, it is the French who master and improve the technique with the double distillation procedure. By chance, after suffering delays from changing ships, it was discovered that the spirit, if drunk pure, was smooth and round after ageing in oak casks.

18th Century

From the end of the 17th century, and most especially from the beginning of the 18th century, the market becomes organized. In order to meet the demand, "Trading Posts" -most of them of an Anglo-Saxon origin- are created in the region's major cities. Some of them still exist nowadays. They collect eaux-de-vie products and establish long-term commercial relationships with their buyers in Holland, England, Northern Europe, and later in America and the Far East.

19th Century

During the mid-19th century many trading houses begin to dispatch the spirit in bottles instead of in casks. In turn, this new form of commerce gives birth to related industries such as glassmaking (since 1885 Claude Boucher works with full dedication in the St. Martin de Cognac glass factory, with the aim of automating bottle-making procedures), case-making, corks, and printing. The Vignoble now occupies nearly 280 000 hectares. Around 1875, the phylloxera plague hits the Charente region and destroys most of the vineyards, leaving only 40 000 hectares by 1893. This tragedy shall give birth in 1888 to a Wine-Growing Committee, which is then transformed into a Wine-Producing Station in 1892. However, many years of efforts and patience are necessary in order to recover the region's economy.

20th Century

The Vignoble's reconstruction takes place very slowly using American stock that is resistant to phylloxera attacks. Somewhat fragile due to grafting, traditional varieties (Colombard, Folle Blanche…) are little by little replaced by the Ugni Blanc variety, which is more resistant and is still used for more than 90 per cent of the Cognac production. On May 1st, 1909, the geographical area for production is delimited. From 1936, Cognac is recognized as a Controlled Apellation of Origin. During the Second World War, the wine and eaux-de-vie distribution bureau is created to preserve the stock of Cognac. When the war ends, it is replaced by the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac, to which the Wine Producing Station is associated in 1948. Henceforth, all the stages involved in Cognac elaboration are subject to regulations destined to protect the product, and thus its reputation is increasingly known and respected.

21st Century

Cognac is exported to over 150 countries. Regardless of the way it is consumed, it is, from the Far East to the American continent and in Europe, a synonym of a product of great quality, a symbol of France, and its art of living. Given it is a luxury product, it is sensitive to the world's politico-economical context and as such is closely watched by professionals, since an increasing international competition would make its quality, its uniqueness, and authenticity unrivalled.

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