Cognac

Question 1

Define the official category of the base Cognac used to produce Grand Marnier Quintessence (VS, XO, etc

Answer 1

XXO or Hors d’Age

Question 2

How many times is Cognac distilled

Answer 2

2x

Question 3

What is the river that runs through Cognac

Answer 3

Charente

Question 4

What soil makes Grande champagne & Petite champagne preferred for Cognac sourcing

Answer 4

soft chalk soil concentration
Coniacian
Santonian
Campanian

Question 5

Where does the term brandy originate

Answer 5

Dutch, Brandywijn “burnt wine”

Question 6

Who are the Big Four producers of Cognac

Answer 6

Hennessy
Martell
Remy Martin
Courvoisier

Question 7

What is the preferred grape of Cognac

Answer 7

Ugni Blanc (Trebbiano Toscano)
used to be Folle Blanche (Gros Plant) before Phylloxera

Question 8

Supporting grapes of Ugni Blanc for Cognac

Answer 8

Colombard
Folle Blanche
Montils
Semillon
Folignan (>10%)

Question 9

What is the target ABV for Cognac base wine

Answer 9

8.5% - 9.5%

Question 10

T or F: Cognac quality is related to keeping low grape yields in the vineyard

Answer 10

False, high yields for quantity is preferred
100 hl/ ha!

Question 11

TorF: the best grande champagne cognac grapes are hand harvested

Answer 11

False, spaced out to mechanize with ease for all vineyards

Question 12

Training system of Cognac

Answer 12

Double Guyot = higher yields

Question 13

In Cognac production, what is Premiere Chauffe

Answer 13

First Distillation, base wine into Brouillis

Question 14

In Cognac production, what is
Broullis

Answer 14

Result of 1st distillation

Question 15

In Cognac production, what is
Bonne Chauffe

Answer 15

2nd distillation, brouillis into unaged Cognac

Question 16

In Cognac production, what is
Cucurbite

Answer 16

chamber that holds brouillis for reheating

Question 17

In Cognac production, what is
Cone Tronque

Answer 17

Cone above the Cucurbite that exapnds vapors

Question 18

In Cognac production, what is
Chapiteau

Answer 18

tent above cone tronque that captures vapors

Question 19

In Cognac production, what is
Col de Cygne

Answer 19

Swan’s Neck copper pipe guides vapor to the chauffe - vin

Question 20

In Cognac production, what is
Serpentin

Answer 20

Condeser, coils under water

Question 21

In Cognac production, what is
Tetes? Queues?

Answer 21

“heads”- undesirable compounds
“tails”- last distillate, discarded

Question 22

In Cognac production, what is
Coeur?

Answer 22

“heart” - ideal core of the distillate used to produce Cognac

Question 23

What is the name of the master distiller of Cognac

Answer 23

Maitre de Chai

Question 24

What are the chai for Cognac along the Charente River?

Answer 24

humity promotes more alchohol loss “angels share” without losing aroma
accelerates aging

Question 25

What does the term 'Paradis" mean in Cognac aging

Answer 25

the heart of the chai/ cellar Best brandies are aged here

Question 26

Assign the Min. age of brandy in blend from 2-14, to each of the 7 Cognac cateogies VS Superieur VSOP Vielle Reserve Napoleon XO XXO

Answer 26

VS- 2 Superieur- 3 VSOP- 4 Vielle Reserve- 5 Napoleon- 6 XO- 10 XXO- 14

Question 27

How many years of age would a Cognac be with Hors d'age, Ancestral, Gold or IMperial on label

Answer 27

10 years

Question 28

How many years of age would a Cognac have with Tres Vieux, Heritage or Supreme on label

Answer 28

6 years

Question 29

prefered glass for brandy service

Answer 29

snifter is classic but tulip is preferred

Question 30

T or F: Most Armagnac is distilled only by Charentais pot still like Cognac

Answer 30

False Also Copper Continous still

Question 31

Name an Armagnac producer

Answer 31

Domaine Tariquet Chateau Laubade Larressingle Domaine d'Esperance Darroze

Question 32

List Armagnac aging requirment with the mathcing term VS VSOP XO or Hord'age Vintage

Answer 32

VS - 1-3 yrs VSOP- 4-9 yrs XO or Hors d'age- 10+ yrs Vintage 10+ years

Question 33

What grapes are used in Spanish Brandy

Answer 33

Airen Palomino

Question 34

Name a Spanish Brandy Producer

Answer 34

Torres Lustau Osborne

Question 35

Pisco is a style of what spirit

Answer 35

Brandy

Question 36

Review the Eau de Vie regions outside of Cognas, Armagnac, Calvados in france Mark! Mark! Make Beatiful Cherry Pears!

Answer 36

Marc de Bourgogne: An Eau-de-vie de marc (pomace brandy) made from the skins and seeds leftover from Burgundy wine production. Marc de Champagne: Similar to Burgundy, this is the pomace brandy of the Champagne region. It is often used to make Ratafia de Champagne. Mirabelle de Lorraine: A fruit brandy made from the small, sweet yellow Mirabelle plums of the Lorraine region in northeast France. Kirsch d'Alsace: A clear, potent fruit brandy distilled from cherries in Alsace. (Note: Alsace is the powerhouse for fruit distillates). Eau-de-vie de Poire du Val de Loire: A prestigious pear brandy (Williams pear) from the Loire Valley.

Question 37

Name the 4 alternative Eau de Vie regions of france: "Mark, mark! Mirror Cherry Pears! Blame Champagne, Loirrane Sace'd on the Floire

Answer 37

Marc de Bourgogne: Marc de Champagne: Mirabelle de Lorraine: Kirsch d'Alsace: Eau-de-vie de Poire du Val de Loire: