Cognac

Many thanks to our friends here who earlier this year offered Elo and I a night in a Gite for Elo's belated 25th Birthday. We finally found a free weekend and headed south to the region of Charente, France. Probably most famous for the town of Cognac and the subsequently named sprit that is so famous around the world.
The region is well suited to the making of Cognac because of the type of soil available there and the apparent microclimate that aids the growth of the best grapes for making Cognac, the Ugni Blanc white grapes.


The grapes are distilled to make an eau-de-vie, or water of life, then aged for any period more than two years. They are then mixed to combine flavours and aromas to make a nice tasting Cognac.

Not the best shot, but these two flasks contain an eau-de-vie that was distilled in the year 1800.

Barrels of ageing eau-de-vies.

Enough learning, the tour at the Hennessy Cognac sheds was very interesting, and the taste testing at the end quite enjoyable too. Although I didn't get to taste the Hennessy Eclipse, at about €3000 a bottle or around €200 for the glass, you'll understand.
So instead of the outrageously priced Cognacs, we brought home a few bottles of the more reasonable Pineau des Charente. A great, sweat drink for aperitif.

This was the town of La Rochelle we past through going to Cognac. There are three old towers that guard the old Port.
Calm and Peaceful.