Cognacs

Only eaux-de-vie made from grapes harvested and vinified in the Cognac appellation area, which includes: almost the entire Charente-Maritime department; a large part of the Charente department; and a few municipalities in the Deux-Sèvres and Dordogne departments, may be awarded the "Cognac" or "Eau-de-vie de Cognac" or "Eau-de-vie des Charentes" appellation. The age of an eau-de-vie corresponds to the age of the youngest component used in its blend. Cognac cannot be sold without a minimum of 2 years of aging.

• Cognac is traditionally the result of blending eaux-de-vie of different ages and crus, but this is not mandatory.
• The elaboration process of Cognac is framed by the specifications of the AOC Cognac guaranteeing its quality.
• Cognac retains the same age as when it was bottled, because, unlike wine, the alcohol does not evolve under glass.
• The ageing of Cognac brandies is carried out without interruption, exclusively in oak containers.