Cognac Crus (Growing Regions)

Unique Island Cognacs In order for brandy to be deemed "Cognac", it must meet the BNIC standards, including production from grapes originating from one of the six cognac appellations or growing regions in the Charente region of southwest France, including Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires, Bois à Terroirs, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. Île de Ré is situated just off the Charente coast, and forms a part of the Bois à Terroirs appellation....

The Cognac Delimited Region The Cognac Delimited Region is located at the north of the Aquitaine basin, bordering the Atlantic Ocean. To the West, it borders the Gironde estuary and the islands of Ré and Oléron and to the East it neighbors the region of Angoulême and the Massif Central foothills. The landscape is formed by plains and small hills with smooth reliefs. The Charente river crosses the region, nourished by other streams: the Né,...

Cognac Ageing Designations Through History Cognac age classifications have changed throughout the centuries. When Cognac was first produced in the Charente in the early 1600’s, it was unaged distilled grape wine from grapes grown in the region, therefore there was no need for cognac ageing designations. Distilled wine or brandy, produced in and around the town of Cognac was called "Cognac". Within a hundred years or so, Cognac Houses began to experiment with aging their Cognacs...

Here are the six crus (growing regions) in Cognac, listed in order of importance: Grande Champagne Petite Champagne Borderies Fins Bois Bons Bois Bois Ordinaires Cognac is produced exclusively in the Cognac region of France, which is divided into six growing regions, known as "crus." The six crus are Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires. Each cru has its own unique soil, climate, and topography, which can affect the flavor and character of the grapes...