The vineyards of Cognac, sprawling across the Charente and Charente-Maritime departments in southwestern France, form the lifeblood of the region’s world-famous spirit, covering approximately 75,000 hectares divided into six distinct crus. These rolling landscapes, kissed by a temperate maritime climate and nourished by chalky, limestone-rich soils, are dominated by Ugni Blanc grapes, which account for over 95% of plantings, alongside smaller patches of Folle Blanche and Colombard. Grande Champagne, the premier cru, boasts the deepest chalk layers, yielding elegant, long-aging eaux-de-vie, while Petite Champagne offers similar finesse with a touch more robustness; together, they form the coveted Fine Champagne blends. Borderies, the smallest cru, features clay-limestone soils that produce nutty, floral Cognacs, contrasting with the fruitier, faster-maturing vines of Fins Bois and the rustic simplicity of Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires. Tended by generations of vignerons, these vineyards—often framing historic estates like those of Rémy Martin or Uncle Nearest’s Domaine Saint Martin—thrive under strict regulations, with harvests in late September fueling the double distillation that transforms their modest grapes into Cognac’s golden legacy.
