Don’t worry, nobody has disappeared or been kidnapped… 1 day, 2 French departments, 3 winemakers : we drove across the Charente and visited some of our partners to collect the eaux-de-vie for our Private Cognac Cask.
« Let’s meet at 9:00 AM in Saint-Fort-sur-Gironde for the eaux-de-vie from Fins Bois, at 2:00 PM in Montchaude for the eaux-de-vie from Petite Champagne and at 4:30 PM in Salles d’Angles for the eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne. » Alongside our master blender, Jean-Philippe Bergier, I discovered how the collecting of the eaux-de-vie for the Private Cognac Cask program takes place.
PRIVATE cognac Cask, what is it ?
The Bache-Gabrielsen « Private Cognac Cask » experience offers you the possibility to purchase your own and personalized cognac cask. You can choose the growing area that suits you the best for your eau-de-vie, among three crus of the Cognac AOC. Then, with the master blender, you will follow the ageing process all the way to the bottling of your own cognac in the cellars of our Maison.
Each growing area brings its own typicity : the Fins Bois for a fruity and generous cognac, the Petite Champagne for a floral and vigorous cognac and the Grande Champagne for a floral and supple cognac.
What does the collecting involve ?
The collection of an eau-de-vie is when the master blender comes to buy the eaux-de-vie at our winemaker/distiller partners. For the Private Cognac Cask, Jean-Philippe Bergier gets eau-de-vie from each of the growing areas : Fins Bois, Petite Champagne and Grande Champagne.
Collecting an eau-de-vie at the winemaker’s is done several steps.
The first one : coffee 😉 It’s always important to take the time to catch up with the winemakers !
The second one : verify and convert the alcohol proof of the eau-de-vie and check its quality.
The last one : transfer the eau-de-vie from the casks or vat into our Bache-Gabrielsen temporary vat in order to transport them to the Maison’s cellars. From there they will then be transferred into the famous small 30-liter casks.
From one end to the other of the Cognac region
Cognac doesn’t stop in Cognac. The cognac region crosses the center-west area of France and extends, in the North, from Cognac to the top of the island “Ile de Ré”, and in the South all the way to the borders of the Bordeaux wine-growing region.
« Let’s meet at 9:00 AM in Saint-Fort-sur-Gironde in Charente-Maritime, for the Fins Bois », where we visited M.Morrisset. Winegrowers from father to son, both generations were present. On the program : collection of the eau-de-vie and visit of the on heating distillery !
« Let’s meet at 02:00 PM in Montchaude, near Barbezieux, for the Petite Champagne », where we met Céline Cahier who has taken the reins of her parents’ vineyard. On the program : collection of the eau-de-vie and advice from our master blender, winemaker and distiller himself.
Every month, from December to June, Jean-Philippe visits our different winemaker partners’ to collect the eaux-de-vie. Find him in the field next month !
Every month, from December to June, Jean-Philippe visits our different winemaker partners’ to collect the eaux-de-vie. Find him in the field next month !
Aurélia, communication and marketing apprentice
