May 16-17, 2013
Angoulême, France

The Cognac experience

Cognac became one of the main centres of commercial activity in the Angoulême and Saintonge areas, thanks to its river port, the salt and wine trades and finally trading in eaux-de-vie Cognac is the leading European wine area when it comes to growing a single variety of white grape, and the second biggest AOC or "Appellation d'origine controlée" wine area in France in terms of land area. The Cognac area is itself divided into six ‘cru' - which include Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois - located concentrically around Cognac itself.

Spread over the Charente and neighbouring Charente-Maritime, the cognac vineyards cover nearly 80,000 hectares (about 200,000 acres) in all, split between 5,230 different producers. Four bottles of cognac are consumed each second in the world!

Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. Consume in moderation.