Cognac is an AOC-protected brandy from the Charente and Charente-Maritime departments in southwestern France. The region is divided into six crus ranked by quality potential: Grande Champagne (finest, longest-aging), Petite Champagne, Borderies (smallest, distinctive violet and iris notes), Fins Bois, Bons Bois, and Bois Ordinaires. Production requires double distillation in copper pot stills (alembic charentais) and minimum aging in French oak. Major houses include Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell, and Courvoisier. Age designations — VS (minimum 2 years), VSOP (minimum 4 years), XO (minimum 10 years) — govern the category. Ugni Blanc is the dominant grape variety.
