Eau-de-vie was traditionally stored in oak barrels and one day, a delay in loading the boats left the barrels on the quayside. Far from affecting the quality of the product, the liquid was found to have improved with age and could even be drunk undiluted. Local merchants quickly expanded their international market and by the 19th century, cognac was being widely exported in bottles. A major industry had been born.

Stroll the streets of Cognac today for the full flavour of a town which has dedicated itself to its prestige product. Walk beneath Porte Saint-Jacques, gateway from the river in the Middle Ages. Flanked by twin round towers, it leads to the Château des Valois, birthplace of François 1 in 1494 and home to today to Maison Otard cognac.

See the rose window and Romanesque facade of Saint-Léger church; browse the fresh produce in the wrought iron covered market; and watch the world go by from a café terrace in Place François 1. The perfect spot to savour a glass of the amber nectar.

The authentic taste of cognac comes from a combination of many things – a gentle climate, the influence of the Atlantic ocean, and a rich variety of soils. The AOC certification that ensures quality product from a specific area was granted in 1936 and today 5,600 vineyards cover an area of 75,000 hectares, making the vineyards of the Charente and Charente-Maritime departments the largest single vineyard in Europe for white grapes, most of them used in the production of cognac.

More than 21,000 people work to produce and market the 130 million bottles that are sold every year in more than 100 countries throughout the world, and with almost 95% of production being exported to the United States, Asia and Europe, cognac is a real economic force representing 1.2 billion euros a year.

>> More information on Cognac products

The countryside around Cognac may be largely covered in vineyards, but there’s a surprising variety in the landscape. One of the best ways to explore Cognac Country and learn more about the product, is by following one of the colour-coded Cognac Trails – Les Etapes du Cognac – which start in the town and are clearly signposted for drivers.