Grape Varieties
Brisson Cognac > About Cognac > Grape Varieties
Originally from Italy, or Tuscany to be precise, the Ugni Blanc remains the grape variety most grown in France. Especially predominant in Provence and Corsica, it is also found in the Hérault, Gard, Gers and Gironde regions of France. Although it is most famous for its part in Cognac, it is also used to make vin d'appellation d'origine and vin de pays.
A robust vine, which grows neatly, Ugni Blanc also has a high yield of fruit, which grows late in the season, thus protected from spring frosts. However, it is very sensitive to winter frosts, to mildew and to eutypa disease. It is highly resistant to oidium and other fungal diseases. Its branches are sensitive to the wind, especially after early fruiting, when the branches emanating from from old wood can become detached
It produces very large, long and wing-shaped bunches of grapes, of average-sized spherical grapes, which turn from golden yellow to amber with enough sunshine, and which mature pink, or even coppery red on dry and very sunny hillsides. In the Charentes the Ugni Blanc wines are very acidic, with a limited aroma, which suits our purpose perfectly, as strongly-flavoured wines produce overpowering eau-de-vie which becomes imbalanced with ageing.
It is impossible to separate this vine from Cognac, as it is one of the oldest Charentais grape varieties. However, in modern times it has decreased in popularity, with Ugni Blanc replacing it. This decrease is despite its success in conquering the world, most notably in California, where it is knozn as French Colombard.
A fairly strong and fairly upright vine, it is very fertile and resists the wind. However, it is highly sensitive to oidium, mildew, to grape leaf hoppers and to botrytis or grey rot. Its early fruiting exposes it to spring frosts and it is very difficult to prune in winter.
It produces average-sized, cylindrical bunches of grapes, made up of average-sized, oval grapes, golden white in colour, with juicy flesh. It produces a spirited, fine and full-bodied wine. It is renowned for its nutty and strong flavour, which makes it ideal for producing Pineau des Charentes.
A fairly robust vine, it is mainly found on the left bank of the Gironde and in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. In recent years, it has become the third most grown variety in France, but it is also widespread in all of the main wine-producing countries: from America to Australia, South Africa to China, although its progress is now slowing.
It likes cool ground which retains moisture during the summer. As a consequence, dry hillsides do not suit it, and bunches develop poorly and the grapes remain small. It fruits relatively early, which makes it vulnerable to frost. It is sensitive to grey rot, mildew to grape worms and grape leaf hoppers.
These vines produce shimmering blue-black grapes, taking their name from la mer (the sea in French). The aroma of its wine evoke roasted red fruits, spices and sometimes even plums when the grapes are very mature.
Often associated with Cabernet-Sauvignon, it lends flexibility to the collection and allows us to produce a Rosé Pineau des Charentes of the highest order.
An excellent Médoc vine, Cabernet-Sauvignon gives the grands crus of the left bank of the Gironde all of its character. Introduced to Spain, this vine has been taken from there to the New World. It is one of the best representatives of French vines abroad, growing with equal success in both hemispheres.
Cabernet-Sauvignon lends itself to being grown and harvested: It is highly resistant to heat, contains significant amounts of tanin, and excellently accompanies other grape varieties. As it is very late to fruit, it doesn't suffer at the hands of spring frosts and its resistance to fungal diseases, with the exception of oidium is excellent. The adult leaves, similar to those of the Merlot, are separated into five distinct parts. The bunches are small to average in size, sometimes wing-shaped and not compact, with little hard, blue-black grapes. This variety yields top class grape juice, which is dark in colour and has a characteristic nose.
