Cognac and Pineau, the history
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» Cognac and Pineau, the history
From wine to the "nectar of the gods"
In the beginning was the vine, grown in the Charente since ancient times. In the 13th century, the wine that it produced was much appreciated by the Court of France and other Courts further north. But sometimes the wine would become impaired during the long and expensive transport. So the traders had the idea of distilling it. The resulting eau-de-vie was drunk by adding water ; it was not yet cognac. The birth of the " nectar of the gods" (Victor Hugo), had to wait until the discovery of the double distillation process in the 16th century.
Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac website
A creative error
It is said that one day in 1589, a wine grower in the Charente, the chevalier de la Croix-Marron, poured grape must (juice) into a barrel which still contained cognac. Several years later, the absent-minded chevalier was delighted to discover a clear liquid with a totally new taste... pineau was born, in the land of cognac.
Rosé or white, a muted wine
White pineau is made with the following grape varieties : Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard, Montils, Sémillon, Sauvignon... Rosé pineau, on the other hand, is made with : Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Cognac is added to the grape must. The fermentation of the grape juice is halted. The wine is muted, and may be placed in barrels. It will age there in the same way as the great cognacs.
Pineau website
