Cognac: The Seductive Saga of the World's Most Coveted Spirit"Rich in history and admirable scholarship. . . . It's a fine grande champagne of a book, to be savored over and over." -Patricia Wells, author of The Provence Cookbook Called the "brandy of the gods" by Victor Hugo, Cognac is a universal symbol of refinement and quality. In the first comprehensive history of this celebrated drink, Kyle Jarrard charts Cognac's birth in the 1500s and its transformation into the world's most coveted brandy. Along the way, he reveals how Cognac distillers weathered vineyard die-offs, the German occupation, and other challenges over the years-and offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Hennessy, Remy-Martin, Courvoisier, Martell, and other legendary brands. For any Cognac lover, this fascinating book will make the perfect gift. Kyle Jarrard (Paris, France) is a senior editor at the International Herald Tribune and author of the highly acclaimed novels Over There and Rolling the Bones. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Much Ado about Salt and Wine | 21 |
The Difficult Birth of an EaudeVie | 35 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Cognac: The Seductive Saga of the World's Most Coveted Spirit Kyle Jarrard No preview available - 2005 |
Common terms and phrases
alcohol American Angoulême Aquitaine aromas Audemard Augier Aunis barrels became began berlandieri blend Bordeaux Borderies bottles of Cognac brandy called century Charente River Charente valley clients Cognac country Cognac houses Cognac industry Cognac makers Cognac traders colombard Courvoisier Delamain Deret distillation drink eau-de-vie England English especially Europe exports Fillioux Fins Bois flavors folle blanche France France's François French German Giraud glass Grande Champagne grapes half harvest hectares hectoliters Hennessy Henri hundred Jarnac Jean king Klaebisch La Rochelle land Litho Bru Louis Martell million bottles Munson Napoleon nearly Paris percent Pernod Ricard Petite Champagne Peyrelongue phylloxera plants Poitiers Poitou ports Protestant region Rémy Martin Rochelle rootstocks Saint-Jean-d'Angély Saintes Saintonge salt says sell shipments ships stocks sugar taste taxes things thousands took town trade turned Viala vines vineyards VSOP whiskey wine winegrowers