International holidays - Cognac Day

On the first day of April, connoisseurs of the exquisite alcoholic drink cognac celebrate his birthday. This drink is the pride of France; it is created in strict accordance with technology. It is a type of brandy, i.e., a wine distillate, made not only from a specific grape variety, but also in a certain area - the town of Cognac, located in the Charente department. The date for Cognac Day was not chosen by chance. It is related to the technology of its production, determined by the regulations. The regulations were first created in 1909, and it is in it that the area in which real cognac can be produced is designated. All other drinks produced outside the Charente department have no right to be called cognac. Manufacturers must market them as brandy. According to the generally accepted norm, the wine distillate, which is cognac, must withstand the entire winter. And in the spring the drink needs to be poured into barrels. Moreover, this must be done strictly before April 1. Otherwise, the production process will be disrupted and the valuable product will be damaged. This requirement is due to the changeable spring weather in the region. Warming and temperature fluctuations are detrimental to the drink. It is from April 1 that the aging or maturation of cognac begins. It starts at one in the morning, when the distillation of new wine from the latest harvest officially stops. According to French law, the minimum period of aging in the cellar is 2 years. Only after this the drink can be served to the table. Before this, it is not considered ready for consumption. Cognac is aged exclusively in oak barrels charred from the inside, and not any wood is suitable for making barrels. They are made by hand from oak trees over 80 years old that grow in the Limousin and Tronçais forests. The maximum aging period is not limited, but usually does not exceed 70 years. After 70 years in an oak barrel, the characteristics of the drink no longer change, so there is no point in further aging. Cognac Day is a holiday little known to the general public. Only true gourmets know about it - connoisseurs of this type of brandy, as well as its producers. This date is celebrated on a grand scale only in the homeland of cognac - in the city of the same name in the Charente department. There are folk festivals, performances and performances by artists. Cognac tastings are always held. Celebrate cognac's birthday with a glass of this exquisite drink with a rich history. You can drink it in the traditional French way - with chocolate, good coffee and a cigarette, or in the Russian manner - with a slice of lemon. Residents and guests of Moscow can also visit the Museum of the History of Cognac, located at the KiN wine and cognac factory.