cognac

A couple of weeks ago, my parents came to visit. I have a cousin in Cognac, and we paid her a visit. Her husband works for Martell, so we took a tour of the grounds:





The smell of the cognac was strong in most of the rooms. We learned that the cognac we drink is a blend from different barrels and ages. Mainly Ugni Blanc grapes, a white grape, are used, one of the three that are required by French law to be called "Cognac". French law also says that it must be aged at least two years in oak barrels.

What is also interesting is that there's a certain type of bacteria that thrives on something that is given off in the manufacturing process, and this affects the town. My cousin told me that when they moved into their house, they power-washed the outer walls to reveal the light-yellow stone from under the dark colored bacteria.



River Charente.



Hennessey castle thing - I guess they make cognac there too :-p.



An abandoned abbey.