Beneath the rolling hills of the Cognac appellation lies a winemaking philosophy written in geological codes. Over millennia, the land has shaped its signature soil—they’re not merely the physical supports for vines but also the ecosystem engineers that breathe life into Cognac. Therefore, the long-term maintenance of the soil is vital to crafting exceptional Cognac.

Photo: Copyright BNIC / Aurelien Terrade

Soil maintenance lies at the heart of Cognac’s vineyard management. To maintain optimal soil health, the vineyards need to preserve natural vegetation and cultivate the crops like radishes and vetches. The root systems of these plants loosen the soil and increase porosity, allowing water to infiltrate freely and nutrients to disperse with the flow, thus nurturing thriving conditions for all the other organisms.

Photo: Copyright BNIC / CK Mariot Photography

Bio-diversity has yielded abundant benefits. Vegetation cover acts as a powerful magnet —bees flit among blossoms, pollinating grape flowers, while earthworms tunnel through the soil, ingesting and aerating the soil to enhance its fertility. This is exactly the vitality of the Cognac’s vineyards, which in the meantime also sustains a virtuous cycle that nourishes the entire ecosystem.

Photo: Copyright BNIC / Aurelien Terrade

The essence of Cognac’s flavor is a symphony of nature’s generosity and human ingenuity, from the geological composition of the soil to the meticulous maintenance. As a result, when we savor the Cognac, we are actually tasting the very heartbeat of the land, the charm of time and terroir interwoven.