The Charente Scene – Autumn 2018

Following the magnificent export results for 2017 -2018, the BNIC agreed a rather high rate of harvest for the production of cognac this year at 14.64 hectolitres of alcohol pure per hectare of vineyard.  In essence, this means that cognac producers in the Charente have been allowed to produce more cognac this year than is usual.    The dry summer that followed the spring hailstorms was a godsend and the harvest has been fantastic.  So good in fact the farmers are finding that they do not have sufficient wine tanks to hold all the eau de vie!   Not only that, the quality of the wine is extremely high; it has a low alcohol content, perfect for making cognac.  So, despite a shaky start to the season, it looks like 2018 will be a bumper year in the Cognac region.