Organic
Cognac
What is the difference between Organic and Conventional Cognac?
It is often overlooked that Cognac is directly made from the distillation of fermented grape juice – or wine as it is better known! – meaning the first stages of its production process will involve cultivating vines (you can check-out our article making Cognac to learn about the full process). The main difference between organic and conventional Cognac lies in the production methods and tools chosen to manage a vineyard itself: essentially, the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides is not permitted in organic production methods, providing better guarantees for the environment and biodiversity, which is the heart the the whole organic approach.
Why choose an organic Cognac?
The Cognac designation is a genuine seal of quality for any consumer looking for an authentic product crafted according to a timeless know-how, originating from the Cognac region in France. Choosing an organic cognac guarantees that a set of extra standards have been taken into consideration throughout its production cycle to make it environment friendly.
A synthetic chemicals and GMO free product
Organic agriculture rules out the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides during the winegrowing process. Natural inputs such as animal compost or nutrients provided by plants and cover crops are favoured for fertilization, sulphur can be used to treat common fungal diseases and weeding is mostly done mechanically.
Preserving soils & groundwater
The use of synthetic pesticides has shown to have an adverse effect on soil balance and traces of it can be found in streams and groundwater around crops and cultivation areas. Choosing an organic product guarantees that the production methods have a limited impact on soils and groundwater.
A wildlife & biodiversity friendly product
While the presence of specific insects can have a detrimental impact on the health of wine plants, organic agriculture actually strives to create a suitable habitat for wildlife and a rich biodiversity with the aim of naturally encouraging pest control by other species. Methods such as seeding vineyards alleys or hay planting can be used with that purpose in mind. Excluding the use of chemicals such as neonicotinoids based pesticides also has a favourable impact on the preservation of insects and birds populations in our countryside.
Supporting local organic winegrowers
Is Organic Cognac more expensive?
Organic products often tend to cost slightly more than conventional items because they will comparatively require more labor and be less available. This is very true for Cognac, particularly because organically grown vineyards require a lot of extra attention and due to their limited cultivation areas (less than 1% of the overall delimited geographical area). However, other factors have to be taken into consideration while looking at the price of a Cognac bottle such as the age labelling (VS, VSOP, XO etc.), alcohol percentage and to some extent, the “cru” and grape variety.
Which Organic label to trust?
There are numbers of labels when it comes to organic products to the point that it can sometimes become a little confusing. Generally speaking, you can rely on the USDA guidelines for the USA and the European Commission for reliable and clear indications.