Sarah Knowles MW welcomes Yvan Meyer of Chateau d’Orignac in our first virtual spirit event looking at a classic French style of brandy – Cognac. Learn all about Cognac’s style, its history and heritage and the Château itself.
Château d’Orignac has been owned by the Meyer family for several generations and has been producing grapes for over 800 years. Now run by Yvan and his father, Hervé, the 20-hectare vineyard is located in the heart of the Cognac appellation on gently rolling limestone slopes near the Gironde estuary, 50km south of Cognac in the Fins Bois appellation.
The vineyards, which share the estate with arable fields and a small herd of Limousin cattle, are planted with ugni blanc, colombard, merlot and cabernet sauvignon, the first two varieties for Cognac, the latter pair for his sublime Pineau des Charentes.