ARMAGNAC ENCANTADA: A New Independent Bottler in Armagnac

Armagnac L'Encantada

K&LWINES tells us all about it!

L’Encantada is a new armagnac independent bottlerwhich has been bringing out excellent Armagnacs says K&LWines.

To understand what makes this stuff special, you have to understand a little bit about Armagnac. French brandy production, especially in Armagnac, is much different than the American distilled spirits industry. There are a few large producers, but by in large, Armagnac is made by farmers and wine makers who distill some of their extra grapes in a travelling still that comes around to the farms.

Many of them just stick the casks in their barns and basements, a little bit here, a little bit there. Eventually they will bottle them, maybe for family and friends, maybe for small markets, or sell them to a larger company that bottles brandy or even makes liqueur; it's sort of a Gascon retirement fund.

L'Encantada was essentially knocking on farm doors and asking to buy these casks.  They have casks from around seven small producers, a number of which only made brandy for a limited time, and all of their brandies are bottled at cask strength without additives.

Source and Read More at: K&LWINES.com

OLD SCHOOL DISTILLING IN FRANCE

Distilling Plum brandy in France using an old school trailer potstill for home made use.
'Fait Maison'!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCx4IHx2ZqM&w=560&h=315]

Source: Youtube.com

FRANCE IS EXPECTED TO REGAIN ITS POSITION AS THE WORLD'S BIGGEST WINE PRODUCER IN 2014

Government and trade groups from Italy, France and Spain have released wine production forecasts for the year 2014, with France expected to jump over Spain and Italy to become the world’s biggest wine producer. According to France’s Ministry of Agriculture, French wine production is expected to increase by 11% this year, to 46.93 million hectoliters.

2014 Country World Largest Producers of Wines

Italy’s Associazione Enologi Enotecnici Italiani is projecting Italian wine output to fall 13.5%, from 48.2 million hectoliters last year to 41.6 million hectoliters for 2014. According to the Milan-based group, wet weather conditions are primarily to blame, with 12 of Italy’s 15 wine production regions including Piedmont, Veneto, Sicily and Puglia among others set to record volume losses that is believe to be the smallest since 1950.
Spanish wine production, meanwhile, is expected to drop by 26.3%, from 2013’s record 53.55 million hectoliters to 39.44 million hectoliters this year, according to reports from Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture.

As a result, French wines are probably going to be cheaper and more available than before. Hence, it will indirectly help the cognac where French wine might brighten the reputation and remind consumers of French alcoholic beverages.

Source: The Drinks Business‎

IN FRANCE ONE LEARNS TO SAY 'NO' BEFORE SAYING 'YES'. COULD THIS HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE FRENCH ECONOMY?

In France like pretty much everywhere in the world it is back to school or in French 'La Rentrée' at this moment.

For François Hollande, the new President of France and Jean-Marc Ayrault, the new Prime minister of France 'la rentrée' is rather paved of negative news.

First the announcement that employment reached 3 million people on the 31st July, worst results since 1999. And this figure is not going to get better in August 31st. In France everything shuts down in August.

Second, a real lack of confidence and motivation for people to become entrepreneurs in France. In a recent article from the Washington Post, the author explains that it is difficult to create start-up companies where the culture is about 'no' and 'impossible', risk aversion and lack of innovativeness. One may find many French innovators outside of France right now but they may have left for a reason.

Third, less than 24 hours ago all the economic newspapers have announced that France is not ranked any more in the top 20 most competitive countries in the world according to the Davos World Economic Forum. France is ranked 21st, lost 3 positions in 12 months.

Motivation to excel and the possibility to fail and the likelihood of coming out quickly out of a failure/brankruptcy may stop people to try. The Economist at the end of August had a special review on how easy it is to come out of bankruptcy and start over across different countries. America took about 12 months versus France 6 years.

Richard Branson Entrepreneur

At a time where the cognac economy is doing well one may wonder how cognac would be doing if it was made somewhere else than France! 

Could it be better in Canada, Germany, Australia, Switzerland ... I guess there are pros & cons in every country. For cognac it does not matter: in fact the owner of Hennessy, Bernard Arnault, is the richest individual in France according to the last ranking from www.challenges.fr  I wonder if they say 'yes' more often at Hennessy than any other places ...

Source: Washington Post