Armagnac

Armagnac is a wine brandy produced in the French departments of Gers, Landes and Lot-et-Garonne, with geographically more limited names: bas-armagnac, armagnac-ténarèze (or ténarèze ) and Haut-Armagnac. The mention blanche-armagnac (or white armagnac) shares the same production area, but with somewhat specific specifications. All these names owe their name to the former province of Armagnac, which constitutes part of the South West vineyards.

Armagnac was produced in the Middle Ages, but its massive production began in the 17th century and reached its peak in the 19th century. Eauze (in Bas-Armagnac) and Condom (in Ténarèze), both in the Gers, are its historic and economic centers.

Armagnacs are made by distilling dry white wines. Various products are affected by these appellations, with alcohols of increasing age, this duration representing the time spent in oak barrels. Their alcoholic strengths are greater than or equal to 40% by volume. In 2010, 2,105 hectares3 of vines were used to produce Armagnac, with a production that year of 18,900 hectoliters of pure alcohol (the equivalent of just over six million bottles of 70 cl).