Still wines were being produced in the Cognac region as early as the 12th century. The rise of Cognac, the brandy, came courtesy of the Dutch in the 17th century who wanted brandewijn, or distilled wine, rather than normal wine for its sailors. The trade has flourished ever since, even though it came under severe pressure during the economic crises in the Far East in the late 1990s.

Cognac production is still dominated by the large firms such as Martell, Hennessey and Courvoisier. However the finest Cognacs are produced by a small selection of family-run companies where quality rather than quantity is the byword. Hine is now owned by LVMH but is still run by Jacques and Bernard Hine and produces Cognacs of distinction and class.

Delemain was founded 250 years ago and is renowned for its smooth, elegant, and wonderfully fragrant Cognacs. Frapin owns over 200 hectares of prime vineyard sites in the Grand Champagne sub-region and has been supplying Berrys for nearly a century - Frapin's Chateau de Fontpinot is consistently one of the finest Cognacs in the region.