Armagnac brandy

Armagnac is a distinctive kind of brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, Southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of grapes including Baco 22A, Colombard, Folle Blanche, and Ugni Blanc, using column stills rather than the pot stills used in Cognac. This traditional spirit has a long history dating back to the 14th century, making it one of the oldest distilled spirits in France.

Ownership of Armagnac brands varies widely, as the region is characterized by numerous small, family-owned estates and independent houses. However, some larger brands are owned by international spirits conglomerates. Because Armagnac is a protected Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC), it must be produced within the specific delimited borders of the Gers, Landes, and Lot-et-Garonne departments to legally bear the name.