Introduction

Europe’s number one Cognac, Martell was relaunched in Ireland in 2002, and quickly gained the number two position. Despite the popularity of Cognac, some people remain uncertain about the differences between cognac and ordinary brandies. The simplest way to explain the difference is that ‘all cognac is brandy but not all brandy is cognac. All cognac comes only from a small area of France (the Charente, near Bordeaux) and is defined by the 1936 decree governing the Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée. The Charente region has the ideal land and climate, with its Atlantic Ocean influence, to grow the best varieties of grape for cognac, and a unique tradition of craftsmanship and knowledge to select, marry, distil and blend this exceptional spirit.

The grapes used to make cognac come from only six regions of the Charente, each having a specific make up of soil and microclimate that makes each one special: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Bois Ordinaires.

If cognac is the world’s finest brandy, then the Martell name - with its unrivalled heritage, quality, expertise and style - is the guarantee of one of the world’s finest cognac houses.. What makes Martell unique is a combination of the grapes it uses, its distillation, its hand made fine grained “Tronçais type” oak barrels, the ageing process and the blending skills of the Cellar Master. As testament to Martell’s excellence, it is the first cognac producer to earn the ISO 9001 certificate of quality assurance.

History

The heritage of Martell dates back to the 18th Century, when Jean Martell, a native of Jersey founded the company in 1715, making Martell the oldest of all the major cognac houses. When Jean Martell died in 1753, Gatebourse – the original Martell site – was already the centre of a thriving and reputable business that passed to his two sons, Jean and Frédéric. In 1912, Edouard Martell created Martell Cordon Bleu, a timeless classic which has become a benchmark for cognac. Since 1715 Martell has produced, exported and marketed cognacs whose quality is recognised worldwide.

Brand Portfolio

Martell VS (Very Special), VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale)

www.martell.com