Grapes and cognac

After two successive tough years with hail and frost occuring a lot of damages on vineyards, everybody crossed fingers to live a « normal » year.  Not taking account of theses wishes, hail decided again to cross over a part of our area… Then a very long period of drought,never seen before in the past years, spread from end of spring till september, which was not optimum conditions, vines got thirsty !

Spring time…

… and summer time

And fortunately, harvest has been one of the most important both in quantity and quality for a while now.

Even if the hot weather was a bit tricky and induced some winegrowers to harvest by night, at the end of the game, smiles were on each face.

living-in-cognac harvest 2018 by night – courtesy R. Martinaud

A very good surprise for everybody involved in cognac.

It’s now time for distillation till end of next march.

The soon-coming definitive figures of cognac shipment will be on the same trend as the three past years, on a never-ending increasing line, throughout the world. Hereunder, the top ten countries loving-cognac-so-much figures published in last september. Waiting now for the figures of the complete year. ( mid january) – courtesy BNIC

More on the cognac economy here http://livingincognac.com/fr/cognac-combien-de-bouteilles-combien-de-caisses/ 

Cultural life and amazing artists

Not only in Paris, as someone could think that nothing interessant happen « au-delà du périphérique » i.e, just beyond the large circular motorway surrounding Paris !

In picture, some of the the interesting events we had the chance and opportunity to see this year in cognac area.

Vilhs and Hennessy

The portuguese and international-know artist Vilhs desgined the VS limited edition 2018. The exhibition on Les Quais gave the opportunity to enter the creative process of the artiste.

More on http://livingincognac.com/fr/vilhs-sexpose-a-cognac/ 

L’ombre de la vapeur à la Fondation Martell

A poetic, digital and immersive installation which brings the visitor  outside of the frameworkn outside the time.

More on http://livingincognac.com/fr/lombre-de-vapeur-a-fondation-martell/

Comics and movie in Musée de la BD in Angoulême with the famous author Goscinny

Poussières d’étoiles in Domaine des Etangs

More on  http://livingincognac.com/fr/poussieres-detoiles-domaine-etangs/ 

A stunning place for international designers and architects

The Domaine de Boisbuchet, in East Charente is  the dream of a design amateur and expert, Alexander von Vegesack who created this peaceful and amazing place to gather each year professionals and students to experience how internationally successful professionals structure their work, and how they approach design problems. Most inspiring architects & designers from all over the world, give a week-long workshop in summertime. Throughout the week, participants get insight on the process & techniques of top designers, and have the opportunity to connect with like-minded, passionate people.

If you want more highlights, click below

http://livingincognac.com/fr/ladies-cognac-rencontre-artiste/

http://livingincognac.com/fr/terre-belle-orbisterrae/

http://livingincognac.com/fr/manufacture-degorce-rend-charentaise-desirable/

http://livingincognac.com/fr/feminin-pluriel/

http://livingincognac.com/fr/reprendrez-bien-verre-de-bois/

I wish your a nice and bright end of year, and hope to have news of you on next year.
Thanks so much to follow Living in Cognac

L’article Back on cognac land news and events in 2018 est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

More than 200 millions bottles in more than 150 world countries

For the fourth consecutive year, cognac continue to boom. Theses figures represent for nearly 25% of the total value of exported french wines and spirits.

According to the data collected by The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac US is on the top of the fist step of the podium « The dark spirits category is growing in the US market, encouraged by the historical presence of cognac and the constant investments of cognac houses » said Patrick Raguenaud, President of BNIC.

Shipments to the Far East have risen 13,5 % in volume in this period equaling a total of 60,9 million bottles. Sales are climbing again in China.

Cognac export volume 2017 2018

The dream team  of Cognac

This success is the result of a big dream team : 4309 winegrowers, 112 distillers, 279 cognac houses, without forget all different skills working for cognac. 60 000 persons are working  for this economy in the area.

Let’s have a look on precedent posts and links to highlight harvest time, distillation, work in vines, cooperage and so on …

http://livingincognac.com/en/cognac-harvest-days-the-crunch-time/

http://livingincognac.com/en/distiller-full-time-job-in-wintertime/

http://livingincognac.com/en/pruning-work-and-binding-the-vines-in-all-weathers/

http://livingincognac.com/en/toasting-the-barrelwedding-of-wood-and-fire/

L’article New record of volume and value for cognac export est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Dedicated to artistic commissions, the ground floor of Fondation Martell welcomes till april 2019 a digital and interactive installation created by the company Adrien M & ClaireB. Called « L’ombre de la vapeur »  which hightlights the torula ; the small mushroom living in cognac cellars, and indicating outside  by the black walls and roofs that precious eau-de-vie is ageing inside ! I already told you about it here 

An amazing sensorial experience

As soon as we enter, we become part of the experience, in resonance with this stunning graphic and digital workart. Wandering through this particular space, we interact with the elaborate forms composed by a fine metallic veil with suspended clouds on which white moving particles are projected.

The workart is directly modulated by our rhythm and motions : gestures and stops influence the floating units.

Have you ever been before a workart ? if not, go to the Fondation Martell and you will feel like an artist in his creative process !

And what about the torula ?

The shape of each particle seems to look like this small mushroom as if we see it in a microscope. It’s not totally scientific, thus the creative interpretation of the company, a graphic and poetic transposition.

The sound installation, composed by Olivier Mellano  called « hymn for the mushroom » is inspired by principles called The Protéodie : each animo acid is associated with certain waves that can be transcribed to a musical partition.

After this poetic moment don’t leave immediately. I suggest you a stroll in the courtyard  of the Fondation Martell where you can sit and and  lie down in the structure created by SelgasCano design architects. To see more, read this former post   

And lastly take the elevator to discover the new roof top.

Fondation Martell  in Cognac : Exhibition L’ombre de la vapeur till April 2019

L’article An immersive installation in the Fondation Martell est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

After JonOne last year, I told you in this post, Vilhs unveiled his creative processus and the way he worked with Hennessy to make this artistic collaboration successfull.

As if we are in his art studio

More than « just » discover the works created by the artist for Hennessy and his collaboration for the design of Hennessy VS limited edition, the visitor has the opportunity to share in the genesis of their creation, and learn about the sources of inspiration for the works.

From Alexandre Fargo to Vilhs

Born in an industrial suburb of Lisbon, he began to express himself through graffiti on trains, walls and billboards… « My graffiti were very classic graffiti name tag as the rest of my crew was doing, we were also the only people who could understand what we were writing, Vilhs was just the 5 letters I could tag the fastest, and people started to call me with this name… » 

But after a while, and as adolescents often stopped this experience, Vilhs got tired of communicating only to a small group, and wanted to touch a more important public. In the meantime, he started to see the walls, not just as walls, but as some places absorbing the different layers of urban history.

As he was studying in the famous Saint Martin’s School in London, he started to be recognized as an artist. In less than 15 years Vilhs’artworks are visible or on display worlwide.

The importance of the time

First time Vilhs came in Hennessy for the collaboration on VS limited edition, he quickly understood some similar process in creation, and especially the time perspective. « For me, it’s about the time it takes for the layers of the city to accumulate on the walls, it’s about working with things that take time to shape and you simply cannot speed up. Making cognac is very much the same as it takes a so long time to age eaux de vie with so many people involved over the years… »

Photo credit JMLUBRANO

Three stars, the famous « bras armé » coat of arms, checkerboard, vines branches, labels of the past, Vilhs has introduced iconic signs of Hennessy DNA.

The billboard

The stack of advertising posters is an assembly of Vilhs’ own urbans collections and a few drawn from Hennessy’s own archives. The incisions made with utility knives reveal traces of symbols and codes.

Photo credit JMLUBRANO

In this exhibition our eyes are drawn to the diorama : a work sculpted in polystyren foam. As theses huges portraits visible in many great cities around the world, theses faces seem to ask us, and call us to action in an urban and never ending moving society.

Definitively an exhibition you must see. Till end october, free entrance at « Les Visites Hennessy » in Cognac.

https://youtu.be/nybcNxUZUL8

L’article Artistic collaboration between Vilhs and Hennessy est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

« I can do whatever I want »

The charente does not flow straight to the ocean. First it decides to go towards north, then suddenly makes a hairpin bend towards south and Angoulême where it finally chooses to flow at west. 380 kilometers of curves, meanders and small branches. 40 tributaries join its during this travel to atlantic ocean.

Many bridges cross the river Charente, small stone nice bridges, some of them specially narrow for car traffic as in Vibrac, or the most big one in Rochefort.

Bridges of Vibrac

Front of Bassac Abbey

The « passerelle » to join  Comics Museum to the heart of the city in Angoulême

Locks are numerous in the navigable part of the Charente.

Juac lock

And an old kind of mini-mini ferry, the only one remaining in France, manually operated ! (only available in july and august)

The estuary of Charente is large enough as the cargos come to Rochefort Harbour.

The « pont transbordeur », a classified brigde dated from 1900, is now in a process of being restored. In the past time it allowed to cross from one bank to the other without hindering shipping traffic. A gondola, suspended from a trolley running on rails, travelled back and forth. Only used by cyclists, foot passengers, tourists  nowadays, it is the only remaining bridge with gondola in France.

During this renovation time, we can visit and discover the story and steps of work in Maison du Transbordeur nearby.

Past winter, the flood without any damage, gave the opportunity to take some unusual pictures, as here in Jarnac and Bourg Charente.

An economic link since many centuries

At the beginning, Charente was one the major trade path : paper from Angoulême, salt from Re Island cannons for vessels built in Rochefort, were loaded on boats called « gabarre ».

And evidently, the river has been the first and important mean of transport for cognac. Barrels were loaded on wharfs of Jarnac and Cognac directly on board towards Rochefort harbour, and then boarded on big sail vessels to cross oceans.

Vestige of a paper fabric in Angoulême

The Rochefort harbour front of the Corderie Royale

The replica of the famous Hermione Ship

Jarnac river bank today the « quai de l’Orangerie »

Courvoisier, during january flood. Charente stopped just under the wharf… 

A new story

As containers, trucks and railway replace the « gabarre » the river felt asleep, and the river banks too for a while. And as the sleeping beauty, Charente is coming back with the green tourism and developpment of river cruises. The « flow velo » allowed to follow the river on many kilometers by bicycle. Hiking paths, canoe, paddle, fishing, many activities are possible respecting the nature and the river.

Crossing Saintes city on board

Cognac harbour and Quais Hennessy

The path of watchers, in Rochefort

Resting and lunch time…

The occasion to see some nice hidden properties

watch to the small  inhabitants of the river

and the numerous species of flora.

Charente river is a perfect example of slowlife attitude, and a stress free oasis. So, when are you coming ?

L’article Charente runs through it est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Let’s twist again

Années 60 revival ? C’est plutôt la  découverte dans les archives de la maison de la forme d’une petite « tennis » fabriquée dans ces années là qui a donné l’idée  à l’équipe marketing de la retwister version contemporaine, et c’est réussi.

Je vous laisse découvrir. J’ai essayé lors de la présentation presse, difficile d’en sortir tellement le confort est au rendez vous, bref j’ai également adopté !

Big crush pour les couleurs vitaminées, la twist ou l’accessoire indispensable de ce printemps.

Du papier à la charentaise

La Charente est historiquement la terre du cognac et une terre de tradition papetière depuis des siècles. Ceci est du notamment à la qualité de l’eau des rivières qui alimentaient les moulins à papier. Elle a fait évoluer cette tradition en la transformant.  Si la bande dessinée a donné une notoriété internationale à Angoulême avec son festival et la filière des industries de l’image s’est installée dans la continuité, le papier n’y est pas pour rien.

Et qui dit fabrication de papier disait à l’époque fabrication de feutre pour faire sécher la pâte à papier. On se rapproche doucement de la charentaise. Car avec les chutes de feutre, les ouvriers et ouvrières ont fait des chaussons à semelle de feutre, très confortables. Je vous accorde que la couleur des chaussons et les motifs n’étaient pas très sexy et ont contribué à les  ringardiser . Néanmoins beaucoup d’entreprises ont travaillé dans ce domaine en Charente, jusqu’à l’arrivée des articles chinois qui ont tout balayé sur leur passage, et notamment cette fabrication charentaise qui n’avait peut être pas su se renouveler et mettre en avant son fameux savoir faire unique.

Il reste très très peu d’entreprises qui fabriquent la fameuse pantoufle. Renaud Dutreil, ardent défenseur du french savoir faire, porté par la volonté de sauver des savoir faire ancestraux a jeté son dévolu sur une d’entre elles. Avec son fils  Edgar et sa belle fille Emilie, directrice du marketing, il redonne vie à une belle endormie.

Manufacture Degorce est en train de faire sa mue de belle manière.

Comme  la Néo de cette hiver, ici dans la vitrine de la boutique éphémère d’Angoulême,  la Twist est fabriquée avec passion et dextérité par une belle équipe dans l’atelier qui n’a eu de cesse que de recommencer sans arrêt leurs gestes afin que je puisse prendre des photos et vidéos.

Merci, Marinette, Corine, Nadine, Alain, Nathalie, Chantal, Marianne, Stéphanie… et tous les autres, vous avez été vraiment adorables !

Manufacture Degorce, entreprise du patrimoine vivant

Depuis 1935 l’alliance des mains et des machines perpétue la technique ancestrale du cousu-retourné. L’entreprise fait partie du cercle très fermé  « entreprise du patrimoine vivant » et les chaussures sont bien évidemment certifiées « Origine France Garantie ».

Les matières premières. laine, feutre, de même que les fils et rubans sont choisies avec soin. Toute la production est réalisée à Marthon en plein coeur de la campagne charentaise.

Même par temps gris, les couleurs sont dynamiques, le champ de colza répond au jaune éclatant de la laine.

Les couleurs de la Néo, la nouvelle charentaise qui a fait un carton cet hiver,

et celle de la Twist, le feutre de laine pour les jours de soleil et pour l’extérieur.

Des longs rouleaux de feutre jusqu’aux élégantes et sobres boites d’emballage, tout est fait dans l’atelier, comme me l’a expliqué Jacques, le directeur du site qui m’a commenté chaque poste de travail puis m’a laissé carte blanche pour mes photos.

La forme de découpe ici en présentation dans le pop-up store, et utilisée au quotidien dans la manufacture

Presque finies, il reste à les contrôler, les lacer et les mettre en boîte.

Du découpage machine avec une forme disposée sur la table, jusqu’au retournement sur « la chèvre », les opérations manuelles et mécaniques se succèdent avec une régularité d’horloger. Et même lorsque les machines travaillent, le savoir-faire du geste et du  tour de main ne sont  jamais très loin.

La richesse de la manufacture tient autant au savoir faire des personnes qui y travaillent qu’au patrimoine industriel des machines dont certaines sont très anciennes et aux formes conservées depuis l’origine.

Le cousu-retourné, savoir faire unique

« Je ne lâcherai pour rien au monde » me dit Nathalie, intarissable sur la technique du cousu-retourné, le fameux savoir-faire traditionnel, à la fois astucieux dans sa conception et diablement difficile à maîtriser. Elle forme actuellement une autre personne. La machine sur laquelle cette opération s’effectue est en soi une oeuvre d’art et un bien précieux.

Cousu-retourné, cela signifie que le chausson est monté à l’envers, puis retourné lorsqu’il est terminé. Une garantie de confort extrême. Nathalie a ralenti son geste pour nous détailler l’opération sur la vidéo.

D’ailleurs la dernière opération avant que le chausson ne soit retourné, est celle de poser une « douillette » intérieure en pure laine vierge, là oû vous posez délicatement votre plante de pied.Et la machine s’appelle…. une douilleteuse !

Si vous n’étiez pas convaincu du confort de la charentaise, la fabrication  vous le suggère avec un brin de malice…

Mieux qu’un long discours, ces vidéos  vous permettront de briller en société pour expliquer ce qu’est le french savoir-faire du cousu-retourné.

Et pour voir toute la collection et en savoir plus

https://manufacturedegorce.com/fr/

L’article Manufacture Degorce rend la charentaise désirable est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

A stunning building

On river bank Charente, built on an unstable place, the Corderie Royale is laid down on a raft made of oak pieces, deeply pressed on marshy ground. This explains the building could have a slant shape nowadays, even if it’s perfectly safe !

The Corderie Royale and the boat basins were part of the Arsenal, wanted by Colbert, Minister of King Louis XIV, in order to built war vessels, in a safe place, far from english cannons. Here, for 250 years, more than 350 vessels have been built, armed and maintained. Some of the greatest military and scientific expeditions set off from here.

A rope making  factory

The ropes were one of the important pieces on a vessel. The  largest ones needed 100 kms of ropes !Each rope of 195 meters long had to be built all in one piece : 270 meters were necessary to braid the rope,that explains the dimension of the building. On north end, raw material was stored and on south end, the rope was  tarred to be wear resistant.

Le « jardin des Retours »

The garden of returns has been created after the restoration of the building. As many botanic expeditions came back to Rochefort in the past time, with plenty of unknown and never-seen-before plants, Rochefort owns nowdays famous green houses and particulary  an academy of begonia. Alongside the Corderie Royale, willows,hazelnut trees, rub shoulders with magnolias, tulips and many others trees and plants are witnesses of this glorious past.

The Hermione freedom’s frigate

The most famous ship l’Hermione, symbol of french-american friendship has been built in this Arsenal. Moreover, the young major general La Fayette boarded the Hermione on 1780, to fight alongside the American insurgents who were struggling for their independence. 18 months later, the American insurgents, whom La Fayette had joined, won decisive victories, first in Chesapeake Bay, then in Yorktown, with the support of French troops led by Rochambeau and de Grasse.

“From the first moment I heard the name of America, I loved it; from the instant I knew it struggled for freedom, I was consumed with the desire to shed my blood for her I will count the days I got the chance to serve it, everywhere and anytime, among the happiest days of my life.” La Fayette 

In July 1997, the Hermione-La Fayette association embarked for a tremendous challenge : the reconstruction of the Hermione frigate. In 2015 the new fregate sailed to Boston, Yorktown and New York to celebrate this part of the history. You can visit the Hermione and know more about it if you come to Rochefort.

And to know more on Rochefort Arsenal, L’hermione, I suggest you to make a stop at the nice Librairie Maritime in the Corderie Royale.  If you are fond of sailing books, adventure books, adventurer book-writer, sea-protection, sailing… this bookstore is for you !

L’article The Corderie Royale, an amazing story est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Dernier jour du mois et dernières heures pour envoyer ses voeux. Je vous souhaite tout le meilleur du monde. Loin des résolutions qui s’avèrent impossible à tenir au fil du temps, je préfère vous envoyer une moisson de pensées positives en commençant par ce qui s’est passé dans notre belle région tout au long du mois de janvier. Merci, merci, à chacun d’entre vous de suivre et apprécier le blog, facebook et instagram de Livingincognac.

Un mois très très humide…

D’un extrême à l’autre : après des jours et des jours sans aucune goutte de pluie à l’horizon, les tempêtes de début d’année ont amené avec elle des torrents de pluie, et les nuages ont semblé s’être arrêtés juste au dessus du vignoble. Après un record de jours de sécheresse, nous avons basculé dans le record de jours pluvieux consécutifs. Les vignes, les champs, les routes près de la Charente et de ses affluents ont les pieds dans l’eau.

La Charente a sauté sur ses berges et n’est pas encore disposée à retrouver son lit.

Les cognacs Courvoisier sont en première ligne sur les quais de Jarnac. Mais il n’y a pas péril en la demeure.

Quel côté positif peut on voir dans ces inondations me direz vous ? C’est celui de la nature, des plantes et des vignes de cognac qui avaient besoin d’eau et qui auraient cruellement souffert du manque de réserves dès le printemps prochain. Les nappes souterraines se rechargent doucement, même s’il manque encore quelques millimètres. Il suffit donc d’être patient et de rêver à un joli printemps.

Un hiver doux

Les températures sont relativement douces pour la saison : comme disent les spécialistes météorologues, elles sont « au-dessus des normales saisonnières ». Du coup la végétation commence doucement à sortir pensant que le printemps est arrivé. Mon mimosa dans le jardin fleurit avec 15 jours d’avance.

Rien de tel qu’une couleur soleil sur le bureau pour faire venir des pensées inspirantes et positives.

La distillation se poursuit nuit et jour

De novembre jusqu’au 31 mars, les distilleries tournent à plein régime, 24 heures sur 24 heures. c’est en effet un cycle long et continu qui fait naître l’eau de vie qui après vieillissment deviendra le cognac. C’est toujours un moment magique de pouvoir se glisser dans ces lieux secrets et de voir le distillateur surveiller ses alambics avec attention et amour.

Depuis l’origine du cognac, la distillation est identique. Elle s’effectue en deux chauffes successives au moyen d’un alambic dit « charentais », en cuivre. Cette double distillation  permet de produire des eaux-de-vie aromatiques.

Après avoir recueilli « les têtes » soit l’équivalent d’1 à 2% du volume distillé,  le distillateur concentre toute son attention sur « le cœur » cette eau-de-vie limpide et cristalline qui deviendra le cognac, plusieurs années plus tard… Le moment délicat de la coupe est celui qui nécessite le plus de maitrise : le bon moment, entre la fin du » cœur » et le début des « secondes » s’avère  crucial. Même si les indications de température, de degré d’alcool, de volume peuvent être lues sur l’écran de l’ordinateur, c’est bien le nez et l’œil du distillateur qui prennent le contrôle de l’opération ! Les cinq sens sont en éveil total.

J’aime beaucoup tous les noms qui s’attachent à la distillation : « bonne chauffe », « mise au courant », celle de l’alchimie de la transformation du vin en eau-de-vie  « brouillis » « têtes » « coeur » « secondes » « queues »…La douce chaleur émanant  des alambics, l’écoulement lent et continu de l’eau-de-vie et les subtiles effluves diffusées  rendent chaque distillerie unique et mystérieuse. On s’y sent bien même si l’on ne boit pas !

Festival International de la bande dessinée d’Angoulême

C’est le plus important évènement international du 9 ième art et c’est à Angoulême. Créé en 1975 par une poignée de passionnés, le « fibd » est devenu le lieu incontournable qui voit affluer fin janvier des visiteurs du monde entier, professionnels et public. Pendant 4 jours, la ville vit au rythme trépidant du festival, entre rire, émotion, passion, découvertes et business.

Difficile de décrire en quelques mots la folie BD de ces 4 jours : des schtrumpfs dans les rues,  fans de manga et de cosplay parties, 23 pays représentés, 2000 auteurs, 6600 éditeurs et professionnels, 900 journalistes français et internationaux, des télés du monde entier, 400 tonnes de livres et matériels !

Je vous propose quelques images de l’exposition d’un des plus fascinants mangakas contemporains Naoki Urasawa, et celle du président de l’édition 2018 le suisse Cosey. J’ai adoré. Toutes les expositions ne sont pas démontées le dimanche soir, j’aurai l’occasion de vous faire faire une petite visite de quelques unes d’entre elles qui sont là pour quelques semaines encore.

Exposition Cosey :  une quête de l’épure

Dans ce mois de janvier particulièrement gris, ces moments de folie communicative sont un authentique cadeau !
Et vous, comment avez vous démarré positivement cette nouvelle année ?

N’oubliez pas, si vous aimez, partagez à vos amis sur les réseaux sociaux. Un simple clic sur les boutons ci dessous et c’est transmis. Merci.

L’article Une moisson de pensées positives est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

A really wet wet month

After days and days without any drop and critical level of the aquifers,  storms and  rainy clouds have suddenly crossed our region without any interruption ! From too dry to too wet, we went from an extreme to an other. Vineyards, fields, roads  close to river are under water.

The river Charente has spread over its banks and is not in a hurry to come back in its stream bed…

Here in Jarnac, cognac Courvoisier  is just on front line !

Ready to walk on the river ?

As you know, every clould has a silver lining and in this case the positive point of view  and thought is that the nature and plants, and cognac vineyards needed this water, and even if it happens all at once, it’s a good new for springtime. So we just have to be patient…

A mild winter

Spring is not here yet, altough temperatures are rather mild for the season. Consequetly, my wattle tree in the garden is in bloom with about two weeks early.

In Oleron Island, each mid february, a flower parade takes place with numerous activities, music and concerts, flea market, sale of wattle, and Miss Mimosa (french name of wattle) contest. During this period wattle trees are in blossom and the whole island is yellow colored.

A sunny color on my desk is clearly inspiring positive thoughts.

Distillation is on the air

Since november after the harvest and till end of march, the cognac distilleries work night and day. It’s really a magical moment to be there with the master distiller.

He/she crosses non-stop several weeks  depending from the quantity of vine to be distilled. Even if modern facilities such as computer controlled devices, and gaz heating  allow to sleep at home and no more in the distillery, the distiller  takes great care of each step of distillation, trusting on his/her five senses. The crunch time is called  » la coupe » (the cutting).

First, “the heads”appear with  the highest alcohol content. Then comes the precious moment “the heart », a clear spirit : this is the one that will produce cognac. The « second cuts » and the « tails » come lastly.The « heads » and « seconds cuts » are distilled once more with the next batch of wine, called « brouillis. 24 hours are necessary for an entire cycle.

I do love the different names used for the process,  » la bonne chauffe »   » la mise au courant » giving it its part of mystery. The scent in the distillery is quite amazing. We feel good even if we don’t drink ! 

Angoulême International comics strip

Created in 1975, the Angoulême International comics strip festival is the most important event of its kind in the world and the place-to-be for editors, authors, and fans. As usual, from last thursday to end of sunday, it has been a tremendous success and huge moments of emotion, laughs, discovery and passion.

To describe in few words and figures this festival : schtrumpfs and cosplayers in the streets, 23 countries represented, 2000 authors, 6600 editors and professionnals, 900 french and foreign journalists, 400 tons of books and materials.

Some views of the exhibition of Naoki Urasawa, one of the most fascinating contemporary mangaka.

and some other of the President of this past edition, Cosey 

In this grey january, this moment of madness is a authentic gift

And you, what have you done this past month ?

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L’article Positive thoughts from cognac land est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Hidden spot

Truffles plantation are rather well protected. The price of this small gastronomic mushroom explains this necessary discretion. After 5′ mn  walking on a nice path in the woods, met sheeps and horses and seen footprints of wild boars, we arrived to the security fence of the truffle plantation. 650 green and durmasts oaks, planted in  perfect rows. Located on a large limestone plateau as it exists numerous in Charente, the truffle plantation is  15 years old. A drip irrigation system for each tree allows to get  truffles even if summer has been dry.

A fine team

Friends of Chantal, natives from next Dordogne place, have given her the passion of truffle. She began on a small area in her orchard, and then has created from scratch this outstanding place. It requires significant time all the year long, as it’s not sufficient to plant trees and wait for harvest time.

She is fascinating with her dogs, the famous truffle-dogs lagoto romagnolo. Thoses italian dogs coming from Emile Romagne near Ravenna, were known as excellent hunters of waterfowls. After the drying out of the swamps they « lost their job » and moved as truffle hunters with great success !

A pleasant game for them

Timeless ritual begins just after Chantal closes the fence : Flo (white) and Masca (grey) run around, play together, eat grass…After 5′ Chantal give a brief order and the two dogs begin their search under the trees.  Masca, only 13 months year old and an already great instinct, suddenly stops…. and begins to dig in a hurry. Chantal must react quickly  as Masca do love truffle…

Flo, Masca mother, uses an other process. It just stops where the truffle is supposed to lie, and indicates the place with its leg. Then the two dogs wait for their reward before they go any further : they are crazy about small cheeseparts.

Waiting for cheese !

Chantal get down on her knews and very slowly and gently looks for the truffle. To have seen her, I can tell you that it’s a true work of patience and carefully gestures. Look at the video to judge.

Great practice is needed, as on the first sight, I could not make the difference between loose soil and truffle !

Maintenance of  a truffle plantation

Trees have to be carefully pruned each year, as sun and light must cross the leaves. Chantal has developped tips and tricks and keep secret the right moment for pruning. The more the tree grows, the more the « brulé » (burnt) widespreads : grass don’t grow at all. This « brulé » indicates the growth of the roots around the tree, and consequently the place where truffles are supposed to be.

And indeed, Chantal mowes several times a year between the rows to keep the truffle plantation in perfect conditions.

Back to her home, Chantal was proud to show me one of her discovery of the past days : a piece of more than 100 gr, a true black diamond !

I loved this awesome moment in nature with the dogs, on a sunny cold winter day just before Xmas. Thanks so much Chantal, it has been a real pleasure to share this moment with you. And I have a lot of progress to do before being an expert !

L’article Hunting the black diamond : the truffle est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

A mysterious lady in the woods

In this forest, just few kilometers from the city of Cognac, a woman would’ve drowned herself in the pond. Her ghost would still live here… And in the past time, Romuald’s family, owner of the place, extracted clay to produce bricks for construction.  The old oven, covered by  wild vegetation is the silent witness of this industrial activity in the property.

Blackthorn and hawthorn are masters of thoses woods. Tough and resistant shrubs, they were widely used formerly :  in hedges near the vines to protect them from winds and erosion, appreciated in marquettery, and the small fruits of blackthorn had medicinal purposes, such as for digestive disorders.

A very useful plant indeed but with a strong temper and sharp thorns ! The hedges began to disappear with mechanisation in vines as the backthorn had the bad idea to burst the tires… But nevertheless, Romuald’s family has taken care of it.

A wine of wedding

In the 50s, Christian, Romuald’grandfather,  cognac winegrower and master cellar married  Genevieve and offers her a special gift as she didn’t drink cognac too strong for her.

private collection from Romuald’s family – Thanks for reproduction

Christian created a special bewerage never existing before. Thanks to the family stories and receipts orally transmitted from generation to generation, he composed for her young spouse a liquor she could drink, with young blackthorn and wood fruits.

In the middle-age, the  monks of the nearby Abbaye de Châtres, used the sames fruits and berries to produce medicinal elixirs.

 l’abbaye de Châtres under restoration

This family drinking, witness of love, remained for a family and friend  consumption during years and years. And suddenly fate steps in. As Romuald, young parisian architect, was thinking about his future, his grand father died. Wanted to pay tribute to him, Romuald decided, as an evidence, to promote this family elixir and the know how of his grand father, known and apreciated by more and more consumers. In less than 2 years, « la dame de pique » has left her woods to be in trendy bars !

The mystery of  la Dame de Pique

You will not know more about the name, a well protected mystery . When we walk on the paths lined by hedges of blackthorn and hawthorn, discover the pond hidden by trees, we can just imagine that the name came from the ghost of the lady or the sharp horn. You will choose as your own imagination prefer.  Romuald thinks that his playful grand father maded up this tale to avoid the kids to go alone in the woods….

A craft production

100 % hand made ! Crop is a very long and patient work to gather 100 kg of berries !  And after this step,  it takes a long time for elaboration, as Romuad uses a double maceration process.

First the young shoots on springtime, then the berries harvested in october meet vines and eau-de-vie very carefully choosen for their quality. The « dame de pique » takes its time to be at its top of flavour !

A vermouth not to leave the dame de pique alone.

L’elixir de la Dame is the new one in Romuald collection : a french craft vermouth composed of medicinal plants harvested on the property or almost : wild hawthorn, valerian roots and rosehip with its golden colour.

Rose hip maceration

L’article « la dame de pique », from cognac woods to trendy bars est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Usually the climate is particularly mild in cognac land, due to the atlantic ocean and to its situation in south west France.

The past year has been totally impredictable :

First a mild (too?) winter, except few days in january

Frost came suddenly  … on end of april, when the first small leaves and buds were out. A very rare and awful event fore winegrowers.

The day after…

About 10 % of the cognac vineyards did not produce any grape this year or in very small quantities.  Fortunately,  it has been an interessant harvest for the remaining 90 %.

Then summer has been hot and dry.

No rain in october and november, the moment for the water tables to fill up for the next spring and summer. It has been one of the most dry year since 40 years until… end december !

As the small rivers and the Charente received so much rain, they spread out on the banks, ,quite at the same level.

Thus, we get moving landscape, with some small  short-lived lakes, trees with roots in water, such as vines, roads disappeared under water.

The quiet Charente looks like a mountain stream !

Boots are highly recommended to walk along vineyards and and food paths.

As we were in water deficit, we’re not going to complain even if this rain causes some temporary inconveniences. It’s good for nature.

L’article Vineyards take a dip in december est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

At first sight

Wine cases and subtle lighting catch the eye at first entrance. It looks like an identity card of the place which belongs to Tenuta San Pietro Gavi, vineyards located in Tassarolo in Piemont, less than 100km south of Milan.

This contemporary design tells us in an urban environnement, in the heart of Milan, the quite interessant story of the vines. Owner of organic certification since 2013, the vineyards of the Tenuta San Pietro are cultivated with biodynamic biological methods with a deep respect for the earth and natural cycles. A philosophy of life we find in the Bistrot Kitchen of San Pietro Cafè, with healthy, seasonal and quality products.

The vineyards

The estate spreads out over 65 hectares but only 35 hectares  are devoted to vines. They produce Cortese di Gavi, Albarossa, Barbera, and  Chardonnay grapes. The remaining part of the property planted with oak, acacia woods, and covered by  fields, is the living place  and shelter of numerous wild animals.

The owner, milanese businessman Corrado Alota, wished from the very beginning (in 2002 when he bought it) to develop the vineyard’s ecosytem by  using new methods of organic-biodynamic principles, and to respect nature according to environmental protection and sustainable developpement. 15 years later, Tenuta San Pietro is a reference and an example.

To know more on it 

But come back to Milan

The Cafè is a quite elegant and alive place for dinner (lunch also !) and for the famous « aperitivo » time,  milanese institution of after work around 7 pm. A smart pleasant atmosphere wherein we feel quickly comfortable. Each part of decoration is at the right place and seem to be there forever.

The knowledge of the culinary secrets of the past, and the selected products such as salami and cheese  coming from Gavi area are the secret of this  successful  wine/food pairing : ligurian focaccia, « pasta »… are just at the top. White wines are mineral  due to limestone and clay soils , as I like them. And  what about the « brut rosé » sparkling wine, as good for aperitif as for risotto…

Dry, pleasantly balanced, light and elegant, the brut, chardonnay and cortese grape variety, is a interessant suggestion for aperitif.

From money vault to wines cellar

Andrea, is an enthousiastic and passionnate sommelier. Many Thanks to him to offer us the opportunity to visit the wines cellar of San Pietro Cafè : a magical place full of treasures, quite different at those sleeping there before… as  the place used to be a bank. The cellar takes place in the money vault !

As above, the design is very tasteful,  without  ostentation, even in the smallest detail. A place for reception on request and sessions of tasting.

The new concept store

Let us return to the groundfloor where the owner just created a concept store dedicated to  womenswear and menswear, with a selection of italian and foreign brands of contemporary taste, light years of the boring fast-fashion. We can easily cross from cafè to shop as its an open space. Wine casks and vines have found their place among the clothes… Hard to resist and obviously I did not try…

Definitively, a very nice and elegant place when you are in Milan. T

L’article San Pietro Cafè, my favorite place in Milan est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Cognac is known and appreciated all around the world. More than 95 %  of this luxury product is exported in around 160 countries. As a paradox, a lot of « cognac lovers » get trouble to identify  on a map where it’s coming from…. And if they visit France and cognac region, they are amazed that it could be thus, the name of a city ! Let’s discover the cognac land…

Located  in south-west of France between Paris  (450 km) and Bordeaux (110 km),  bordered by Atlantic ocean on west-side,  the cognac area covers about 80 000 ha. The cognac AOC which means Controlled Appellation of Origin in french, is strictly regulated by three main legal texts. The first in 1909 defined the general area for the production of Cognac, what we call the « delimited region ». In 1936, an other decree defined the controlled appellations of cognac, and in 1938,the various appellations areas in the delimited region !

I.e to say that cognac can’t be moved elsewhere in the world. Cognac is produced in the one and only one « delimited region » !

 The different areas  of cognac called « cru »

In the middle of 19th century,  a professor of geology named Henri Coquand began to study  the region’s geology. Then, with an oenologist, they defined both a soil classification based on the quality of eau-de-vie that each soil could produce.

Map from the book : Dinosaures, les géants du vignoble – Edition Eidola

The « crus » of cognac are those we know today, defined in different colours on the map below : grande champagne, petite champagne,borderies, fins bois, bons bois, bois ordinaires.

©BNIC map  and http://tourism-cognac.com/

The Bois Ordinaires

Close to the atlantic ocean and present on  Oléron and Ré Islands, the « bois ordinaires » cru is the smaller area regarding to quantities of vineyards.  In this landscape of  flat sand beaches, beloved by tourists, and famous oyster parks, the soil is almost exclusively sandy. The vines produce  fast-ageing  cognac eaux-de-vie with a characteristic maritime flavour.

The Bons Bois

Drawing a ring around the other crus, the  soil of « bons bois » is mostly sandy, nearby Gironde estuary and on south close to forests of pine trees and chestnuts .

 Facing each other, the cognac « bons bois » cru and the médoc Bordeaux vineyards on each bank of Gironde Estuary…

The Fins Bois

The yellow color on the map. Most of this area is covered by clayey, chalky soils called  «groies» very similar to those of the « Champagne » crus but not exclusively. Heavy clayey soils are also present in  « Bas Pays » (low countries) located in  north/north-east Cognac city. The largest cru,  more than 31 001 ha produces round, smooth cognacs, ageing fairly quickly, with a bouquet that reminds the scent of freshly pressed grapes.

  Round hills in Fins Bois…

livingincognac 2017  Fins Bois

and an overallview of « Bas Pays »

The Borderies 

The smallest one located close northwest of Cognac city. About 4000 ha only of  clay and flint stones resulting from the decomposition of limestone.  In the second part of XIX century,  the same Henri Coquand already mentionned, discovered first  fossils at Champblanc. The site is since 150 years a gypsum quarry, today worldwide known by paleontologists as « Cherves de Cognac site ». More than 2000 small remains (including teeth) of  crocodils, dinosaurs, ptérosaurs, and  fish have been extracted from the quarry by international teams of paleontologists . Thoses remains have been perfectly protected by the lay of  marl and clay for 135 millions years !

For paleontogists and interested readers click here  : https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01375385/document

The borderies produce fine, round eaux-de-vie , smooth and scented with an aroma of violets.

The Petite Champagne 

Clayey, chalky thin soils  from the Cretaceous are the main characteristic of this cru, same as in grande champagne.  Despite their thinness, these soils don’t suffer from lack of water as they look like a huge sponge through which water smootlhly flow during  dry summers. The eaux-de-vie are light with a predominant floral bouquet, and require long ageing in casks to reach their full maturity.

The Grande Champagne Appellation 
Also called the « heart » of the cognac, the Grande Champagne cru represent about 15000 ha in the most famous area. These wines produce fine, light eaux-de-vie with a predominantly floral bouquet, and  aromas of great finesse,requiring long ageing in casks to achieve full maturity, sometimes during one century for the most exceptional ones.

And lastly, let have a panoramic view  on Grande Champagne vineyards.

L’article Find Cognac on a world map est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

When sculpture turns into…creature

A slim black-dressed  man with white gloves, smiling beside one of his works in front of  a wall of photographs… It looks like an usual moment during a vernissage. And suddenly Li Hongbo takes the head of the sculpture and stretchs it into  scary or humorous deformations. An hypnotic sight. Welcome in the world of this famous chinese artist.

Vernissage on may 12 th 2017 in Angoulême.

Former editor Li Hongbo has always been fascinated by what he describes as “the endless possibilities of paper » and the know-how of ancestral traditional Chinese paper decorations.

Now artist and designer, Li Hongbo re-imagine paper art in a contemporary way by using an age-old honeycomb technique seen in… traditional paper gourd. His creations of  kinetic paper works which expand and retract, bind theses two influences.

Li Hongbo builds blocks of paper that he carves into human figures, objects, and replicas of Classical Greek and Italian busts. For the Musée du Papier d’Angoulême, he has created two busts of famous historic characters : King François 1er born in Cognac, King of France during « Renaissance » period of XVI century, and his sister Marguerite d’Angoulême, writer and maecenas of artists, Queen of Navarre.

Li Hongbo work has been the subject of solo museum shows around the world as Ocean of Flowers,Eight One Art Museum, Beijing, China (2017)Irons for Ages, Flowers for Days, SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah, GA (2015); Li Hongbo – Out of Paper, Kunstverein Ludwigsburg, Germany (2013), and Angoulême, Quand la sculpture devient créature  (2017)au Musée du Papier, the first exhibition in France for the artist.

http://www.musee-du-papier.fr/actualite/li-hongbo-sculpture-devient-creature/     

Till december 31st – Musée du Papier – Route de Bordeaux  à Angoulême 

Let’s go now in Cognac

JonOne, from street to gallery

« I want people to look at my art and say, ‘What is this?’. Hopefully, they’ll be inspired. I want to see where it takes them — and where it might lead me next. »

Born and raised in Harlem, from the age of 17 JonOne was captivated by the graffiti scene of New York in the 1980’s. Entirely self-taught, for him the subway cars were moving galleries, and the cityscape was an open museum. In the late 80’s JonOne came to Paris, where he quickly emerged at the forefront of the street art movement. Since then, he has been featured in dozens of solo and group exhibitions, his works have set records at auctions, and he is present in international galleries.

JonOne has been invited by Hennessy to create the design of 2017 VS limited edition, succeeding to Scott Campbell, Ryan McGinness, Shepard Fairey, Os Gemeos, Futura.

The artist built layer upon layer of freestyle splashes of color, to give his own vision of the Hennessy VS. He found correspondances between the blend and his own mix of colours.

With a tremendous sense of movement and color, his compositions combine freestyle, hand-painted aesthetics with a sense of repetition similar to textile patterns.

During the vernissage, the spontaneity and kindness of JonOne  has seduced all the guests.

Click here to see (after the ad)

The capsule exhibition takes place into the place  Hennessy « Les Visites » – quai Hennessy in Cognac till 4th november. 

It’ s not necessary to wear colour shoes as mine to enter !  (free access)

 SelgasCano first project in France

« Lightness has been a constant and integral aspect of our work, and we saw this project as a unique possibility to experiment and explore that concept further, » explained  José Selgas and Lucìa Cano.

The architects explained  that they prefer using light materials  generally cheaper, more energy efficient and more respectful of the surrounding environment: “Lightness is related to economy, the lightest materials are always the cheapest. And lightness is very much related to transparency, to respect the environment »

The pavilion is designed to house specific activities, events and performance-based experiences at the foundation.

Martell : 16 avenue Paul Firino Martell à Cognac

http://www.fondationdentreprisemartell.com/en

L’article Arty exhibitions in cognac land est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

The reign of Ugni blanc

The Ugni blanc is the predominant variety of vines, about 98 %.  After the phylloxera disaster at the end of XIX century, Ugni blanc replaced Colombard and Folle Blanche. This variety is more resistant to grey rot especially.
The late maturing Ugni Blanc,  is also appreciated for its high acidity level and low alcohol content.

The two historical varieties have progressively disapperead. However, a few winegrowers still have such vines.

And in fact, all the varieties used have been previously grafted on  various vinestocks according to the type of soil where they will grow.

Type of soils in delimited area

Clayey, chalky thin soils for the Champagne (grande champagne & petite champagne), clay and flint stones for the Borderies, clayey, chalky soils known as «groies» very similar to those of the Champagne Crus, except for their red colour and hard stones in Fins Bois… The soils are quite different depending from the delimited area. Subject for a next post !

About 6 months from budbreak to harvest in pictures

April : budbreak time

Delicate fragance vine flower

from flower to tiny berries

june : what we call small peas

july closing of the cluster

August : the veraison  berries become translucent in the sun.

L’article From green to translucent, the veraison est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

The deserted caburote

Its small red roman tiles roof  appears right above the vineyard rows in summer time. We can see the caburotes here and there.

Most of them are more than hundred years old, built at the end of the XIX century. They were  like a second house for the winegrowers. First of all, they used their little house  for lunch time and to protect them from weather conditions, hot time in summer, rain or cold temperatures in winter. Furthermore, the caburotes also allowed to store small equipment needed for the vineyard works.

Daily life in the caburote

We can find some caburotes with black stones inside, or part of old fireplace. It just indicates the place of last fires. An horse feeder  directly digged into the wall remind us that men and horses shared this shelter. The horses, faithful companions of the winegrowers,  worked also in vineyards.

A small table, chair or bench were the only one elements of furniture. A rack carved into the limestone walls allowed to store day-to-day objects.

The caburote used also as a little workshop to store equipments  such  as stakes, wires… and to  prepare the « bouillie bordelaise ». It’s an old fungicidal composition, made of copper sulphate called « blue stone » (as it gives a blue color to leaves and walls),  and slaked lime.

Nowadays, the work shop is quite different…. 4 wheels motorized  on front row of vines! Tractors replaced horses. No wistfulness in this thought as work-conditions of winegrowers are fortunately easier than in the past time.

However, it would be a shame if theses little houses disappear one after the other. We’ll loose this nice heritage. Some winegrowers have restored their caburote which was used by their grand-fathers. It’s a good idea.

As the cognac region works to prepare a request of classification for the world heritage of UNESCO, the caburotes take pride of place in this context.

L’article Caburote, little house of winegrower est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Inspired in her childhood by the passion of her parents and grand-parents for gardens and woods, Véronique naturally becam landscape architect.
She works nowadays in the consulting for private gardens.

Her own garden is like a brightful painting, changing in mood with the seasons.

Species of rare plants and flowers play hide and sike. Perennials, climbing plants are the queens of the place. This stunning garden keeps all its secrets if you just cross it. You need time enough to discover some elegant details, well-done matches of colours…

As the garden-lovers know, flowers had a language of their own and in Véronique garden, chatterin never ends. She is a master in the art of finding amazing ways of combine flower varieties and succession of bright blossoming. She is not alone in her small paradise : birds and bugs bring their fantasy by picking up seeds, and carry them in on other place !

You could think that Véronique garden is just like a museum. It’s exactly the contrary, being the preferred game-place of her grandkids.

A new generation of flower lovers and landscape architects ?

L’article Gardens and gardeners in Cognac 2/2 est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

7′ in a season

A day who remains in the memory, May 27th 2017 : a short-term hail storm suddenly crossing the area, without any alert before, and 7′ later, 10 % of the vineyards have been injured for more of 80 %. I was in vineyards with a friend of mine who was planting new vines. It was really hot for the season, the sky was blue without any cloud. Suddenly an huge grey line appears coming from south-west very quickly and quite few minutes later, hailstone like golf balls felt on our heads. It was terrific of noise and fury.

Even if they know that nothing can be taken for granted , even in they are insured against a number of climate risks, the winegrowers deeply feel theses moments, and emotion takes a lot of time to disappear.  Many of them speak of their vines as a human being, or one of their children. « she has a cold »after a strong night-frost , « she smiles » when the  buds and leaves recover new energy, the alert far away…

« Hail and frost are in any case traumatic period » tells Nicolas.  » The work of a whole year is wiped before our eyes in a single instant without any possibility to protect or prevent ».

Then comes the time of findings and doubts :  what the vine will do ? how it feels ? and what’s about the next year ? which consequences ? And as an evidence, no harvest for this year : an happy moment which will not happen, and an other period difficult to live.

« We are enthusiasts, we do love our vineyards »  

By hearing Nicolas, it’s just like an obvious fact.  When the vine has been affected by hail, we must wait 4/5 days, without do anything even if it’s difficult, and  try to understand how « she » will react . Like a person, « she » is injured, she « curls up », thereafter,  small attempts of re-start appear, as if the vine  would say   » Shall I go or shall I stay ? » 

Damage visible one year later

As all his colleagues, Nicolas admits the discreet temper of the winegrowers.  » We don’t have the right words to speak of theses moments, but more than the financial consequence of hail, the more difficult to live for us, is to walk in the rows and see our injured vineyards. It’s often very emotional and even if we are tough guys, some of us can have tears on the eyes ». 

Spotters army

180 silver iodide diffusers  are  spread throughtout the cognac vineyards. 4 volunteers  are in charge on one diffuser. As soon as the alert is activited, the main referent, receives it on his smartphone, acknowledges the messsage and starts the diffuser. If he doesn’t answer, the alert switchs to the second person, and so on… To be efficient, the alert must be issued 6 hours before the arrival of the hail and all the  diffusers must be started at the same time. The diffuser located in an area is efficient for an area located about 10 kms farther.

A very simple system to set up : the ignition of the nozzle in the metallic pipe fired up to the sky particles of silver iodide which are be sucked in the clouds. The reaction allows to  decrease the size of the hailstones and so reduce consequently the damages.

Great thanks to Nicolas for his contribution  and disponibility on this specific subject.

L’article Hail, frost, the vine and the winegrower est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

He’s just amazing, and it’s hard to believe him when he tells us that he’s not a gardener… just a garden-lover. In a very small square space, he has achieved to create several distinct environments. At first glance, we could imagine that the visit will be a short one. It would be a shame as we need time to discover so fine details, tricks and tips, and learn so much from François.

How to collect the rain water falling on the roofs of his neighbours, create a closed circuit watering, feed a small pond, build small houses for birds and where settle them, use recycled natural materials to set up small discret composter devices. Like an horizontal sundial, several small tubes set in the lawn allow to change the parasol without any effort, according to the race of the sun in the sky. Ingenious and unseen.

Finally, we could spend a lot of time : so much to see, so much to learn. No doubt that if François wants to be a professional gardener, he would have a lot of work to do at once.

L’article Cute gardens and gardeners in Cognac 1/2 est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Hustle and bustle in the courtyard when I arrived fews days ago on the end of the afternoon. It was D-1 before the opening of the first exhibition of the year. Danielle Joubert and Jacques Taris, the artists were finalizing the last details in the art gallery. Gabriel and Yann in work-clothes were just starting the bottling of… 300 special bottles « cuvée spéciale » dedicated to the exhibition.  Nevertheless the two brothers  did not look under stress as you can notice on the video ! Theses guys have a gentle nature.

The art in the vineyards is one of their ideas. They feel comfortable  to share with everybody coming in their wine estate, the nice things of life and for them, wine and art.

« People are sensitive or not sensitive » say the two brothers « and then people who are sensitive in art could be sensitive in wine discover and vice-versa ».

« Art is a subjective matter, exactly like wine tasting » tells me Gabriel the distiller. « It’s not necessary to have studied in art-school to appreciate art, and not obligatory to be  oenologist to appreciate wine » adds  Yann winegrower and plastic art artist known as « Monsieur Frog ».

The label created by the artist has been printed in the small workshop created by Yann in the property.

And what about this wall ?

Seemingly, everyone see the black and white colour. A too simple sight for the imagination of the 2 brothers. Black is just the result of a small fungus that we call here « la part des anges » the share angels. Read the complete explanation on my previous post here. So it’s not the wall that the artist has painted in black, but he realized an outstanding  artistic gesture : erase some parts on  the wall totally black  to let appear the beautiful face of the grandfather !

« Les Frères Moine » in the area of « Fins Bois » near Jarnac, tells us a  nice story started at the beginning of the last century when the  great grandfather came here, as many other persons from Vendée, a small region located north of our cognac area. Passion, courage, tough work, and determination to move forward are some  of the main characteristics of the Moine family. Each generation give to the following some keys to pursue.

This picture, an event in years 1910, shows the founder of the Moine family in cognac region. Prouds to work in vineyards without any smugness, they dressed up smartly in order to honour  the vineyards.

Nowadays,  the name « les Frères Moine » well known here,  come from the previous generation : François, the father, and Jean-Yves, the uncle of Yann and Gabriel. Winegrowers, they also created « le circuit du chêne » a touristic and pedagogic circuit to discover different know-how of the story of cognac : stavemill, cooperage, distillation…. Suffice it to say that this family, in full respect of the know how of cognac, pineau and wine elaboration,  is  game changer at each generation on surrounding subjects.

So art or wine ? Both absolutely answer together Yann and Gabriel. Why choose in fact ?

If you come and see you in Cognac region, may be for summer, don’t forget to meet them.

The Exhibition

Danielle Joubert :L’Eveil

Inspired by nature, she works with what she finds in her strolls ( Feather, stone, iron wire, driftwoods…)  to whom she gives a second life.

Jacques Taris:  Retour Blanc Project Configuration 8.

He explores numerous universes. Teacher in art-school and artist, he is inspired by figures and specially the Fibonacci figures, time, travels. He performs in land art too.

L’article The perfect blend of vineyards and art est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.