LEARN MORE FROM THE NEW WEBSITE CULTURE COGNAC

Culture Cognac Website

CULTURE COGNACis a site managed by the French government (Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac, BNIC). It offers basic information about what is cognac and how it can be enjoyed.

"Sharing the culture around Cognac to connoisseurs and purchasing advisors throughout the world… such is the philosophy behind this magazine, created by the BNIC (association of Cognac professionals) and co-edited by the experts and celebrities that make up the ICS (International Cognac Summit) community. Since 2008, they have improved upon and gathered around innovative communication projects to transmit their knowledge and promote the Cognac designation around the world."

This site is easy to navigate and attractive. Check it out!

Source: Cognac Culture

TRAINING IS IMPORTANT TO CREATE THE FUTURE GENERATION OF LUXURY CRAFTSMAN SAYS LVMH

 & EDU

On Monday, the LVMH group started its first Italian professional training programme in Florence, where it established a branch of the Institut des Métiers d’Excellence (IME), its vocational training institute. On this occasion, the French luxury group’s Director for Human Resources and Synergies, Chantal Gaemperle, spoke to FashionNetwork.com about the new needs of the luxury goods industry.

“…LVMH’s training is a way of passing on our expertise, of preserving crafts which risk being lost, and of educating craftsmen to deliver excellence…”

“…crafts people transmit not just the quality of their expertise, but also their pride in creating fine products…”

“…Working in the luxury industry means… embracing the uncertainty and ambiguity of things, because we are part of a creative process. The world of luxury is full of paradoxes and tensions…”

Source: UK FashionNetwork

SHORT ARTICLE ON THE BASIC KNOWLEDGE ABOUT COGNAC FROM USA TODAY NEWS

Cognac is celebrating 1000 years of the city to be a major hub for business development. Long before the cognac was popular the city was very active in salt, vinegar and wines.

The US newspaper USA TODAY gives a personal account on what makes cognac so special, its history and why it is going through a trendy revival with more than 40% increased sales in the past 6 years, as explained by the bars looking for authentic and original cocktail recipes with careful selections of ingredients.

Cognac Bottle with VS, VSOP, and XO ages and colors simulation

"Cognac is often complex, sometimes heated, at times best on its own and at others within a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. It is an art and a culture, refined and steeped in history. We honor this age-old spirit in our exploration."

"... the cognac is designated under V.S. (“very special”) until it hits four years of aging, the benchmark for V.S.O.P. (very superior old pale), and the third and final classification is XO (extra old) or Napoleon, reserved for cognacs aged six years or longer.

In its simplest form and at its core, cognac is a brandy defined by its regional boundaries and its compliance with legal requirements as set by French law. Like any wine or spirit, cognac differs in taste in its various expressions and its flavor profile is dependent upon a number of factors (aging, grape variety, blending). It's often rich, has notes of caramel, and is slightly acidic and sometimes floral."

Source: USA TODAY

EDUCATING FUTURE MANAGERS OF SPIRIT BUSINESSES: CIDS IN COGNAC REGION

The Centre international des spiritueux (CIDS) (International Centre for Spirits) in Segonzac, close to the city of Cognac in the heart of the Cognac region is a phenomenon!

Centre International des Spiritueux (Cognac)

Why?

Because its purpose is to prepare future managers of wine & spirits related businesses:

. Wine business: vineyards production & general management...

. Spirit business: distillery and general management, else...

. Others: packaging, technology, coppering, distillation, logistics, lab & analyses, legals, ...

Now that the region is named "The Spirit Valley" in association to the coined "Silicone Valley" in California, one would expect like in California to have a university pole (i.e., Stanford). Lire le concept de Spirit Valley.

Until recently there was not much but now with the CIDS it is all happening.

The region has a huge potential and it has a great know-how which once structured could fuel further growth in the area. Cognac region represents 25% of the spirits production in France and 15% of the employment.

The degree is a license (Bac +3 years) and a Master (Bac +5 years), jointly worked through the University of Poitiers, the Centre Universitaire de la Charente and CIDS.

Specializing in this field is particularly salient mostly when one can see that the degree offers specific subjects such as 'how to promote your sales & brand' or 'wine & spirits start-up', "how to start your micro-distillery' and that these programs are open to current managers for continuous learning and e-education is being put together, see direct link here.

International Centre for Spirits
37, rue Gaston Briand - BP 30037
16130 SEGONZAC - France
Tel : 00 33 (0)5.45.83.63.30
Fax : 00 33 (0)5.45.83.31.72
contact@centre-spirits.org

President : Pierre SZERSNOVICZ
Director : Quitterie FOURQUET
Documentation : Stéphanie Davis
Surveillance Manager : Antoine BOCHEUX
Secretary : Christelle AUGIER

Sources: University of Poitiers, IAE Poitiers,  Centre Universitaire de la Charente, CIDS, Charente Libre

SCOTLAND GIN TRAIL IS SUPPORTING CRAFT DISTILLING

If anyone is to grow and compete against Scotch, Irish and Bourbon whiskys, a huge education job lies ahead. Education is key to consumer support.

“That’s why we started our academy down at Midleton,” says Anna Malmhake, CEO of Irish Distillers. “We run courses for the trade from all over the world on Irish whiskey history, its production, what makes it unique and so on. In a year at least 1,000 people have gone through it, and of course these are people who go back home and write about it and talk about it.” (The Spirit Business).

For the longest time, I have said that we need a 'Cognac Trail' like the so famous and successful "Scotch Whisky Trail'.

I guess the Scots are beating us to it again with the first 'Scotland Gin Trail' just launched this month by The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

UK, Scotland, London Gin Trail, i.e., The UK Gin Trail

This launch follows the earlier launch of the London Gin Trail.

“From premium brands, such as Hendricks, to craft distillers such as Crossbill, this new trail captures the variety and diversity of UK gin making, ... There has never been a more exciting time for the industry with the UK being the biggest exporter of gin in the world ... I want to harness the ambition of our Scottish gin-trepreneurs, helping them to grow the UK’s reputation for quality gin both here and abroad. I want to see it up there with Scotch whisky in terms of global sales" says Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss.

This is real support from the government and strong organizational skills.

“The flourishing UK gin industry is being driven by the hard work and ingenuity of distillers and we're proud to be working with WSTA to promote Scottish gin throughout the UK and abroad... Our distillers are creating some really unique gins through experimenting with techniques from the whisky industry and using new blends of local botanicals – it’s exciting to see such innovation within the great British tradition of gin distilling" says David Mundell, Secretary of State for Scotland.

I wonder what they are going to do next? Succeed?

Source: WSTA