Hennessy Cognac | Total Wine & More (2024)

Explore the Hennessy Craft

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  Only in Cognac, France

  All the grapes used to create Hennessy cognacs are born of the unique soil of the Cognac region surrounding the River Charente. Ugni Blanc grapes are harvested, crushed, fermented, and then distilled according to strict practices perfected over time.

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  Ugni Blanc

  Through centuries of experimentation, the Ugni Blanc varietal prevailed as the dominant grape in the Cognac region. Perfect for distillation, the fruit boasts acidity and a high proportion of yeasts, and is well suited to the chalky soils that characterize the hillside vineyards that surround the Charente.

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  A Bounty in the Vineyards

  Each fall, since the Roman Empire ruled the region, the grapes of Cognac are harvested. What was once done by hand is now achieved through carefully honed modern tools. The grapes are quickly pressed for fermentation, and for a few weeks, usually in October, the hillsides fill with the scent of fresh crushed grapes.

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  A Time-Tested Method

  Cognac is made from wine that is double distilled using iconic Charentais copper stills. All Hennessy partner distilleries adhere to a strict process for fermentation and distillation to create fine eaux-de-vies that will be aged and then blended into cognac.

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  Years of Attention to Detail

  Throughout an aging process that in some cases lasts centuries, the progress of each eaux-de-vie must be tracked with utmost care. For this reason, casks are sampled regularly, according to a plan laid by the Master Blender. To do so, a glass vial called a “prouvette” is lowered into an opening in the cask.

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  Aged in French Oak

  The largest collection of eaux-de-vie in the world, with some dating back nearly 200 years. Hennessy's cellars are integral to our legacy and history, all our cognacs are carefully aged in hand-crafted French oak barrels hewn from the nearby Limousin forests.

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  An Ancestral Choreography

  Masters of an ancient craft, Hennessy coopers make water-tight barrels without a single drop of glue or a single nail, using only wood, heat, water, and metal bands. Only French oaks from the nearby Limousin or Tronçais forests are used — known for their low resin content, they are perfect for aging cognacs.

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  "The Water of Life"

  Eaux-de-vie are individual-vintage spirits distilled from grapes from only the finest growing regions in Cognac, which are then aged in French oak barrels, and meticulously blended to create Hennessy cognacs.

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  Production That Predates Industry

  Born long before the era of industry, Hennessy once relied on teams of skilled bottlers to bring its cognacs to market. Indeed, Hennessy was one of the first spirits brands to deliver its offerings in bottles, in earlier times, ships set sail filled with oak casks.

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  Ready for the World

  Modern fermenting, aging, and bottling techniques keep up with global demand while maintaining the consistent excellence of our cognacs. Hennessy was also an early environmental pioneer, and remains an industry leader in sustainable agricultural, production, and distribution methods.

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