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In Russia, the term “cognac” has long turned into a generic concept denoting a drink prepared using a certain technology, which is not always directly related to real French cognacs. Historically, there has also been its own classification, different from the international one. Next, let’s figure out what is meant by the current labeling of cognacs.
History of cognac classification in Russia
The first cognac producers appeared in Russia at the end of the 1909th century. In XNUMX, the government passed a law that established the technology for making the drink and determined the regions for growing raw materials. Then the first classification appeared.
Cognac was divided into three types: Russian, foreign and artificial, prepared by chemical means. The rapid growth of the industry was stopped by the dry law of 1914 and the revolution that followed.
The revival of Russian cognacs was discussed only in 1924, when the government decided to restore the Shustov and Sons factory. In pre-revolutionary times, the company’s products were in demand and more than once received gold medals at Paris exhibitions. A qualitative leap occurred in 1936 after the unification of the entire wine industry into the People’s Commissariat of the Food Industry of the USSR. Just a year later, 92 decalitres of wine spirit were laid in the cellars, which was to become cognac.
In 1940, the government approved a detailed technology for the production of cognacs, which is still successfully used today. All-Union rules established the division of cognacs into ordinary, vintage and collection. Each group had to correspond to a certain strength and have a specified sugar content.
After the formation of the CIS, each state revised the technical conditions and standards. The current Russian GOST no longer provides for the division of cognac into ordinary and branded, but the classification continues to be used by manufacturers.
Ordinary cognac
Despite the long exposure, cognac spirits are not yet the final product. Subsequently, distillates are mixed in blends, the strength is reduced and, in some cases, sugar syrup or color is added. Factory technologists develop a recipe, which is then approved by the tasting commission.
Ordinary cognacs are a blend of spirits aged from three to five years in barrels or tanks with oak chips. In Armenia and Russia, it is allowed to add oak extract to such drinks.
Classification of ordinary cognacs depending on the aging period:
- “Three stars”, 40% – at least three years;
- “Four stars”, 41% – at least four years;
- “Five stars”, 42% – at least five years.
In Soviet times, such cognacs did not have names, today drinks from spirits aged 3-5 years have received the right to their own name. Zvezdochki is still produced by the Kizlyar Cognac Factory, one of the most famous cognac producers in Russia.
Vintage cognac
In the all-Union technical conditions, vintage cognacs were called drinks that were produced in individual wine-growing regions from alcohols of their own production under various names.
Today, this requirement has disappeared from the standards, as well as the very concept of “vintage cognac”, instead of it they use the definition of “aged cognac” – a blend of spirits that have matured for more than five years exclusively in oak barrels.
The following definitions have been adopted:
- aged cognac or KV (40% – 42%) – from 6 to 7 years;
- aged cognac of the highest quality or KVVK (40-45%) – from 8 to 10 years;
- old cognac or KS (40-57%) – over 10 years.
Brands of aged cognacs
Many brands of KV cognacs have been produced since Soviet times, these include Derbent, Lezginka, Koktebel. In the KVVK category, Vainakh, Kuban, Kaspiy and Yubileiny have proven themselves well. Among the old cognacs are famous “Kizlyar”, “Bagration” and “Dagestan”, which are served at government receptions and exported abroad.
Russian GOST provides for another category of cognac – OS or very old with alcohol aging for more than 20 years. Examples – “President”, “Cruiser Varyag”, “Saradzhaev”.
Collection cognacs are made from spirits aged for at least three years in oak barrels, and post-blend rest is not included in this period. In this category, it is worth noting the 15-year-old Rossiya cognac, which is one of the protocol drinks of the Kremlin. The manufacturer of the brand is the Kizlyar Cognac Factory.
Over the past few years, the State Duma has been discussing amendments to the law on winemaking, which will again establish a single technology for the production of cognac. The document also contains labeling requirements and sales rules. While the bill is under discussion, but, perhaps, after its adoption, the classification of cognacs will change again.