Le cognac de Noël L.94

The Cognac de Noël is a unique eau-de-vie from the Petite Champagne region.  The name, however, is incomplete because Noël and Marie-France have accomplished incredible feats together since 1976.  This charming couple officially took over ten hectares of Petite Champagne vines in Sainte-Lheurine and Lonzac in 1982 which they farmed until their retirement in 2008.  They still reside on the property that has been in the family since the post-phylloxera era, although the vines are currently tended by a neighboring vintner.

Noël, the second of five children, the first son, was tapped to take over from his father who had taken over from his own father.  In the mid-60s, an unfortunate tractor accident catapulted teenage Noël into the role of responsibility for the vines and the cattle, which they raised until the mid-80s. Adversity affects all of us differently and most definitely forged Noël's strength of character.  There is simply not enough space in this booklet to describe the fortitude of this duo.

Marie-France, with the aid of her in-laws, looked after the farm and small daughter.  Because of the cognac crisis, corn had been planted by fellow farmers, sparking the need to irrigate.  After creating his own drill for well-digging, Noël began digging.  He created other machines, built buildings, imagined and executed solutions for all sorts of problems, ranging from hoeing beetroots to cleaning potstills.  In fact, he is related to Edmond Gregoire, the creator of the harvest machine here in Cognac.