François Voyer François Voyer is a family cognac house from the Grande Champagne region – the highest classified cru in the cognac hierarchy. The vineyards are located in the villages of Verrières and Ambleville, in an area that connoisseurs call the Golden Belt of Cognac. History and Vineyards François Voyer – Grande Champagne for Generations The Voyer family has been producing cognac for several generations. The vine plants growing in the vineyard today were planted by the grandparents and great-grandparents of the current owners. The estate comprises 29 hectares of chalky-clay soils typical of the region, planted with white grape varieties. By using exclusively their own fruit, the company controls production from grapes on the vine to finished cognac in the bottle. François Voyer Production Only one alembic still is used for distillation, which lengthens the entire process but allows strict control of every stage. The wine is distilled together with the lees – a more difficult method, but one that results in smoother and softer cognacs. All Voyer cognacs mature in Limousin oak barrels, which impart more tannins and allow the distillate to breathe more freely. New barrels are used for the youngest cognacs to give them richer aromas. The maturation period is always longer than regulations require: VSOP cognac, which can formally bear this name after four years, ages at Voyer for six to seven years. XO, for which the standard is 10 years, matures for as long as 25 years. François Voyer Range In addition to the line of cognacs in various age categories, François Voyer also produces liqueurs based on cognac and fruit juices, as well as Pineau des Charentes.