Well, if you are not a gourmet at all and are too lazy to understand the meaning of non-Russian words, there is an easy way to understand what kind of cognac is in front of you!

Taste: F - excellent, V - very,S - excellent

By the look: R - light,

According to the age:

O - old

X - over or extra. In other words, superlatively)

So, by connecting these letters, we get the desired meaning and description of cognac.

Cognac is made from aged cognac spirit. The process goes something like this: the juice is squeezed out of the grapes, grape juice brought to fermentation, then sent for distillation. The distillation is done twice. After the second distillation, cognac spirit is poured into oak barrels, sealed and sent to the cellar for maturation. The longer the cognac alcohol matures, the tastier and better quality the cognac turns out.

VS (Very Special) - means that the cognac matured for about 2 years in an oak barrel.

VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) - approximately 4 years of aging in barrel.

XO (Extra Old) - the highest class with aging from 6 to 20 years.

You can immediately see the difference in prices.

P.S. Cognac bottled will not change its quality. It can be stored for at least ten years, but the aging will remain the same as it was at the time of bottling.

These letters indicate the age of the cognac.

It states that each of the alcohols included in this cognac (there can be many of them) is aged at least as specified. Moreover, to be considered cognac, it must be aged for at least two years, otherwise it is some kind of sub-cognac. So you will never see labels with the very first bills, technological designations 00, 0 and 1 in stores.

The aging period for cognac spirits is counted from the night of April 1 of the year following the year of the grape harvest.

Manufacturers have already calculated 00, 0 and 1. The following classes follow in order.

2: V.S. (stands for Very Special), can also be designated Selection, de Luxe, Trois Etoiles - 2 years (i.e. at least 2 years of aging, but less than 3).

3: Superior 3 years (or rather, from three to four).

4: V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale), V.O. (Very Old), Vieux, Reserve 4 years of aging (from 4 to 5).

5: V.V.S.O.P. (Very Very Superior Old Pale) - alcohol aging for at least 5 years.

6: X.O. (Extra Old) - at least 6 years of aging (infinity is not the limit).

Aging is taken into account only that which occurs in oak barrels, charred from the inside. This is the only way that alcohols can obtain all kinds of substances from this wood, enriching the bouquet. After bottling, the process, as you understand, stops: you can no longer obtain tanning, aromatic substances, sugar, or color from chemically inert glass.

You are probably aware that there is another designation, more common in the post-Soviet space, like * * * *, which means: this cognac is made from alcohols aged for at least 4 years (the same as VSOP), strength from 41% , sugar content should not exceed 1.5%. Stars denote ordinary cognacs. Vintage ones have a letter designation from the Russian alphabet: KV (aged cognac), KVVK, KS (old cognac) or OS (very old). However, it is impossible to find an unambiguous correspondence between our and imported designations, since the aging of these cognacs goes beyond the limits of foreign accounts. On the other hand, abroad count 6 (which is Extra Old) is in no way limited from above, and at least 6 years can mean at least 7 years and 1 month, at least 10 years, at least all 60, whereas with HF there will be no such spread, since KV labeling implies an average age of alcohol from 6 to 7 years (strength no less than 42%), KVVK - 10 years (the use of eight-year-old cognac spirits is allowed, the final strength is from 43 to 45%), and only KS (OS) is truly significant age - more than 10 years (at a strength of 40 to 57%).

Indeed, it is interesting to find out what the letters mean on the bottles of an expensive drink - cognac. After all, the letters will not only tell us about the price of cognac, but also tell us something about its quality.

In fact, a whole scheme has been developed that makes it very easy to understand what you bought). It's called the French system. See:

I think that now it will be easier for you to navigate when purchasing. I also want to add that there are other designations that are worth mentioning.

Namely:

• at the sight of the letters V.S. on the bottle we can conclude that the age of cognac alcohol is in this case at least ten years;

  letters V.S.O.P. they talk about the age of fifteen to twenty years;

  Cordon Bleu is already thirty-five years old;

  Extra - sixty years;

  and fifty years of X.O. Supreme.

These are not even asterisks (asterisks reflect the quality of raw materials), but an analogy of domestic abbreviations. For example, KVVK - aged cognac of the highest quality, or simply KV - aged cognac, OS - very old SS - very old. The English marking you provided means V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale) - cognac at least 4 years old - a very excellent old light. This decoding will help you navigate: E - special

F - excellent

O - old

S - excellent

R - light

C - cognac

that is, XO will mean very (very) old in the Russian manner.

Chin - rank :)

Cognac is strong alcoholic drink from grapes that long time kept in oak barrels. It is this aging in oak that will impart the characteristic light, golden brown color. Accordingly, the English letters VSOP, VS, X.O. are the initial ones in the designation of aging in years, old age, quality and other characteristics of cognac.

VS (Very Special) - cognac aged for at least 2.5 years

VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) or VVSOP (Very-Very Superior Old Pale - at least 4-5 years of aging and we can talk about the excellent quality of such a drink.

XO (Extra Old) - from 6 years, that is, aged for quite a long time in an oak barrel.



The strict standards established by the National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognacs also include the age of cognac, indicated in the form of letters. Aging of cognac according to the classification is considered from April 1, from one in the morning. Cognac aged more than 6 years is not included in the category and is prohibited by the Bureau

When purchasing a skate in stores, you will notice that the following abbreviations are indicated on the packaging: XO, VVSOP, VSOP, VS. These abbreviations show us the aging period of the drink; these abbreviations mean the following:

Source of information: fb.ru.

These designations are found on cognac from France.

• VS (Very Special) - this drink is more than two years old; In fact, more than 4 years.

  at least four years are designated - VSOP (VSO, Vieux, VVS, Rare);

  X.O. super old alcoholic drink. It is also called Extra Old. Excellent cognac for connoisseurs). 25 years guaranteed.

From the same opera Vieille Reserve and Napoleon. Napoleon reaches the age of 20.

Cognacs Russian manufacturers They also have their own designations. The decoding is as follows:





Best harvest

These letters on bottles of cognac are markings indicating the age of the cognac. Aging control is carried out by the National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognacs, which has established these very strict standards. Thanks to this, all consumers can learn about the aging period of cognac.

V.S. (Very Special) - this brand belongs to cognacs aged for at least 2.5 years

V.O.(Very Old) very old

V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale) - cognac aged for at least 4 years

V.V.S.O.P. (Very-Very Superior Old Pale) cognacs aged for at least 5 years;

X.O.(Extra Old) Napoleon, Extra is a fairly old cognac aged for at least 6 years.

At the beginning of the article it should be mentioned that VSOP classification Only real French cognacs can be used. Cognac itself is one of the representatives of grape brandy, produced in the city of the same name, which is located in the Charente region.

The boundaries of the area producing this strong alcoholic drink are strictly regulated by law and have special regulations and requirements. Initially, cognac is a native French drink. It has been and will always be so.

No other drink in the world has the right to be called by this name. Unfortunately, such a law has not yet been adopted by the European Union and the familiar word cognac can be seen on the labels of drinks that have nothing in common with cognac.

At the beginning of the last century, the National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognac adopted a fundamental standard for cognac classification, where the main principle is the age of the drink.

The VSOP category is the best-selling cognac product group in the world. The main factor in active sales is excellent quality at an affordable price. Pleasant strength combined with vanilla notes and floral tones cannot leave anyone indifferent.

Of course, VSOP cognac is not able to compete with its premium older brothers, such as XO or Extra, and it doesn’t need to. It is bright and despite its youth, it is already a mature drink. The color palette of VSOP cognac has a pleasant, light amber color.

It is produced from white grape varieties grown in the great terroirs of Grande Champagne, Petit Champagne, Fins Bois and Borderies. Each of them gives their grapes taste qualities, including bright taste and minerality. The most ideal grapes for production cognac VSOP The Ugni Blanc variety is recognized.

Cognac with the letters VSOP on the label always remains welcome guest in every home, and it truly deserves it.

Abbreviation VSOP English language reads Very Superior Old Pale, and its literal translation means “Very Superior Old Pale.” If we compare with Russian or Armenian cognacs, which are more familiar to Russians, then the Very Superior Old Pale category could be compared with 5-star options. For your information, the correct reading of the abbreviation VSOP is – vis-es-ov-pi.

French cognac having the letters VSOP on its label indicates that it contains cognac spirits aged at least 4 years. However, this does not mean that the entire contents of the bottle were subjected to four years of aging. Cognac blending is a complex, unique process, and its age-old advantages are kept strictly secret by the producers and passed on from generation to generation.

The most important rule good cognac- This is aging in oak barrels. You should not think that we are talking about an ordinary oak that grows in deciduous forests. Barrels for aging cognac are made from particularly precious oak wood, which grows only in two regions of France: Limousin and Tronçais. A real oak barrel is the key to unique success.

It cannot be said that all VSOP cognacs are the same in taste. Each cognac house produces unique creations in its composition and blend. A VSOP bottle may contain 7- and even 10-year-old alcohol, but one single drop of 4-year-old cognac does not allow the drink to have the highest classification.

VS transcript and excerpt

VS (Very special) - cognac is made on the basis of 2-year-old alcohols, but in practice the aging of alcohols in such cognac will be 4-6 years.

XO transcript and excerpt

XO (Extra Old) - cognac is made on the basis of 6-year-old alcohols, but in practice the aging of alcohols in such cognac will be 20-30 years.

More aristocratic and noble drink In the world, you most likely will not be able to find anything other than natural French cognac. It is worthy even of famous kings, its aroma and taste can evoke respect and affection from people from the first sip, reflects a deep inner world and allows you to feel part of high society. However, in addition to personal preferences in terms of taste and smell, a true connoisseur and gourmet will definitely pay attention to labeling and aging, which is extremely important.

Moreover, just by looking at the label, a connoisseur will immediately determine, for example, what cognac means XO, VS, VSOP, and so on. Let's figure it out together, especially since everything here is quite clear and transparent.

Classification of cognac

A person on the street, who was previously very superficially familiar with cognac, the technology of its production, as well as the characteristics of its use, will find it extremely difficult to figure out from the start what the age of this noble drink is. That is, to understand how many years this liquid spent in an oak barrel before it reached the consumer’s table. Only a few people in the world can calculate the approximate age by taste, color, smell and other indicators, and for the rest, labels have been invented on which all the necessary information is indicated.

Cognac age

If you really want to become a connoisseur and gourmet, it doesn’t hurt to first understand that the age, or rather, aging of cognac is considered exactly until it is poured from the barrel into a glass container, most often into a bottle. At this moment, it instantly stops “aging” and no matter how many years pass, it will remain exactly the same as before. In fact, purchasing cognac by an ignorant person is a little like buying a lottery ticket, because you never know for sure whether you will be lucky or not. It’s the same with cognac, because they seem to flicker famous name and brands like Remy Martin or Hennessy, and beautiful markings in large letters VSOP, XO, but what all this Chinese letter means is not at all clear. On the other hand, there are also more modest markings, such as KV, KS, OS and others, which also would not hurt to study.

French roots, technology and endurance

Cognac was originally invented by French winemakers after they learned to double distill the young wine. grape wine special varieties into the purest distillate and store it tightly sealed in oak barrels for many years. It is in these barrels that the drink acquires its unique color, amazing aroma and stunning taste.
But the markings on the labels do not mean anything new or unclear, but simply indicate its age. For example, VSOP cognac, what does this marking mean, what does it refer to and how to understand what kind of drink is in front of you? You need to start understanding with the fact that cognac can only come from France; this is enshrined in the law; no other drinks can be called that. There are some exceptions, for example, Armenian cognac, the quality of which is controlled by a French company. Anyway, such a drink has its own labeling and it is not permissible to use French standards here. A company called the French National Interprofessional Bureau of Cognacs is assigned to strictly ensure that the original labels XO, VSOP, VS are observed.

Age of cognacs on various scales

So how can you make the right choice and take exactly the bottle that is definitely distinguished by high quality, long aging, and, consequently, a special smell and taste. First of all, you can judge the aging by the stars on the label; behind each of them lies exactly ten months spent by the drink in a sealed oak barrel. It is remarkable that the start of aging of cognac always begins at the same time, namely from one o’clock in the morning on the first of April of each year, when the raw materials should already be processed, and the grape distillate is cleaned and poured into containers for aging. Thus, there are no stars on the label may be less than three, since the minimum aging period for ordinary cognac is at least thirty months. However, in addition to the classification by aging, which we will discuss below, there are other designations that you can see on French bottles, so it won’t hurt to familiarize yourself with them in order to be fully prepared for surprises.

C (Cognac) – cognac.

E (Special) – special.
O (Old) – old.
V (Very) – very.
S (Superior) – excellent.
P (Pale) – pale.
X (Extra) – extra.

If you are planning to become a fine connoisseur of French cognacs, it would not hurt to understand this all in more detail, find out, for example, what VS cognac means, so as not to lose face at a dinner party or reception.

Authentic French markings

Without trying, you can only judge superficially the qualities of a particular drink. However, when it comes to real French cognac, then from what is written on the label one can already conclude what properties and qualities are inherent in this version of alcohol, provided that it is original and not a fake. It won’t be at all difficult to figure it out, you just need to want to, since everything here is limited to four or five letters.
The easiest way to answer is what VS means in cognac and this means that we are talking about a drink aged in an oak barrel for at least two and a half years. Also, such alcohol is called Trois Etoiles, that is, “three stars.” The second version of the label VO means Very Old or Reserve, which translates as very old. This type of cognac is called three-year-old. Explanation of cognac VSOP - Very Superior Old Pale. This means that this is a very old cognac, aged for at least four years, but often much longer. Because it’s not at all difficult to understand what VSOP means in cognac. One more question: what does VVSOP mean in cognac and how is it translated? There is nothing complicated here either, Very-Very Superior Old Pale or Grande Reserve means very, very old cognac, high-quality and light, aged for at least five years. It remains to figure out what XO cognac means, but there won’t be any difficulties here either. Extra Old is a very old cognac, the aging of which has reached six years or more, which in itself already inspires respect. Anything that is older, by the standards of professionals, cannot be classified, even if it has been in a barrel for twenty to thirty years. Experts believe that such high deadlines cannot guarantee blending. Therefore, it was decided to prohibit the labeling of cognac older than six years at the legislative level. Interesting
Many people mistakenly believe that the words on the labels of French cognac, like Extra, Napoleon or Grand Reserve, are brands and names, but in reality this is not the case. This is a marking of the drink by age and classification, but not a personal name or the name of the manufacturing company.

Cognac aging according to the Soviet scale

It is impossible to call domestic drinks completely natural, since cognac can be French and nothing else. However, in Soviet times, and even now, the creation of similar drinks was popular, among which Armenian cognac was especially famous, the quality of which was truly recognized by the most outstanding winemakers in France.
Since there is a huge offer on the market, and the quality of the drink is really high, it would not hurt to also study the domestic classification of cognacs, which was invented and put into effect in Soviet times. It still works to this day. Most often, alcohol is marked with stars; they appear one per year, and minimum shutter speed is considered three years. Ordinary cognacs from the times of the USSR can have from one to five stars. Vintage cognacs were considered more elite and expensive, the classification of which should be understood in more detail. For example, it’s interesting to know what KV cognac means and what it indicates, so it’s worth studying everything from this point in quite some detail.

KV - aged cognac - a drink that has been aged for at least six years.

KVVK - aged cognac of the highest quality - an alcoholic drink, the aging of which has exceeded eight years.
KS - old cognac - this means that the drink is about ten, or even more, years old.
OS is a very old cognac, which continued to mature in oak barrels in the cellars of Armenia for twenty years or more. These are the most elite varieties, the price of which sometimes overshadows the original French drinks.

Anything that is aged even longer is considered a collectible alcoholic beverage and is unlikely to be intended for simply sharing a bottle with friends, because it will cost a fortune, which means you need an appropriate occasion. Thus, even without tasting the alcohol, you can already imagine how the contents of the bottle differ and whether it is worth paying for it the price indicated on the label.

Having tried different kinds cognac, you have probably laid down your criteria for assessing its quality. However, not many people know the classification that is displayed in the globally accepted labeling on bottles. The first thing to remember is that cognac is a French drink, so Latin letter markings are used only on truly French cognacs. The labeling, which is complex at first glance, indicates its aging period.

The National Interprofessional Office of Cognac uses the following designations:

• VS cognac(from the English “Very Special”) - marking of cognacs whose aging period in a barrel is at least 2 years;
• cognac VSOP– types of cognac, aged in barrel for 4 years or more;
• cognac VVSOP– designation of cognacs whose aging period exceeds 5 years;
• cognac XO(from the English “Extra Old”) - marking of cognacs whose aging period exceeds 6 years.

When calculating the aging period, the starting point is usually April 1 of the year following the year of harvest. However, aging, which is denoted by the Latin alphabet, is not all that can be found on the label of a good cognac. Classification of cognacs

Stars are assigned to ordinary cognacs, that is, made from alcohol aged for 3-5 years. At the same time, branded types of cognac have slightly different markings. Vintage cognacs are made from grape alcohol, the aging period of which exceeds 6 years. In this system, there are 3 main groups of cognac:

• cognac KV(aged) is made from high-quality alcohols, the average age of which ranges from 6 to 7 years, and the strength of such a drink should not be less than 42%;
• cognac KVVK has a strength of 43 to 45%, the alcohol from which this cognac is produced is aged for 10 years, although the use of 8-year-old alcohols is also allowed;
• cognac KS(old), cognac OS(very old) is made exclusively from the highest quality alcohols, aged for more than 10 years, and the strength of such drinks ranges from 40 to 57%.

Only collection cognacs are considered better than vintage cognacs of the KS or OS class.

Collection cognac is an additional vintage cognac infused in an oak barrel for 5 or more years.

The classification of cognacs involves dividing different types of this drink into classes.

Typically, the class of cognac is indicated by asterisks, according to the following criteria (star-cognac):

• cognac 3 stars made from alcohols that have been aged for more than 3 years, and the strength of the drink should be from 40%; these are young types of cognac, with a pleasant extractive taste and light straw color;
• cognac 4 stars is made from alcohols aged for 4 years, while the strength of the drink is from 41%, and its sugar content should not exceed 1.5%, this cognac also has a pleasant light straw color, and its taste is more extractive;
• cognac 5 stars is made from high-quality cognac spirits aged five years, the standard strength of such cognac is at least 42%, and the sugar percentage is 1.5%, the taste and aroma have a pleasant cognac tone.

Has long been very popular among alcoholic drinks enjoyed . When choosing a noble product, pay attention to the number of stars on the label and the brand of the manufacturer. However, not everyone knows how to make the right choice and what the abbreviation on the bottle means.

VSOP is considered one of the most popular brands; the decoding of this cognac hides a whole story that is connected with the origin of the drink. Cognac was created in France, and in this country, for the first time, it was decided to indicate on the labels the aging time of the alcohol and in which barrels it was stored. In Georgia and Armenia this information is encrypted in the number of stars, and in France it can be the following abbreviations: VSOP, VS or XO.

Classification of cognac

Connoisseurs of the noble drink can easily determine the quality and aging time of the product by taste, but for the ordinary consumer, all the necessary information must be indicated on the label.

The classification of cognacs depends on the age of the drink and the raw materials from which it is made. The most important indicator is the strength of alcohol and the technology of its preparation. Although the principle of creating this drink is the same, each brand still has certain differences and its own secrets.

The age of the product is measured from the moment it is placed in an oak barrel until the liquid is poured into glass containers. Alcohol stops aging in glass; its age no longer changes.

This period is indicated by the manufacturer on the bottles. In order to choose the right product, you should familiarize yourself with the basic rules of product labeling.

Presented on the shelves different varieties cognac These include Hennessi, Remi Martin, Xo, VSOP and VS cognac. There are markings of different symbols, but the most common are the abbreviation and gold stars on the label.

In order not to get confused in all the variety of varieties, it is recommended to study what kind of cognac there is and how to correctly distinguish it from other types.

What does VSOP VS and XO mean in cognac?

French companies producing drinks such as VS VSOP XO strictly ensure that original labeling standards are not violated. For these purposes, there is a special International Professional Bureau for Supervision.

Having familiarized yourself with the symbols on the label, the choice of products will become extremely simple and clear. In order to understand what VSOP means in cognac, it is recommended to remember the following decoding:

• OID (O) - translated means ancient or old;
• SUPERION (S) - excellent;
• PALE (P) - lightly colored or pale;
• VERY (V) - highly colored;
• EXSTRA (X) - extra;
• SPECIAL (E) - special;
• COGNAK (C) - translated as “cognac”.

Thanks to these designations, you can immediately read the main characteristics of the product on the label.

For example, if you see the abbreviation for cognac VSOP, what does it mean:

• excellent old pale drink;
• The aging time of alcohol is at least 4 years;
• it is made from a light grape variety;
• has excellent taste.

The measure of aging of cognac from France is clearly marked:

• VSOP goes on sale only after 4 years of aging.
• VVSOP is at least 5 years old.
• XO is the oldest drink, it is stored in barrels for at least 6 years.
• VS - a copy hits the shelves after 2 years of aging.

Knowing this, you can accurately determine the age and strength of the intoxicating drink.

Domestic labeling of cognacs

Authentic cognac is created only in France, but some domestic brands are appreciated by popular world winemakers. Armenian and Georgian drinks are very popular.

These products are marked with gold stars on the label. Each of them means 1 year of aging, and the alcohol is infused for at least 3 years.

In Soviet times, cognac aging could range from 1 to 5 years. Vintage varieties were considered the most expensive and noble specimens. They were often marked with large capital letters.

1. The abbreviation KV meant that the cognac was aged. The drink was at least 6 years old. The youngest cognac in Armenia belonged to this variety.
2. KVVK is an aged cognac of the highest quality. The product infusion time was 8 years.
3. KS - old cognac. The drink was considered the strongest and most seasoned. His age was at least 10 years.
4. OS - old cognac. This type was considered the most elite and expensive. It was aged according to technology in special oak barrels for at least 20 years.

Elite drinks sometimes exceeded even the most expensive ones in price French varieties, it was almost impossible to get them. Today, if desired, this alcohol can be purchased in special wine salons.

Western classification

The classification of French cognacs lies in the abbreviation on the bottles or barrels of the drink. In order to find out what quality a particular drink is, just look at the labeling. Thanks to it, we can conclude: is it young or old, what grape variety is it made from and what technology is used.

In domestic labeling, stars are most often found on the label. Almost everyone knows what the stars on cognac mean, because the product receives this symbol for each year of aging.

In the West, winery companies can choose one or another type of labeling for themselves, but repeat original titles world brands are prohibited by law.

Recently, the classification of a drink has been prohibited if its infusion period exceeds 6 years. This is due to the fact that the International Bureau of Professionals believes that it is no longer possible to control the blending process at this time.

Determining the origin of the drink

The first rule for determining the age of cognac is to study the abbreviations on the sticker. There are little secrets here too. Often the age of products is stated to be slightly older than the existing one. This is due to the fact that the countdown begins on April 1, when the alcoholic liquid is in oak barrels.

Connoisseurs can determine the approximate age of brandy by its visual appearance.

1. Brandy aged over 3 years has a rich, subtle aroma. If you lightly shake the liquid and inhale the vapor, you can enjoy a unique bouquet. Young brandy has a sharper and more pronounced smell of alcohol.
2. The older the drink, the denser its consistency. On the walls of the glass, the old alcoholic product leaves dense, oil-like traces. This speaks not only about its quality, but also about its age.
3. The aged variety always leaves a rich aftertaste in the mouth. Having tasted a sip quality cognac, you can feel different flavor notes. These are shades of fruit, nuts, wood, spices and even flowers.

In order to become a connoisseur of elite and noble alcohol, you need to familiarize yourself not only with the decoding of its labeling, but also learn the history of the origin of the drink and master the culture of its use. His different types and varieties reveal their taste and aroma in combination with a few products.

Today, it is quite easy to check every bottle of alcohol for originality. When purchasing a product, you should pay attention to the DAT sticker. If you enter its code in a special line on the official website of the manufacturer, you will receive complete information about this brand.