What is Armagnac (brandy)?
[[File:Armagnac-img_0465.jpg|thumb|180px|{{center|A bottle of Armagnac}}]] '''Armagnac''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|ɑː|m|ə|n|ˌ|j|æ|k}}; {{IPA-fr|aʁ.maˈɲak}}) is a kind of [[brandy]] produced in the [[Armagnac (region)|Armagnac region]] of [[France]]. The region lies between the [[Adour]] and [[Garonne river|Garonne]] rivers in the [[wikt:foothill|foothill]]s of the [[Pyrenees]]. The area contains {{convert|15000|ha|acre}} of [[grape]]-producing [[vine]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://le-cognac.com/armagnac/a-propos-de-larmagnac.html|title=Le Cognac - About Armagnac - The Best Cognacs On Earth - XO - VSOP - Extra|work=le-cognac.com|access-date=29 May 2015|archive-date=22 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622091933/http://le-cognac.com/armagnac/a-propos-de-larmagnac.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was given an [[Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée|AOC]] in 1936. [[Column still]]s rather than [[pot still]]s are used in the production of Armagnac. It is then [[Aging barrel|aged]] in [[oak]] [[barrel]]s. Armagnac is the oldest brandy [[distillation|distilled]] in France. In the past was consumed for its [[therapy|therapeutic]] benefits. In the 14th century, Prior [[Vital Du Four]], a Cardinal, claimed it had 40 virtues:<ref>{{cite news|title=France vaunts '40 virtues' of Armagnac|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/france-vaunts-40-virtues-of-armagnac-1891949.html|access-date=28 May 2015|agency=The Independent|publisher=Independent Print Ltd|date=2010-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Armagnac attack|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/epicure/armagnac-attack/2010/03/08/1267896761085.html|access-date=28 May 2015|agency=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Digital|date=2010-03-09}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{food-stub}} [[Category:Alcoholic spirits]]