Expert: Paul Wagner - 1/4/2012

Question
Hi there, my wife fell in love with a brandy she found in France several years ago and thinks it was called "Paul Gerard"? Neither of us can track this down anywhere... I was wondering if you could help us out? Maybe the name is slightly wrong?

Many thanks,
Dan,

Answer
Hi Dan

As you have discovered, there is no Brandy Paul Gerard.  But brandy just means distilled spirits from wine (the term orignally comes from "burned wine" which describe how you have to heat the wine to distll it) and that means that brandy can be made just about anywhere in the world by anyone with a permit.

But Cognac is something entirely different.  This must be made by very strict regulations in the Southwest of France, and there is a producer there by the name of Paul Giraud.

And I will bet that's exactly what you wife fell in love with.  It's good stuff.  And sadly for you, a bit expensive.  SHe knows quality!

Paul Wagner