Ugni Blanc: France’s Most-Planted Grape and the Spirit of Cognac

Ugni Blanc is the most widely planted white grape in France and the indispensable backbone of Cognac and Armagnac production.

I. Italian Origin, French Destiny

• Known in Italy as Trebbiano Toscano, it originated in Tuscany, where it has been documented since Roman times.
• Introduced to France in the 14th century, it established itself in the Southwest and especially in the Charentes, where it became the exclusive grape of Cognac.

II. The Distilling Grape

• Ugni Blanc is the near-exclusive grape of Charentais distillation: it accounts for over 98% of Cognac’s vineyard plantings and a majority share of Armagnac’s.
• Its qualities for distillation are ideal: high acidity, low sugar content, a neutral and delicate wine that lends itself perfectly to oak barrel aging.
• It is also used in Provence and Corsica for light, dry white wines.

III. Characteristics

• Ugni Blanc is a late-ripening, productive variety well-suited to warm climates.
• As a table wine, it produces light, neutral wines with discreet aromas of lemon, apple, and fresh herbs, marked by prominent acidity.
• It is precisely this neutrality that makes it an ideal partner for distillation — allowing terroir and barrel aging to fully express themselves in the resulting spirit.