Michel Forgeron Cognac

The Forgeron family has worked the land in Grande Champagne since 1909, when they settled at Chez Richon near Segonzac. After returning from military service in 1960, Michel Forgeron took over the small family farm, then just two hectares of vines and four of arable land. In 1965 he married Francine, converted the stable into a distillery and the barns into an ageing cellar, and began planting the entire property with vines.

The cognac business grew steadily until 1977, when the family formally founded the house under the Michel Forgeron name and released its first cognac. Michel retired in 1998, passing the estate to his youngest son Pierre, and in 2002 his older brother Christophe returned to join him, together steering the house toward more sustainable farming practices.

The estate is based in Segonzac, a Premier Cru of the Cognac region renowned for its hillside vineyards, and today spans around 24 hectares, roughly 70 percent on the plain and 30 percent on the hillsides. Nearly all of it, 23 hectares, is planted with Ugni Blanc, with a single hectare of Folle Blanche, and alongside cognac the house also produces Pineau des Charentes.

Michel Forgeron's range reflects that patient, family-run approach: its VSOP blends eaux-de-vie aged up to 15 years in French oak at 43% ABV, while its XO is built from considerably older stocks, with even the youngest component already 12 years old at the time of blending.