France: Cognac

Ga-ga for Cognac There are fine wines, and there is champagne. There are also fine brandies. And then there is cognac. Perhaps epitomizing the grape's journey from ground to glass, cognac stands royally tall as the preferred drink of princes and powerbrokers around the globe. With a thousand years of history behind it, the Cognac region of France is home to this very special spirit, and the Thirsty Traveler draws yet another lucky card as he explores Normandy's ancient castle towers, vast aging cellars - and a king's kitchen - in this ultimate quest for cognac.