Colombard

Colombard has two well-documented roles in southwestern France. In the Charente it is among the white grapes permitted for Cognac base wines, where acidity and relatively low sugar suit distillation. In Gascony it is also bottled as an aromatic still white. Comparing those uses is a useful way to see how the intended product shapes harvest and cellar choices.

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Folle Blanche

Folle Blanche is a western French white grape whose most clearly documented role is in distillation. In Cognac and Armagnac, its relatively low-alcohol, high-acid base wine has historically supplied eaux-de-vie; phylloxera and grafting contributed to its decline, and it is now a minor planting. Plantgrape also describes it as suitable for base wine and notes how full ripeness can change acidity. The grape is a reminder that a vine’s value depends on the product a region is making.

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