22 THE VINEYARDS OF THE WORLD. 



cheaper rates than any others. These 

 Wines were considered thin and light then 

 and such are still their characteristics to- 

 day ; but, if the Wines from the Charentes 

 vineyards have never been very fine, they 

 yield, when distilled, a brandy of exceptional 

 excellence and inimitable character. 



The only Brandy entitled to the name 

 Cognac is that which has been distilled 

 from Wine produced by the Vineyards of 

 a limited district, the Region Delimitee ; 

 this comprises the greater part of the two 

 Departements of Charente and Charente 

 Inferieure, and a small area in the two 

 other neighbouring Departements of Deux 

 Sevres, in the north, and Dordogne, in 

 the south. 



The vineyards of the Cognac-producing 

 district may be divided in two main classes, 

 the Champagnes and the Bois. 



On the left bank of the river Charente, 



