
The first written record of Armagnac dates back to 1411. It is France's oldest brandy. Three cultures were necessary to give us the Armagnac so many enjoy today: The Romans who brought vines to Gascony, the Moors who distilled the region's wines, and the Celts who taught the Gascons how to use oak barrels to coax the brandy into its greatest expression. In order to be called Armagnac, the brandy must come from the Armagnac region and production is tightly regulated. The Sempé family dates back to the 14th century. Commercial production began in 1932. The Armagnac is made from white wines from carefully selected vineyards and distilled only once through a copper alembic to provide unique, robust flavors. The Armagnac is then stored in black oak casks until the Cellar Master deems it ready. Sempé is the #2 Armagnac in the world. The Sempé cellars hold vintage Armagnacs dating back to 1888. They are treasured by connoisseurs for their ultra-high quality. When looking for a gift tied to a specific year, wine vintages can be temperamental and difficult to find. The quality of Sempé Vintage Armagnac is much more reliable and comes in a lovely wooden box. Many vintages are available but these can be very limited quantities so ask your local retailer to special order Sempé Vintage Armagnac.