chauffe-vin (“wine-heater” in French) is a large, turnip-shaped enameled copper chamber, through which the lyne arm of a cognac still passes on its way to the condenser, preheating the wine held within prior to the inaugural distillation. Introduced in the late nineteenth century, the chauffe-vin lowers fuel costs and increases the efficiency of the condenser. Some cognac distillers, however, believe that it puts wines at risk of oxidizing and do not use it.
Baudoin, A. Les eaux-de-vie et la fabrication du cognac. Paris: J. B. Baillière et fils, 1893.
“What Is Cognac Made Of?” Cognac Expert website. https://www.cognac-expert.com/what-is-cognac-made-of/ (accessed April 20, 2021).
By: Alia Akkam