Local Martell growers celebrate 300 years

Pernod Ricard-owned Cognac brand Martell has hosted an evening for its 3,200 winegrowers and employees in celebration of its 300^th anniversary.

Martell has held a special 300th anniversary celebration for its local winegrowers, distillers and employees.

The event, held on 3 September at Château de Chanteloup, the birthplace of the Cognac house, was billed as a local “tribute to Cognac and the people of Cognac”.

Martell employees had hand-delivered invitations to the brand’s winegrowers, distillers and partners throughout the region prior to the celebration.

Two fighter jets kicked the event off with a fly-past, and were followed by three planes from the Cognac-based flight academy, “Cartouche Doré”. Two Capt Ten aerobatic planes then wrote the number “300” in the sky in white smoke before dropping three parachutists. They then joined guests and presented César Giron, Martell chairman and CEO, and Alexandre Ricard, Pernod Ricard chairman and CEO, with bottles of the limited edition cognac given to guests as gifts.

The 40-minute airshow was rounded off with a fireworks display, before guests enjoyed cocktails created specially for the evening, and a “custom-crafted culinary experience” developed in collaboration with the Château de Chanteloup’s chefs Eric Danger and Pascal Nebout.

French singer-songwriter Louis Bertignac made a surprise appearance, and, after being thanked for their contribution to Martell, guests danced the night away.

“This is a very special year for Martell, which is celebrating three centuries of cognac-making and close bonds with the people of Cognac,” said Giron.

“We wanted to invite all the local partners with whom we have nurtured a truly remarkable partnership for nearly ten generations, and I sincerely hope that this special relationship will continue for many generations to come.”

Each guest received an exclusive, limited edition Cognac, a blend of 15 eaux-de-vie from the five main crus.

“The blending of these 15 eaux-de-vie, which then completed their ageing in barrels made from 300-year-old oak, spotlights our savoir-faire, our commitment, and our attachment to a House that has let us continue a fabulous story that began in 1715,” explained Martell cellar master, Benoît Fil.

Martell has hosted a number of celebrations throughout 2015 to mark its 300^th anniversary. In May it hosted a pop-up at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, and in April the brand announced Diane Kruger as its new ambassador.