In a very short time, the team from Grape of the Art (GotA) has built a reputation in the spirits scene that could hardly be better. With a completely successful concept, superb quality in the bottle, and high recognition value, the five aficionados from Stuttgart have managed to impress. All five originally came to Armagnac through other spirits and have been deeply immersed in the quality and enjoyment of rare distillates from a young age. Some started with Bourbon or Scotch, others with Rum – for us, this is clearly the basis and the capital of their own bottlings, which seek their equals in terms of quality, the information about Armagnac, and their presentation.
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Leonard Stumpf
The Armagnac market, especially in terms of single cask bottlings, is still in its "infancy" except in the grown but still rather small community. The quality, the diversity, and the history of Armagnac are extremely exciting, which is why it was important for us to have this conversation with the GotA team. So here are the questions we asked:
The story behind Grape of the Art?
The company and brand GotA emerged from the desire that every spirits enthusiast knows – to fill their own barrel! Our team gradually came together during regular spirits evenings in Stuttgart, where in addition to rum and whisky, more and more Armagnac and Cognac found their way into the glass. Through intensive tastings, it quickly became clear that Armagnac can offer so much more in terms of quality than its dusty reputation would suggest.
When Sascha launched Armagnac.de he had already established some contacts with producers in Gascony, it became serious!
Are we really going to start our own company? Yes! But then we must do it properly and distinguish ourselves from other bottlers. For this reason, it was important for us to design a concept, and especially labels, that appeal to new target groups and present Armagnac in a more modern light. Robert and Christian's affinity for art greatly benefited us in designing the labels and overall design concept.
After several months of research and preparation, we finally founded the company in June 2021 and set off for France a few days later. In numerous cellars, we had the incredible opportunity to taste many Armagnacs and were able to identify some favorites right away. We quickly agreed that we didn't just want to fill one cask - but rather, we wanted to work on regular releases.
The sense of security and confidence in our selection arose because we had all been involved in the world of whisky and rum for years and were well-versed - we knew that if all five of us enjoyed something, there would be others who would like it too. Additionally, with Theresa Plos, we found a designer who could perfectly translate our ideas into concrete designs.
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What makes Armagnac so special for you?
First of all, Armagnac is incredibly diverse. The production of Armagnac is very elaborate. First, a wine must be made, then distilled. After that, the aging begins in one or more casks, and sometimes even subsequent resting in Demijons.
At each of these steps, there are variations. Which grape variety is used – and on what soil the vines grow. What the climate was like, whether the winemakers had a good harvest. The fermentation of the wine – sometimes even through wild fermentation, i.e., without the deliberate addition of yeast.
After the wine is finished, then comes the distillation – almost all producers use one of the 5 mobile distillation units, the Alambique Armagnacaise, which distills directly at the producer's site.
And then the aging – sometimes in casks of Limousin oak, but most often in oak casks from the Gascogne. The size of a typical Armagnac cask is about 420 litres.
Whether the Armagnac is stored in a moist cellar or rather dry. You see – many individual factors make Armagnac unique.
The most emotionally important point, why Armagnac is so special for us, are the producers! We have met so many great people on our tours. With almost all, we were able to establish a friendly relationship and experience the spirit of these families. The production is real craftsmanship, and the people behind it are hard-working winemakers.
Losses from early frost, or hail damage, which can destroy the entire harvest, are not uncommon. The "double" risk of first producing a wine and then distilling it – all uncertainties that these often very small operations bear. Often only 5-10 casks are produced per year – and in some years, none at all!
An increasing problem for many is also the price increase when buying new casks – and thus another risk due to the long time until the sale of the finished Armagnac.
Our goal and heartfelt concern is therefore to establish the names of the producers in the market with our bottlings – and thus also to encourage them to continue producing.
The producer is the star!
Due to its individuality, its character, and the variety, Armagnac is one of the most interesting distillates in the world.
What Have Been Your Highlights So Far?
As mentioned – generally meeting the producers and being able to taste and then bottle their treasures directly in the cellars.
A particularly memorable highlight for us was the honor of being able to bottle a Lous Pibous – an Armagnac that is celebrated especially on the US market for its similarities to Bourbon – and simply one of the gems in Armagnac.
A story that comes to mind regarding highlights – after a long day of tasting at various producers, we were on our way back to the holiday house. We passed by Domaine de Seailles – we were unaware of its existence until that moment, and although we were done for the day, we ventured a spontaneous visit. This resulted in one of our most emotional bottlings. Armagnac from Seailles was hardly known in Germany before – here you can say we were pioneers.
Regarding Cognac, the Lheraud 1967 was of course a real highlight. We were able to make contact at ProWein. Through several discussions, we were able to change the stance that Lheraud does not sell vintage casks to our favor – through our concept of giving the producer the role of the star – and not least because at the founding of Grape of the Art in 2021 we opened a Cognac Lheraud Vintage 1965 for a celebratory hour. That was ultimately the ticket, so to speak.
What Can You Tell Us About Market Development With Opportunities and Risks?
The market for Armagnac is extremely limited - especially when compared to whisky, cognac, or rum. The diversity is very special, but also not easy to explore. There is Armagnac that comes close to a bourbon, others offer a fruitiness that strongly reminds one of Irish whiskey or the lighter Speyside single malts. Yet others, with their light glue notes, are hardly distinguishable from a rum.
This comparability is a great thing – but also a risk as a comparative drink never to assume the actual status – but we are working on that!
For enthusiasts, it can be said that it is currently still very easy to get old distillates, and at relatively good prices. This is mainly due to the "small audience". While Scotch and cognac appear in film, music, and the entire cultural area, this is not the case with Armagnac.
Due to the limited total amount and the growing fan community, however, the old stocks will sooner or later be bottled and sold. Ultimately, there is not enough Armagnac in old qualities available to open up a global market like that of whisky or rum.
An opportunity is that the increasing demand makes it more interesting for producers to bottle their own single casks or to sell these to independent bottlers. And not, as before, sell much to the large houses for blending. Thus, in terms of the total amount of produced Armagnac, a shift towards the more interesting single cask bottlings and away from the broad standard. Though, many producers are already filling single casks, but they don't label it as such.
German Armagnac Festival – We Were There in 2023 and Will Come Again!
Yes, we are of course delighted – we are also looking forward to April. The enthusiasm and atmosphere last year were a confirmation for us and an incentive to gladly take on the effort of organization again. We received incredibly positive feedback and are sure that the Armagnac Festival will firmly establish itself in the spirits scene in the coming years.
Beyond Armagnac, we are also pleased that there are always rarities from the whisky, rum, and cognac scenes to try at the rarity stands as "side dishes".
What Else Should We Know About You and Your Goals?
Our credo to the entire community is – try it! And not just once or twice – but again and again. Armagnac has as many variations as described and is not easy to discover. Quote from Robert Bauer: "As a whisky drinker, one must compare it to the first Laphroaig 10 they drank – many did not like it directly at the first attempt and yet, over time, have developed their taste and are today happy with a dram. Give Armagnac the same chance. The story, the craftsmanship, and passion behind it deserve it!"
Otherwise, we are aware that the community has placed a lot of trust in us – without this, our project would never have become so successful. We do our best to continue supporting Armagnac and the people behind the drink and to bring good stuff into the bottle for all lovers. So, definitely a big thank you to all supporters and for the trust in us!
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The Grape of the Art crew visiting L’Encantada in Vic-Fezensac. From left to right: Robert Bauer, Vincent Cornu (L’Encantada), Frederic Chappe (L’Encantada), Christian Maier, Sascha Junkert, Leonard Stumpf and Oliver Gerhardt
So, as an auction house, all that remains for us is to thank you all. For your passion and the selection of great drops. It's fun and an honor for us!
Wishing you continued success and always a good hand in selection!
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