It is said that in the 3^rd century, the roman emporer Probus granted the right to plant wines in the whole of Gaule. Thus the great vineyards of Saintonge came into being. The wines were much appreciated in Northern Europe. However these wines with their low alcohol content suffered during the long sea voyages. From the 16^ème century, the english and Dutch merchants began to distil the wine when discharging it from the ships. Soon to reduce the cost, it became easier to tramsform the wine into eau-de-vie before transporting it. With water added the liquuid was named "Brandwijn" (burnt wine). As the result of economie crises, the stocks of this eau-de-vie remained unsold. The result of the ageing in oak barrels was a remarkable inprovement. Cognac had found its defintiveform.