There is no such thing as Armenian cognac

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that there is no such thing as Armenian cognac or Armenian champagne, as both terms are protected geographical indications belonging to France.

“My dear friends, Armenian cognac cannot exist, just like Dilijan’s ‘Jermuk’. Cognac can only be made from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France. The same applies to champagne — it can only come from the Champagne region,” Pashinyan said during a cabinet meeting.

He added that acknowledging this fact sometimes leads to accusations of “abandoning national roots,” but Armenia must comply with international rules on product names and origin.

In November 2024, the Armenian government officially decided to rename Armenian cognac as “Armenian brandy.” Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said at the time that the decision was coordinated with the European Union and aims to promote Armenian brandy in the EU market.