Pineau et Cognac Roussille

The company was founded in 1863. Our ancestors have worked the land,

cultivated vineyards and cereals. After many years they turned to

wine-growing.

Our establishment is in Libourdeau, in the village of Linars, located on a

beautiful hill, in the heart of the Charente region.

In 1928, Gaston Roussille makes an assembly of Cognac and Pineau. The

beginning was very difficult. The war breaks out & he leaves on 2nd

September 1939. He comes back armed with his strong character and he is

determined to succeed. He believes he should invest.

After the war the economy picks up again and with his means he

establishes a bigger vineyard and builds a still so he can work and produce

his Cognac and Pineau.

The company begins to pick up and little by little establishes itself. He sells

his products in the period 1943 / 1950 in bordering departments of the

Charente and occasionally throughout France.

Given his success, Gaston Roussille wants to progress further. He considers

himself a developer of the Pineau des Charentes and he believes it firmly.

In 1954 he starts exhibiting at the biggest international trade shows such as

the Salon International de l’Agriculture in Paris, Rouen, Lille, Dijon,

Charleroi, Liège, Lyon, Nancy, Bruxelles ... . Over the years he develops

links with his customers who remain faithful to him.

His work ethic ensures he maintains the consistent quality of his products

and that customer deliveries and exhibitions are executed professionally.

His son, Christian, receives on-the job training. Gradually he takes over the

management of the establishment. The growth of business helps to finance

the building of the distillery with two new stills; a new cellar enables the

storage of barrels for the ageing of Cognac and Pineau. Storage tanks in

reinforced concrete are built to store the wine while others are destined to

recover rainwater and save on the use of tap water.

In 1978 Pascal Roussille, grandson of Gaston, after studying wine growing

and oenology, joins the company. He starts by going through all the

different roles.  First he works in the vineyards with employees, improves

himself in the culture of the grapevine and receives all the family traditions

from his grandfather (died in 1982). More and more he takes part in the

elaboration of the Pineau and Cognac. He continues to improve by

participating in practical training courses regarding brandy tasting at the

University of Brandy in Cognac. Despite the death of his father Christian in

1994 he still perpetuates traditional methods of production.

A new generation is born and hopefully it will pursue the work already

accomplished. Only the future will tell!

At present the property is still family owned with 30 hectares of vineyards

and the Pineau and Cognac stocks continue to grow significantly.

Since it was created in 1981 we are present at VINEXPO and we have

turned deliberately towards the export market. Belgium, Italy, England,

Taiwan, Luxembourg, Denmark, Tokyo, Switzerland, Canada, Singapore,

Poland, Burkina-Faso, Martinique, Ireland ... are our principal export

markets.

We make particular efforts to develop export without neglecting our

domestic market.