In 1835, in the French suburb of Bercy, Emmanuel Courvoisier started a wine and spirit company with Louis Gallois, the mayor of Bercy. In the beginning, Emmanuel and Louis acted as traders for the best cognacs of the region, but soon decided that the only way they could guarantee the very finest cognac was to relocate to the region and become producers themselves. The 200-year-old crafting process has not changed since Courvoisier's establishment in Bercy.
The main Courvoisier business operations still operate from the Château on the banks of the Charente river which was established in the 1870s. Courvoisier sources eaux-de-vie from the following crus to create its blends: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Boderies, and Fin Bois. The harvest season begins in October, followed up by distillation from November to March. Courvoisier cognac is aged in barrels handmade from 200-year-old oak sourced from the Tronçais forest in France.
Today, the Courvoisier Château has a boutique and museum, offering private tastings and exclusive tours. The museum features several items linked to Napoleon I, including a lock of his hair, his hat and his coat.