Behind ‘door #11’ of our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar (in fact, it‘’’s not doors but pouches), we found a Raymond Bossis XO Limited Edition N°1 Cognac. The Domaine des Groies, established in 1919 with its purchase by Philippe Bétard, has been managed by successive generations of the Bossis family. Auguste Bossis planted the first vines in 1924, assisted by his wife Marie, but it wasn’t until 1957, under the leadership of their son Raymond, that the vineyard began to grow. In 1960, the estate distilled its first Cognac, with the last bottles from that initial production sold nearly 50 years later, in 2008. Over the years, Raymond and his wife Michelle expanded the estate, focusing on direct sales and introducing Pineau des Charentes in the 1970s.
In 1993, Raymond’s son Jean-Luc took over, diversifying the estate’s offerings to include Cognac, Pineau des Charentes, traditional-method sparkling wines, and natural grape juice. His brother Jean-Marie joined in 2009, managing bottling and sales for domestic and international markets. Despite his advanced age, Raymond continues to play an active role, celebrating the estate‘’’s centenary in 2019 surrounded by family and friends.
Committed to sustainability, the Domaine des Groies practices integrated farming under the Optimus protocol and is working toward High Environmental Value (HVE) certification. As members of the Federation of Independent Winegrowers, they ensure direct involvement in all aspects of production, reflecting the family’s dedication to quality and tradition. Let’s shortly explain what the Optimus Protocol is below, then we’ll try this Raymond Bossis XO Limited Edition N°1 Cognac.
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