The Man who helped Save Cognac’s Cultural Heritage Single-Handed

Cognac Expert has met an amazing man: Paul Ronne.

This 87 year old Parisian electrical engineer who came to the Charente in the mid-50s had spent the last 25 years building up the most incredible collection of thousands of Cognac labels, documents, posters, postcards, playing cards, fans, ash trays, miniature bottles, glasses, pen-knives, showcards, carafes, dummy bottles, old letters and invoices, and thousands of other ‘objects publicitaires’.

Paul Ronne (standing) in one of his rooms, showing boards

This came about, at the invitation of the heads of several Cognac houses, visiting their archives and attics to save these historical items before they were scrapped. When we say amazing, it’s beyond belief!

Boxes, boxes, boxes

Over 35,000 different Cognac labels, for example. Just go to his site to see what we mean. (If you want to see more, take the time to browse all over his site, especially ‘Click here for more discoveries’).

And there’s even more on the French version of he site. Paul adds daily from his collection to the site, such as some from the thousands of letters and invoices showing the fabulous old art of letter-head engraving.

Boxes filled with labels and documents

What this man has in his head is beyond comprehension. He is a living, breathing historian and archivist on everything to do with Cognac. He is unique, indeed a treasure.

Old cognac merchant documents

Paul Ronne's work station with various collector bottles

This most generous act can never be properly appreciated. And today, as a result of Paul’s energy, the Cognac houses value their archives and collections far more than they ever did in the past.

Having been given Paul’s permission we will feature images from his collection.
Just incredible. Paul Ronne is the secret king of cognac.