Korbel is the only major brandy maker in the us which still maintains total control of its own wine making brandy distillation barrel aging blending and bottling. Our own people in our own facilities closely control every step of the brandy making process. 40% abv we crush and ferment only the finest california brandy grapes to make our base wines. The young wines are then distilled in a copper lined still to ensure the highest level of purity and flavor. The fiery heat of the water-white new distillates is slowly mellowed in one of our 30 000 small american oak barrels. These barrels are specially charred during their construction to leave a layer of natural charcoal in contact with the brandy. This slow barrel aging in contact with both the oak and the natural charcoal gives the brandy its golden color and smooth elegant flavor.