Three Brothers, One Family Legacy

05 okt Three Brothers, One Family Legacy

In La Rochelle, where the sea whispers of centuries past, three brothers—Jean Édouard, Maxime, and Cyril Godet—represent the 15th generation of their cognac-making dynasty. Their stewardship reflects both ancestral resilience and a modern vision for the House of Godet.
In their own words, roles are divided with precision: “Jean Édouard blends and runs daily life in La Rochelle, Cyril navigates the East from Mumbai, and I helm the West from Paris.” It’s a global choreography, grounded in family bonds but expansive in reach. They candidly acknowledge the dual nature of sibling dynamics: “The challenge is always ego. The advantage is also ego—so long as you can laugh at your own.” Disagreements, they say, haven’t torn them apart, honed as they are by years spent “racing sailboats together, learning to trust each other when the waves got rough.” Their leadership style, they add, remains rooted in “childhood, family, and salt water”—not textbook, but authentic and united.

Honoring Traditions, Charting New Paths

The House of Godet traces its origins to 1588 when Bonaventure Godet, a Dutch merchant settled in La Rochelle, pioneered cognac distillation to better preserve wine for export. Five centuries on, the family remains firmly anchored in its Atlantic birthplace—“the only cognac house still established in La Rochelle.” Traditions persist: a Godet remains master blender; they still “drink heartily of our own produce” and choose eaux de vie “as carefully as we choose friends.” Yet, innovation is their companion. They honor ancient varietals such as Folle Blanche, Montils, and Colombard—grape types nearly lost after phylloxera devastated the region—preserving them through sustainable, limited cultivation. Their XO Terre marries the mastery of tradition, while Crème de la Crème reflects their appetite for reinvention—a duality they see as telling the full story of Godet.

Weathering History Together

Their family tale intertwines with pivotal historical moments. In the 19th century, the phylloxera plague—born of an American vine pest—ravaged the vineyards of Cognac. Godet’s predecessor replanted resiliently around La Rochelle, and the house remains the only one with roots in that coastal cradle. During WWII, their grandfather and great-grandfather joined the Resistance, lost nearly everything, and rebuilt from the ashes. This resilience, they say, is “our signature.” The company later changed hands but was reclaimed in 1995 by their father, Jean Jacques Godet—another testament to their lineage’s tenacity. La Rochelle’s significance endures—“why leave the best terroir on the Atlantic coast—the very place where cognac ages to perfection?” And their longstanding links with Denmark, dating back to a Godet serving as Danish Consul since 1788, underscore a legacy of duty and trust.

A New Chapter: Today and Tomorrow

Today, the brothers see a clear path: “Drinking isn’t fading—quality is. Only the best will remain, so our job is simple: keep being the best.” In a world changing through consumer tastes, their response is education—threefold. Their recent move to Château de la Sauzaie, a 17th century estate where the land meets the sea, heralds a new era. Jean Édouard, now master blender, will lead from there, blending terroir, history, and sensory memory to compose their cognacs.

The Family Next in Line

Their personal reflections bring warmth to their responsibility. Childhood memories include sharing a nightly sip of XO Fine Champagne with their great-grandmother, who lived to 110—a ritual that rendered cognac part of family, not mere beverage. None of them planned on joining the business—they credit their father’s “gentle manipulation” as what tethered them to it. But now they carry the weight of representing fifteen generations—a responsibility “heavy, but delicious.” They are building “a runway” for the next generation—each brother has daughters—and hope someday they’ll “fly higher than we ever could.” And for the mark they hope to leave? “Ask me again in ten years. For now, the ink is still drying.” Godet Cognac’s story is more than brand—it is a living tapestry of siblings navigating legacy and modernity, anchored in Atlantic soil and shared purpose, ever distilling the past into a brighter, still-evolving future.