48 hours in Cognac
48 hours in Cognac
48 hours in Cognac
48 hours in Cognac
A day that will put through your paces begins in the town of Cognac itself. But don’t panic, you’ll get to visit one of the major cognac houses too. After this you will leave the town to explore the Cognac region and its vines. Today's programme includes: encounters, blending, a distillery and a cooperage. Not to mention a trip in a 2CV and a picnic to remember.
9 a.m. – Guided tour of Cognac town
This morning you’ll learn that behind a name famous the world over for its “divine liqueur” sits a town of Art of History with an impressive Renaissance heritage. All thanks to Francis II of France, who knew how to pamper the town that emerged during his reign.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN COGNAC10 a.m. – Visit a leading cognac house
Baron Otard, Camus, Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell & Co, Meukow and Rémy Martin, the list of places to visit is as long as it is prestigious. Whichever you choose, your visit will end with a top-flight tasting.
SELECT A COGNAC MAISON
11 a.m. – Musée des Arts du Cognac
This iconic attraction, in the heart of the town centre, retraces the history of Cognac, the development of production techniques and its commercial boom. A refresher course dotted with olfactory, touch and audio experiences.
MORE INFO ABOUT THE MUSÉE DES ARTS DU COGNAC12 p.m. – Trip through the vines… in a 2 CV
Join a guide from the XO Madame agency and spend two hours in a 2CV exploring some of the region’s most stunning slopes. It’s simple: pick a spot, unpack the picnic basket from the boot and tuck in. Relaxation on a plate.
SHOW ALL XO MADAME VISITS
4 p.m. – Blending workshop at Guillon-Painturaud in Segonzac
What’s on offer? Play with eaux de vie (a clear, colourless fruit spirit) and grape juice and put together a Pineau des Charentes to suit your personal taste under the cellarmaster’s expert eye. You even get to take your personalised bottle to impress your friends when you get home.
BOOK A BLENDING WORKSHOP6 p.m. – Cooperage and distillery
Your tour of the skills on offer in the Cognac region ends in the company of a guide from the Cognac Tasting Tour agency. You’ll focus on two professions packed with know-how that have been passed on from one generation to the next and will forever be associated with the production of one of the world’s finest eaux de vie.
MORE INFO ABOUT THE COGNAC TASTING TOUR
On your final day you’ll be heading west and travelling as far as the Atlantic coast through Charente Maritime. Today’s programme includes: the Charente, one of the most delightful rivers in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region – viewed from the sky and the water – a musical adventure and a final tasting of rare cognacs in Saintes.
9 a.m. – Hot-air balloon trip over the Charente river
Your day gets off to a gentle start as you float above Cognac, the rows of vineyards and the Charente. Some say that from up there you can even smell the angel’s share...
BOOK A TRIP IN A HOT-AIR BALLOON12 p.m. – Boat trip down the Charente river
Climb aboard the aptly named Francois I for a two-hour guided river cruise that will help you understand this rivers’ economic and ecological importance. You’ll also be treated to a view of the hillsides and slopes that were yesterday’s playground.
BOOK A CRUISE
3 p.m. – Le Cep Enchanté, Macqueville
Amidst the organic vines of the family-run Plantis des Vallées estate, the educational trail – accessible to all – successfully demystifies the work of winemaker/vinegrower and the production of Pineau de Charentes.
ALL ACTIVITIES AT LE CEP ENCHANTÉ4:30 p.m. Musicaventure at the Abbaye des Dames, Saintes
It’s headphones on and 3D sound in your ears as you stroll through this stunning site, from the nun’s cells to the garden, and from the abbey itself to the chapter house. A perfect combination of the site’s history and music and a truly wonderful experience.
READ MORE ABOUT THE MUSICAVENTURE
6 p.m. – Tasting at Maison Grosperrin, Saintes
End the day in style and stock up on gifts for friends and loved ones at this independent and family-run cognac house. Their speciality? Rare, old and vintage cognacs. In short, nothing but the best.
MORE INFO ABOUT MAISON GROSPERRIN
