Cognac France
Frequently Asked Questions
On the edge of the old town, on the Charente. Only small river cruise vessels can reach it — the river demands it. This is the waterway down which barges loaded with barrels once travelled to the Atlantic.
Yes, easily. The Saint-Jacques towers, the old town gate, stand a few steps from the quays, and the historic quarter begins right behind. The great trading houses also line the river.
One cognac house tour with tasting, then the old quarter and the Château des Valois. That is the right pace. Cramming two major houses into one call means rushing, and little of either stays with you.
It is the portion of spirit that evaporates from the barrels during ageing — the equivalent of millions of bottles a year. It feeds a microscopic fungus that blackens the town's walls. Those dark facades reveal a cellar nearby.
Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin and Meukow all offer tours. At Hennessy you cross the Charente by electric boat before entering the cellars; at Martell, the oldest of the great houses, founded in 1715, you follow the Charentais double distillation from ugni blanc grapes to final blending.
Yes. Francis I was born there in 1494 and the house of Baron Otard has aged its spirits inside since 1795, in vaulted rooms with thick walls. The visit tells two stories at once: the king who built Chambord, and the barrels resting in the shadows.
They are age counts — the minimum ageing of the youngest spirit in the blend. Tastings explain them, along with the tulip glass, which concentrates the aromas better than the traditional balloon snifter.
Yes, the Musée des arts du cognac covers the whole trade from vine to bottle without going through any one house. A good option if you prefer historical context to a brand's own story.
Not especially: the appeal of this call rests on tasting, which minors cannot do. The old quarter, the half-timbered houses and the Charente riverbanks are pleasant, but a family with young children will find the day short.
The euro, cards accepted at the trading houses, shops and restaurants. French is spoken; English is handled well at the major houses, which have welcomed international visitors for generations.
