FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEW YORK, NY, NOVEMBER 17, 2014 — Now more than ever, it is time to hit the Cognac Trails of the Poitou-Charentes, one of France's off-the-beaten track destinations.
Surrounding the town of Cognac, a historic river port on the banks of the Charente, only six strictly-controlled growing areas in Poitou-Charentes have the right to call their world-famous aged brandy a "cognac." First produced in the 17th century with the introduction of double distillation, cognac is now a global industry led by big brand names like Camus, Courvoisier, Hennessy, Hine, Martell, Meukow, Otard and Remy Martin. Covering an area of 200,000 acres, the vineyards of Cognac are second only to Bordeaux as the largest wine-producing area of France.
The Cognac Trails (Les Etapes du Cognac)
The Cognac Trails are five themed routes that link together more than 100 winegrowers, craftsmen, hoteliers and activity producers passionate about promoting Cognac and its various wine products.
The five itineraries run from one idyllic stone village to another along roads traversing ancient farms in a landscape that has changed little across the centuries. Whether focused on vines, the river, local stone, traditions or the estuary, each route provides an opportunity for visitors to meet directly with locals and gain insight into wine-growing practices, gourmet food and the area's vineyard heritage.
Become a Master Blender
All of the major Cognac houses offer tours of their storage and production facilities, followed by a tasting session. Some, however, also make Cognac discovery more exclusive through intimate workshops.
Under professional cellar-master guidance at Camus, you can compose your own cognac according to a blend you have designed using the best cognac crus (160€/person). At Remy Martin , you can try an original alliance of textures and flavors between three cognacs and specialized chocolates (95€/person). In the historic Renard cellar of Courvoisier you can learn the art of the cellar master, all after a food-pairing brunch in the château (100€/person). Apropos of castles, don't miss the 15th-century edifice at Baron Otard (9€/person), where François de Valois, the future King of France known as François I, was born.
Festival Fun
While blending and maturing cognac is serious business, the locals know how to party too. At the Cognac Blues Passion festival, Cognac swings to the rhythm of blues and blues-derived music, as well as tunes from across the world. The Fête du Cognac, by contrast, is a gastronomic event (over 22,000 plates of regional specialties) promoting cognac as well as music. Distilleries en Fête is a winter fiesta about friendliness, encounters and gastronomic discoveries through unusual events held in the Cognac distilleries.
Luxury Accommodation
In Cognac, Le François 1er is a four-star hotel balancing the elegance of a 19th-century mansion with the audacity of contemporary design.
Beyond the Cognac village limits, Le Ligaro, in Jarnac, just 15 minutes away, has a spa, pool and boutique in addition to its adjacent gastronomic restaurant. In Châteaubernard (10 minutes from Cognac), L’Yeuse is a four-star hotel and restaurant in a 19th-century folly. In the heart of southern Charente stands Le Logis de Puygaty, a stately and authentic fortified manor dating from the 15th century and once the home of an advisor to François I.
