Cognac Exclusive Private Tasting Tour & Oysters Tour

Welcome to Cognac, worldwide capital of a renowned business. On your arrival, in the heart of the vineyards which brought about the famous Cognac VSOP, XO, and even Napoléon and Louis XIII appellations, an english speaking chauffeur will welcome you and get you settled in your 4* hotel, situated in a 19th century castelet overhanging the Charente valley.

A relaxation area with a sauna, Turkish Bath and a Jacuzzi is available for you for a wonderful moment of relaxation and well-being. In a warmly decorated Bar-club, complete with an ancient fireplace, you can give in to your desire to sample some incredible Cognacs and smoke a cigar.

For dinner, your hotel will offer you one of the finest tables in the region. In a room with a hushed atmosphere or on a terrace in an enchanted setting, you will have the opportunity to taste the food of a talented young chef “who knows how to make the best of regional products, with elegance and thoughtfulness”, praises Madame Figaro, to quote just her.

Come to Charente means truly discover the secrets of how Cognac is made, this eau-de-vie which is exported to more than 160 countries worldwide. This bordered region is home to the large Cognac House which have a global reputation, supplied by a large part of some 5900 businesses, which provides the Cognac wine and even the eau de vie itself.

After breakfast, we offer you first of all the opportunity to go inside the world of a distiller at the famous Cognac House. At the heart of one of the most modern installations, you will discover how these eaux-de-vie are made and the hidden secrets of its craft.
If you wish to get into the heart of the action, remember that the distillation season starts in November and finishes at the beginning of March !
For lunch, you will sample some local gastronomy in a fabulous regional restaurant.

You will then begin your private visit to the famous Cognac House "Hennessy", where you are invited to discover their secular traditions of producing exceptional cognacs. You will get to know the very skilful work behind the selection and assembly which falls to the Master of the Wine Storehouse and which defines the character of the cognacs of his Maison.

François I was born in Cognac and you are invited to visit the famous château which carries his name and is now home to another large Cognac House. You can stroll up and down the alleyways of the old town, which will take you back to the gates of Saint-Jacques and lead you on to François I Place.

At the end of the day, we will send you the address of a restaurant where you can enjoy some local French cuisine.

After breakfast you will leave for La Rochelle, situated on the Atlantic coast of Charente Maritime. You will settle into your 3* hotel, situated between the historic town centre and the new port, not far from its famous towers which date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. La Rochelle has always been a maritime city and is one of the biggest French ports for economy and tourism. Chosen specifically by cruise lovers, La Rochelle is the Atlantic stopover for large cruise ships and a prerequisite for your stay on the Atlantic.
We suggest you start your visit by a tour of the harbour to discover its marina, its fishing port and its business port.

At lunchtime, we can reserve a table for you in one of La Rochelle’s finest restaurants, or you can simply hand the guide our selection of local and foreign cuisine, which you can enjoy on a sun-soaked terrace.

In the afternoon you can explore the shopping area of the Saint-Sauveur district. These typical streets with their arcades give the old town a great deal of charm and make this area unforgettable. You will admire the houses from the Middle Ages, the richness of the 16th and 17th century sculpted rock façades, the nobility of the 18th century shipowner’s hotels. Your stroll will lead you to the Hôtel de ville, the most visited monument in La Rochelle, which you can get to know over the course of a guided visit. Other guided visits of the old town are available at your agency.

In the morning, after breakfast, you are invited to discover the oyster-farming basin of Marennes Oléron, the most important in Europe, with 6000 hectares of parks and oyster pits. You will fall in love with the very typical Charente marshland, dotted with charming little traditional cabins, generally made of wood, painted in vivid colours and with tiled rooves, built alongside the channels.

You will be welcomed by a very reputable oyster-farmer who will talk to you about his job and his knowledge which has been handed down from generation to generation. You will discover how the oysters are ripened in their oyster pits, and old salt marshes, where their colour and flavour are finalised.

Then depending to the tides, between the Ile d’Oléron and the continent, we will take you to the Basin of Marennes Oléron, its oyster parks, the multi-coloured oyster farming cabins and the maturing marshlands with its coastal flaura and fauna.

Eaten hot or cold, plain or flavoured with lemon or a vinager and shallot sauce, here the oyster is seen as the ambassador of fine cuisine. Which is why, at lunchtime, we have reserved a table for you in one of the best restaurants on the Ile d’Oléron where you can taste fleshy and tasty oysters, raw or grilled, matured in the purest respect to ancient methods « la Rolls de l’huître » according to the Gault Millau.

On board a boat, you will head for the impressive Fort Boyard, which you will approach after a few hundred metres. Built in 1801 under Napoleon to defend the Charente estuary, it served as a prison at the end of the 19th century and today is the setting for a television gameshow.
You will then make a stop at the Ile d’Aix, which you will appreciate for its complete absence of traffic. You will tour the island by foot, by bike or by horse-drawn carriage. Whatever your choice, you will be struck by the beauty of its landscapes.

If you have time leftover, you could visit the house which was built for Napoleon, which has today been transformed into a Napoleonic museum.

For dinner, you are invited to taste some regional cuisine in one of the best restaurants in La Rochelle !

You may have chosen to extend your stay in this region or in another equally beautifully French region. Whatever your itinerary, take time to enjoy your breakfast at your hotel, after which your guide will take care of your transfer to the airport in La Rochelle or Bordeaux.