Traditional Cognac Distillery – Half-Day Tour
Explore the Cognac vineyards, visit a traditional distillery and a craft factory on a private half-day tour.
Experience the Facets of the Cognac World – Day-trip
With this luxury cognac tour, embark on an unforgettable private journey into the heart of the Cognac region, a land where savoir-faire, heritage, and refinement come together to create one of the world’s most celebrated spirits.
Your exclusive day begins with a seamless transfer from Bordeaux or Paris (via Angoulême by train from Paris) to the rolling hills of Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, the most prestigious crus in the Cognac appellation. Along the way, enjoy personalized service and elegant comfort as your private guide shares insights into the history and prestige of this legendary region.
Excursion Details
Morning – The world of prestigious Cognac houses
First, step into a renowned Cognac trading house, where centuries of expertise meet timeless elegance. Behind historic façades, you’ll discover the secrets of master blenders crafting exceptional eaux-de-vie aged in ancient cellars. Your visit includes a curated tasting of rare and vintage cognacs, a privilege usually reserved for connoisseurs.
Lunch time
For lunch, enjoy a meal at a local restaurant where seasonal ingredients and regional recipes come together in simple yet refined dishes. It’s a moment to slow down and savor the flavors of Charentes, paired with a warm, authentic atmosphere where locals gather for their lunch break.
Afternoon – In the heart of the vineyards, a family-run distillery
Switch from grandeur to authenticity as you venture into the surrounding vineyards. Meet local craft distillers whose families have shaped this terroir for generations. Explore traditional pot stills, walk among aging barrels, and witness the artistry behind each step, from vine to glass. Here, time seems to slow, revealing the soulful rhythm of rural life and the passion behind every bottle.
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply curious to experience the roots of a world-class spirit, this private luxury cognac tour offers a rare blend of prestige and authenticity.
Let yourself be guided through a world where every drop tells a story, the story of Cognac.
End of the day
On this day trip, your arrival point may be different from your departure point, for example, departing from Paris by TGV to meet your guide at Angoulême TGV station and, at the end of the day, being dropped off at a hotel in Bordeaux.
The highlights of the day-trip
– Journey from the vines to the glass
– Visit to a famous cognac trading house
– Tasting of two cognacs
-Visit to a craft distillery
– Tasting of at least three cognacs
– Lunch at a local restaurant patronized by locals
Duration
8 to 9 hours
Starting points
Angoulême
(Paris to Angoulême by direct TGV)
Saintes
On special request
Bordeaux
La Rochelle
(Contact us for Other cities)
Number of participants
From 2 to 6 people
Price
On request for personalized tours
The day-trip includes
- Private excursion with a local driver-guide
- Visit to a famous cognac trading house
- Tasting of 2 cognacs
- Visit to a cognac distillery
- Tasting of 3 cognacs
- Stops overlooking magnificent landscapes in the vineyards
The day-trip does not include
- Train tickets from Paris to Angoulême and back
- Transport to the starting point
- Lunch
- Personal insurance
- Souvenirs
- Gratuities
- Services not listed in the description
Bookings
We do offer online booking with immediate confirmation for a standard day-trip with departures from the towns of Angoulême and Saintes.
For other starts of your excursion, please request your day-trip here below.
When you request to book the tour, we will confirm the date after contacting each location, taking into account their organizational constraints, and confirming the presence of the professional staff member who will welcome you, ensuring you have an unforgettable experience.
Practical arrangements
Select your starting point
You can choose the starting point for your excursion between the cities of Paris, Bordeaux and La Rochelle.
In all cases, please contact us to confirm the timetables, access facilities to your departure point and confirm your return point.
If you’re staying in Paris, a same-day round trip is possible.
Early in the morning, take a TGV train from Paris-Montparnasse to Angoulême, a city located 2 hours and 15 minutes from Paris, where we’ll pick you up at the train station around 10:30 a.m.
In the evening, we can drop you off :
– at Angoulême TGV station for your return to Paris
– at a hotel in Charentes (Cognac, Angoulême, Saintes, La Rochelle)
– at a hotel in Bordeaux.
Know more about cognac houses
Cognac houses are merchants who purchase eaux-de-vie distilled by winegrower-distillers.
These houses age the eaux-de-vie from 4 to over 50 years and then blend them to create cognacs of varying ages and flavors.
There are four main houses : Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Martell, and Courvoisier, which account for 85% of cognac sales worldwide.
Around ten smaller merchants account for 13% of sales, and winegrower-distillers who make their own cognacs represent 2% of sales.
Delving into the origins of cognac during an immersive one-day experience requires discovering the remarkable work of the negociant houses and meeting a distiller who will explain their production philosophy.
Offer a gift coupon
Offer this Cognac distilleries day tour as a gift voucher to a friend, for the retirement of an office colleague, or for any special occasion.
More than just a gift, it’s an unforgettable moment to share, personalized to the tastes of the recipient, who can enjoy it at their leisure.
A refined and thoughtful alternative to traditional gifts, ideal for discerning connoisseurs.
Other excursions in Charentes and the vineyard of Cognac
The vineyard of Cognac and its distilleries – Day-trip
Visit small family-run cognac distilleries with your private driver-guide to discover the different philosophies of cognac production
Cognac distillery & Bordeaux winery – Day-trip
Craft your own Bordeaux wine and uncover the secrets of Cognac in a refined day tour through iconic Cognac and Bordeaux vineyards