Passed the porch we enter the courtyard, closed by a beautiful Charentaise, a Napoleon III style residence with two wings, one built before the phyloxera crisis and the other after.
In a corner of the courtyard hides a small door blackened by the torula, the local mushroom. This gives you access to the estate’s distillery. There, part of the estate’s wine production is distilled to be then delivered to large trading houses. Another part is kept for the production of cognacs and pineaux marketed directly by the estate under its own brand.
The thermometer located at the top of the boiler is used to control the temperature in the pot. The contents of the cucurbite (the pot) must evaporate slowly, the aromas are naturally selected in the onion or olive-shaped capital above the pot before being carried by the vapors in the swan neck then into the cooler coil.
The wines and the scrambles must not boil too much, otherwise the entire contents of the pot would go directly to the cooling pipe causing the loss of all the distillate or even the destruction of the boiler by implosion !!!!
From where a rigorous and regular control of the temperature by the still throughout the heating.
After 48 hours and 4 distillation cycles, the wine is transformed into brandy. The eaux-de-vie are temporarily stored near the distillery before leaving for the cellars of several trading houses as well as a part kept in the cellars of the estate.
After a few years, the estate’s eaux-de-vie will become Pineaux des Charentes and Cognacs from Grande Champagnes, considered among the best of the vineyard’s artisanal products.
And, in the cellars and the family paradise sleep some very old centuries-old blends …
But, to access it, another hidden door is to be found. Without doubt another visit to the estate.
Our manager has been named “Cognac Educator” by the BNIC, an additional guarantee of quality for all participants to our activities.
Visit of a cooperage to discover the art of making a quality barrel, an essential element in making a good cognac or a good wine.
Grape picking, a great opportunity to discover the vineyard of Cognac, its terroirs and to meet their winemakers
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