MORE TO SEE & DO

There’s so much more to Cognac than Cognac. Here’s a taster of things and places not to miss:

Chais Monnet sits minutes from the town. Meander through the winding streets, lined with beautiful shuttered buildings, 12th-century churches and boutiques. Grab a bicycle at the hotel for a pootle along the riverside promenade, home to classic Cognac houses, Martell, Hennessy and, further in town, Remy Martin.

Sail along the waters of the Charente River on a replica of a wooden sailing boat, the Gabarre. The boats sailed in the 18th and 19th centuries transporting goods such as wine, stone and salt. These days, you’ll have the river virtually to yourself as you glide along.

Cognac is home to 15 cognac houses and there are also more than 4,000 winegrowers in the region, and its biggest export market is the US thanks to their love of a cocktail. The Queen sources her cognac from Thomas Hine and Co founded in 1763 where Cellar Master Eric has been blending cognacs for 20 years. There are more variations than you might think, and with older ones, such as VSOP (very special old pale), the richer and smoother it becomes. Unsurprisingly a tour culminates in a marathon tasting of six types.

The smaller, fourth-generation Cognac House, Painturaud Freres, in the pretty town of Segonzac, has an adorable distillery and you can even enjoy a picnic in the vineyard before taking a tour of its “engine room”. Right now it’s harvest time and they are busy starting the distillation process.

The breakfast of French champions is oysters with balsamic vinegar, washed down with a crisp white wine. The tiny hilltop village of Bouteville, around a 20-minute drive from Cognac, is home to France’s only balsamic vinegar producer, Le Baume de Bouteville. Teaming up with Huitres Cocollos run by FrenchIrishman, Jacques Cocollos, they offer tastings with both French and Irish oysters, in their distillery.