Top Things to do in Charente
The 10 Best Things to do Good for a Rainy Day in Charente, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Discover the best top things to do in Charente, France including Cognac Painturaud Freres, Cognac Raby, Hine Cognac, Pineau Cognac Roussille, Maison Boinaud, Conte & Filles, Domaine Maine Giraud / Alfred de Vigny, Braastad Cognac, Remy Martin, Chateau Royal de Cognac.
Restaurants in Charente
1. Cognac Painturaud Freres
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 26 reviews
Based in Segonzac, Grande Champagne, heart of Cognac appellation, we welcome you to discover our estate and family production. You will be able to visit our still and to learn about cognac distillation process. We will show you our centenary cellar to finish by a nice tasting in very good atmosphere. We also make pineau des Charentes. You don't know what it is? So you have come!
2. Cognac Raby
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
The Raby family has owned its vineyard for 5 generations. The domain is located in Segonzac on the lands of the knight of la Croix Maron, inventor of the double distillation, in the hart of the Grande Champagne region, considered the finest terroir of cognac. We would be pleased to welcome you at the domain to let you discover the secrets of our cognacs, pineaux, wines and grape juices.
Reviewed By S9391LSrobg - Leeds, United Kingdom
We really enjoyed our Cognac tasting here - we rang ahead to confirm a time (I think you can book online too) - it was a busy week so there was only time for a tasting not a full tour. Cécile is really friendly & speaks excellent English & gave us a really good insight into how they run their family-run business. We’d had their cognac before so it was no surprise to us how good it tasted - but it was great to taste different ages of cognac alongside each other & to hear more about how it is produced. They have grape juices to taste for the non-drinkers too, and liqueurs alongside the different cognacs. There’s no pressure to buy, but Raby is good value for an excellent Cognac - I’d much prefer to buy from them than pay extra for a big brand. We hope to go back for a full tour when we’re next in France.
3. Hine Cognac
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 62 reviews
Sur les bords de la Charente se dessine Jarnac, où en 1763 débute l'aventure de la Maison Hine. Deux siècles et demi après le voyage fondateur de Thomas Hine depuis le Dorset, les chais historiques du 16 quai de l'Orangerie vous sont ouverts. Traversant le Paradis et le Chai des Millésimes, vous découvrirez les singularités de la Maison Hine, seul fournisseur officiel de cognac de la Cour d'Angleterre.
Reviewed By 310steviem - Glasgow, United Kingdom
We just visited the wonderful House of Hine for a tour with Rudolphe. My husband discovered Hine about 20 years ago in Oddbins at home in Glasgow and will not buy anything else now. The tour did not disappoint! Rudolphe was a very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide who made the tour interesting and fun. The free tour allows you to taste 2 Hines - amazing! And for 10€ my husband got to taste the XO also - very worth the money. Thank you to Rudolphe and Hine! What a wonderful cognac and tour! Don’t hesitate to book!
4. Pineau Cognac Roussille
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 32 reviews
En raison des dispositions sanitaires Covid-19, nous vous demandons de bien vouloir prendre rendez vous à l'avance pour visiter notre domaine. Nous ne pouvons pas accueillir plus de 9 personnes en même temps afin de former un groupe de 10 personnes maximum ( hôtesse + 9 visiteurs). Les visites restent gratuites. Vous devrez vous enregistrer à l'entrée sur un registre afin de pouvoir vous prévenir s'il y avait une urgence face à la pandémie. Nous regrettons de ne plus être aussi spontanés, mais c'est ensemble, avec les gestes barrières et le respect des normes sanitaires que nous pourrons vaincre la pandémie. Espérant toute votre compréhension. Merci
5. Maison Boinaud
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
The Domaine Boinaud, is a family owned house since 1640. Thanks to the 24 generations of the family, the know-how has been transmitted through the centuries to keep this constant quality. Located in the heart of the Cognac appellation region, Maison Boinaud owns and creates the brands De Luze and J.Dupont. Maison Boinaud has the largest family owned vineyard and the biggest distillery of the appellation region. Visiting the Domaine Boinaud is a great opportunity to see and to understand everything about cognac. At the estate you will get to see the vineyard, the distillery, the cooperage and the cellars where the cognac ages. Everything is made at the estate. The visit of the House is a true experience and journey in the secrets of traditional craftsmanship, know-how and perfection. The Domaine Boinaud team is looking forward to welcome you. Please feel free to contact us for any request or demands.
Reviewed By USCTrojans2015 - San Diego, United States
We toured Maison Boinaud last week. We are from the United States and we were extremely impressed with this Cognac house, mainly by the way they do the raising of the grapes, to harvesting, processing, aging and bottling themselves. Their property is vast with vineyards. Our guide, Antoine, was extremely knowledgeable and passionate of the Cognac industry. Impressive, as the distillery has been family owned since 1640 and currently operated by the families 24th generation! The tasting was informative to include the type glass to serve cognac, how to hold the glass, how to smell the cognac and finally how to taste holding the Cognac on the tongue for 10 seconds before swallowing. We knew none of these tasting points prior to our visit. As we are traveling back to the USA, we made a small purchase. Will look for the product upon our return. We sense a great continued future for Maison Boinaud with De Luze Cognac and their creative ideas to expand this business. Thank you for the tour! Pauline and Phil
6. Conte & Filles
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
The vineyard has been in our family for more than a hundred years. As sisters, we invite you to come and discover the winery and the process that Cognac and Pineau des Charentes take during a tour of the vines, the cellars and the distillery.
7. Domaine Maine Giraud / Alfred de Vigny
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
Le Maine Giraud is the former estate of Alfred de Vigny. It's also a family wineyard located in the south of Angouleme. On this wineyard, We produce Cognac, Pineau des Charentes and Country's wines. We would be pleased to welcome you for a visit of the museum dedicated to the writer or a guided tour of the distillery and a tasting of our produces.
8. Braastad Cognac
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 32 reviews
Fondée en 1875, la Maison a gardé son caractère familial depuis ses origines. La société est actuellement dirigée par trois petits fils du fondateur Sverre Braastad, cinquième génération depuis Médéric Tiffon. La famille cultive ses vignes, distille le vin blanc dans ses propres alambics de Jarnac, et fait vieillir ses eaux-de-vie dans ses chais de vieillissement.
Reviewed By 978thibaultc
We wanted to say a big thank you and a big applause to Braastad family ! We had a very interesting, beautiful and tasty visit. Here are the five reasons why: 1) The hosts have produced Cognac over six generations now. We can really feel it is a family business where they put all their energy and passion, 2) Their property is beautiful and in the the nice city of Jarnac 3) The visit is very interesting and we learnt many tips about Cognac and its specific process 4) Their Cognac is one of the best I've ever tried. I especially advise you to try as well their Pineau des Charentes! 5) Please read again the four above reasons! Thank you again to Braastad family for this memorable visit.
9. Remy Martin
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 530 reviews
All year round by reservation, the House of Remy Martin reveals its know-how, history and values. Rooted in exception and creativity, each of our 15 programs is accompanied by a tasting moment so that you live a unique experience (from 1 hour to 1 day) surrounded by a dedicated and passionate team. From April to September by reservation, the Estate in Merpins opens its doors to visitors. Aboard a train, discover in comfort the production facilities of Remy Martin cognacs.
10. Chateau Royal de Cognac
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 407 reviews
The Royal Château of Cognac overlooking the Charente river was initially a 10th-century fortress designed to stop Norman invasions, and then in the 15th century became a stately home which was the birthplace of one of France’s most illustrious kings, Francis I. Baron Otard, who had founded its Cognac House in 1795, quickly understands that the thick walls provide exceptional aging conditions for his eaux-de-vie. He purchases the Château, saving it from total destruction The Royal Château of Cognac, which became a historic monument, is now a witness to French history and a Cognac House. We are offering a variety of tours combining two aspects of history: the history of France and the history of Baron Otard cognac up to the present day. Welcome to the Royal Château of Cognac!
Reviewed By vivelafrance1962 - Libourne, France
I took the 1-hour, 12 euro tour (the tour length is the same for everyone, the price varies only according to the quality of cognacs tasted at the end in the tasting room). I received a very warm welcome from the lovely Cecile, who speaks perfect English and was a very professional and informative guide when showing us through the chateau and the various cognac storage facilities. It's easy to find the entrance, right by the little roundabout before the bridge, loads of parking and close to other cognac houses, the river and the old town of Charente. I really recommend this tour to locals and tourists alike and they run all year round.
