Book a private tour to the cognac country, a region where the main interest is growing vines for the production of the best cognacs. Victor Hugo, a French writer who lived from 1802-1885 (author of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, Les Miserables, and much more!) once asserted that "Cognac is the liquor of the gods".

This private guided tour begins with a pickup at your Bordeaux hotel or from your cruise ship docked in Bordeaux.

The destination is Cognac, a medieval town that is the birthplace of King Francois I. It is where the fabled nectar has been produced since the 17th century. Cognac is a variety of brandy and because it has the label AOC (Appellation d'origine contrôlée), the production methods of distilling the brandy must meet specific legal requirements. In the town of Cognac are the world famous cognac houses of Camus, Hennessy, Otard, and Remy-Martin, each with its own secret and unique process for mixing the various blends of eaux-de-vie (clear, colorless fruit brandy that is produced by means of fermentation and double distillation).

You will join a guided tour in one of the cognac houses to learn about the double-distilling process occurring in copper stills before the aging in oak barrels. Then the precious liquor will improve, taking on its final bouquet and famous golden glow.

After the guided tour, you will discover the vineyards of the Grande Champagne, a peaceful countryside south of Cognac. The area, twenty miles wide, is a placid landscape bathed by a clear and radiant light.  It is called the “golden circle" of cognac production. In the heart of the Grande Champagne, you will meet a wine grower who today continues the traditional production of cognac. With a  visit to his distillery and tasting his production, you will learn about other side of cognac making.

Your tour will end with a return to Bordeaux.