Bourgoin Cognac tasting near Angoulême: Unfiltered, unassembled

Frédéric Bourgoin's cognacs taste different because nothing is added to them

A guided tasting at Bourgoin's organic vineyard near Angoulême, where you walk through the working aging cellar and distillery with a family member, then taste five unfiltered and unassembled spirits: young grape brandy, three cognacs ranging from 2010 to 1998, Pineau des Charentes, and house-made verjuice. The winemaker explains soil, grape variety and the cognac-making process throughout. Minimum four people per reservation. Children welcome from age 10.

The experience

Frédéric Bourgoin calls himself a terroirist winemaker (someone who lets the soil speak), and the tasting proves it. His 25-hectare vineyard near Angoulême operates under organic conversion, and every bottle that leaves it stays unfiltered, unassembled and unsweetened, with no added color. A family member guides you through the working aging cellar still in operation, then the distillery, explaining how the Bourgoin family began in 1930 and how Frédéric's approach to cognac differs from the rest of Charente. The technical details (soil composition, geology, the wine map of the vineyard) frame what you taste.

The tasting itself moves through six pours: a 2018 grape brandy at 38%, a 2010 Double-Lie at 45%, a 1998 Brut de Fût at 53%, Pineau des Charentes White at 17%, and two house experiments (verjuice and grape sugar syrup) that show how the winemaker tests flavor boundaries. The guide walks you through the nuances of each one. Two reserve cognacs, an XO aged in ten-liter barrels and an XO reduced with seawater to 43%, are also available to taste. The whole experience runs about an hour, and the guide speaks English or French.

Bourgoin's bottles sit on the tables of over 150 Michelin-starred restaurants in France, including the Élysée Palace. This is a working vineyard and active distillery, not a museum, so you see the place as it operates.

What’s included

• Guided tour of the working aging cellar and distillery with a family member.
• tasting of six spirits including unfiltered cognacs, Pineau des Charentes, verjuice and grape sugar syrup.
• explanations of soil, geology and winemaking technique.
• access to reserve cognacs to taste.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesdayDeparts at 15:00

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (10 to 17 years): free · Under 10: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by FRÉDÉRIC BOURGOIN

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or French, so you follow comfortably in either language. Book this if you want to taste cognac the way the winemaker makes it (unfiltered and unassembled) rather than the sweetened, standardized versions most restaurants pour.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (10 to 17 years): free. Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly do I taste at the Bourgoin tasting?

You taste six pours: a 2018 grape brandy, a 2010 Cognac Double-Lie, a 1998 Brut de Fût, Pineau des Charentes White, verjuice, and grape sugar syrup. Two reserve cognacs (an XO aged in microbarrels and an XO reduced with seawater) are also available to try.

How long does the tasting take?

The experience runs about an hour, including the walk through the aging cellar and distillery, the explanations of winemaking and soil, and the tasting itself.

What makes Bourgoin cognacs different from others in Charente?

Bourgoin's cognacs are unfiltered, unassembled, unsweetened, and contain no added colorings: a natural approach that Frédéric describes as unique in the region. The vineyard operates under organic conversion and focuses on letting the terroir express itself.

Do I need to arrange transport to the vineyard?

The vineyard is located near Angoulême in Charente. Public transportation options are available nearby, and the facilities are wheelchair accessible.