A record in april,restoring the year balance

Over the past 12 months, the Cognac sector’s annual turnover has reached 3.2 billion euros with 213.1million bottles of Cognac shipped, which represents 7.0% over the past 12months, despite the COVID.

After a strong decline in shipments at the beginning of the health crisis in march, april and may 2020, the start of recovery began on the key markets during summer 2020 and shipment figures have been constantly rising since this time. Excellent results were recorded in China, particularly during Chinese New Year, and the US market confirmed very strong growth, with shipments further increasing by 20.7%, i.e. 116.8million bottles, over the last 12months. The sector is confident that it will continue to expand in 2021.

More fear than pain

Aftert the frost episod of last april and beginning may, as everywhere in Europe, the figures of the damages occured by the weather conditions are lower than anticipated. 15 % of the cognac vineyars has been impacted, depending from the area and localization. It is less than some other vineyards in France, Italy, Spain… Crossing fingers now to avoid hail storms ! Nature always remains the boss.

L’article Some figures of cognac est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

This past week, and still this one, vines have more or less deeply suffered of night frost, as in many others european vineyards.

I have a friendly thought to Burgundy, and Rhone valley winegrowers most impacted than here.

You certainly have seen the dramatically pictures of thousand and thousand of braziers, big candles, lighting the night in the vines.

It is just difficult to measure the exact impact today. We must wait several days, and hope that night temperature will increase. The paradox is that during the day, the temperatures are quite thoses of this spring season…

UGVC, the professionnal organization of the cognac winegrowers, is currently collecting detailed informations from its membership, in order to give within one week, a first idea of the damages.

We cross fingers and support our winegrowers.

L’article Frost in cognac vineyards est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

En 2017, la météo nous a joué des tours en permanence et chaque mois a apporté son lot de surprises, dont certaines assez désagréables.

Nous avons commencé l’année par un hiver plutôt doux excepté quelques jours très froids en janvier. Le gel en hiver, c’est de saison , me direz vous, sauf que des températures de -7 et jusqu’à -9° celsius est assez rare chez nous.

Puis nous avons vécu un début de printemps particulièrement précoce et doux, à tel point que la végétation avait environ 15 jours d’avance sur les années précédentes.

Et, catastrophe, deux nuits de fortes gelées, totalement inhabituelles fin avril, ont ruiné l’espérance de nombreux viticulteurs pour une récolte 2017.  Les dégâts causés dans les vignes, en avance sur leur développement, a été irréparable pour environ 10 % du vignoble. Même si une alerte météo avait été lancée, comment protéger des rangs de vigne contre ces gelées nocturnes très tardives ? il n’existe pas réellement de vrai solution. Certains viticulteurs ont allumé des feux, mis en place des bougies pour réchauffer, mais cela est long, coûteux, pour un résultat très aléatoire.

Le jour d’après…

L’été sec et relativement ensoleillé qui s’en est suivi a permis néanmoins de récupérer une récolte au delà de leurs espérances pour les viticulteurs qui avaient été moins touchés, et de faire une belle récolte dans les vignes épargnées par le gel.

Pas une goute de pluie en octobre et novembre : c’est le moment où les nappes souterraines se rechargent en prévision du printemps et de l’été prochain. Le niveau des rivières était également très bas. 2017 restera une des années les plus sèches depuis 40 ans…jusqu’en décembre !

La pluie est arrivée avant Noël puis son lot de tempêtes ; Bruno, Carmen, Eléonore…. a amplifié le phénomène. Beaucoup de pluies sur peu de jours, ce qui a eu pour effet de gonfler le niveau des rivières qui ont commencé à sortir de leur lit. Certaines vignes se sont retrouvées les pieds dans l’eau,

et la Charente s’est donnée des airs de torrent de montagne

Dans le joli village de Bourg Charente, la petite route d’accès vers les berges, fréquentée par les pêcheurs et runners, avait  provisoirement disparu. En contre bas du château de Marnier Lapostolle, que l’on voit sur l’image ci-dessous, les arbres se miraient dans l’eau.

Inutile de vous dire que j’ai du chausser les bottes pour réaliser toutes ces photos !

Comme nous étions en sévère déficit d’eau, nous ne plaignons pas, même si ces inondations peuvent causer des désagréments.

Néanmoins force est de constater que les péripéties climatiques sont de plus en plus nombreuses et de plus en plus imprévisibles, l’année qui vient de s’achever en a été un parfait exemple.

L’article Une météo bien capricieuse en 2017 est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

The reign of Ugni blanc

The Ugni blanc is the predominant variety of vines, about 98 %.  After the phylloxera disaster at the end of XIX century, Ugni blanc replaced Colombard and Folle Blanche. This variety is more resistant to grey rot especially.
The late maturing Ugni Blanc,  is also appreciated for its high acidity level and low alcohol content.

The two historical varieties have progressively disapperead. However, a few winegrowers still have such vines.

And in fact, all the varieties used have been previously grafted on  various vinestocks according to the type of soil where they will grow.

Type of soils in delimited area

Clayey, chalky thin soils for the Champagne (grande champagne & petite champagne), clay and flint stones for the Borderies, clayey, chalky soils known as «groies» very similar to those of the Champagne Crus, except for their red colour and hard stones in Fins Bois… The soils are quite different depending from the delimited area. Subject for a next post !

About 6 months from budbreak to harvest in pictures

April : budbreak time

Delicate fragance vine flower

from flower to tiny berries

june : what we call small peas

july closing of the cluster

August : the veraison  berries become translucent in the sun.

L’article From green to translucent, the veraison est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

7′ in a season

A day who remains in the memory, May 27th 2017 : a short-term hail storm suddenly crossing the area, without any alert before, and 7′ later, 10 % of the vineyards have been injured for more of 80 %. I was in vineyards with a friend of mine who was planting new vines. It was really hot for the season, the sky was blue without any cloud. Suddenly an huge grey line appears coming from south-west very quickly and quite few minutes later, hailstone like golf balls felt on our heads. It was terrific of noise and fury.

Even if they know that nothing can be taken for granted , even in they are insured against a number of climate risks, the winegrowers deeply feel theses moments, and emotion takes a lot of time to disappear.  Many of them speak of their vines as a human being, or one of their children. « she has a cold »after a strong night-frost , « she smiles » when the  buds and leaves recover new energy, the alert far away…

« Hail and frost are in any case traumatic period » tells Nicolas.  » The work of a whole year is wiped before our eyes in a single instant without any possibility to protect or prevent ».

Then comes the time of findings and doubts :  what the vine will do ? how it feels ? and what’s about the next year ? which consequences ? And as an evidence, no harvest for this year : an happy moment which will not happen, and an other period difficult to live.

« We are enthusiasts, we do love our vineyards »  

By hearing Nicolas, it’s just like an obvious fact.  When the vine has been affected by hail, we must wait 4/5 days, without do anything even if it’s difficult, and  try to understand how « she » will react . Like a person, « she » is injured, she « curls up », thereafter,  small attempts of re-start appear, as if the vine  would say   » Shall I go or shall I stay ? » 

Damage visible one year later

As all his colleagues, Nicolas admits the discreet temper of the winegrowers.  » We don’t have the right words to speak of theses moments, but more than the financial consequence of hail, the more difficult to live for us, is to walk in the rows and see our injured vineyards. It’s often very emotional and even if we are tough guys, some of us can have tears on the eyes ». 

Spotters army

180 silver iodide diffusers  are  spread throughtout the cognac vineyards. 4 volunteers  are in charge on one diffuser. As soon as the alert is activited, the main referent, receives it on his smartphone, acknowledges the messsage and starts the diffuser. If he doesn’t answer, the alert switchs to the second person, and so on… To be efficient, the alert must be issued 6 hours before the arrival of the hail and all the  diffusers must be started at the same time. The diffuser located in an area is efficient for an area located about 10 kms farther.

A very simple system to set up : the ignition of the nozzle in the metallic pipe fired up to the sky particles of silver iodide which are be sucked in the clouds. The reaction allows to  decrease the size of the hailstones and so reduce consequently the damages.

Great thanks to Nicolas for his contribution  and disponibility on this specific subject.

L’article Hail, frost, the vine and the winegrower est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

La taille est une intervention manuelle, et c’est une des opérations qui nécessite le plus de savoir faire à la fois théorique et pratique. En taillant chaque souche on influe sur la pérennité du plant et sur sa productivité. La sève circule sous quelques millimètres de l’écorce, et non au milieu comme on pourrait le penser. Lorsqu’on coupe un sarment pour en examiner l’intérieur, la complexité du « réseau » de ces petits vaisseaux saute aux yeux. Il faut donc un bon bagage théorique à la base.
Ensuite lorsqu’on se trouve face à son premier pied à tailler, ce n’est pas toujours facile de commencer.

Entre la théorie et la pratique, il y a encore un fossé à franchir. Si la taille avait pu être un peu considérée comme utile mais sans plus, elle est devenue un vrai enjeu de pérénnité du vignoble et notamment de protection naturelle des maladies du bois. Un mauvais coup de sécateur, une mauvaise cicatrisation peuvent être source de développement du vilain escae qui fait beaucoup de ravages dans les vignobles en ce moment.

Dans les vignes de Cognac, où l’on taille plutôt long,  la taille Guyot Poussard a ses adeptes. Preuve que la taille est re-devenue un enjeu majeur , de nombreux séminaires, ateliers de taille dans les vignes, et même concours de taille existent aujourd’hui.

Après la taille, on attache la vigne, un travail manuel et mécanisé qui se termine actuellement.

Au total ce sont des centaines et des centaines d’heures passées, quel que soit la météo, et avant l’arrivée du printemps.

Mais pour Ben, viticulteur en petite champagne  « Même si parfois c’est dur quand il fait -2° le matin, j’aime bien car c’est comme une rencontre avec chacun de mes pieds, car ils sont tous différents et ce n’est pas monotone »

L’article Sécateurs et tour de main dans les vignes est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Le temps relativement doux et ensoleillé de décembre, ce qui est souvent le cas dans notre belle région, offre souvent des occasions de photos à prendre sur le champ.. Je n’ai pas pu résister à ce magnifique coucher de soleil qui s’offrait à moi en regagnant ma voiture.

En rendez vous à Bordeaux, j’ai « zappé » le déjeuner de travail pour courir à la médiathèque, voir l’exposition Montaigne Super Star dont c’était les derniers jours. Emouvant de voir l’original des Essais annoté de la main de l’auteur.

La scénographie iconoclaste était un vrai régal. Nourritures intellectuelles donc à la place d’une assiette. Un café et un cannelé plus tard, je suis arrivée à l’heure à mon rendez vous suivant…

Encore une belle rencontre dans les vignes de cognac, en Grande Champagne plus précisément,  avec Line, viticultrice et  distillatrice de talent. Elle nous explique  la distillation sur  le blog. C’est ici

La vigne en hiver, magique en toute saison.

Soirée poétique et musicale  avec Piers Faccini, à Cognac pour la découverte de son dernier opus « I dreamed an island » , invité par « Les Quais Ici ou Ailleurs »

J’ai trouvé mes truffes pour le repas de Noêl, au marché de Villebois Lavalette, le 24 décembre : un beau moment avec des producteurs accueillants et très sympathiques. En attendant l’arrivée des trufficulteurs, un petit café en lisant la presse locale dans le café sur la place des Halles.

Les truffes bien protégées pour le transport.

Sur le chemin du retour, un arrêt au château de la Mercerie, une folie architecturale imaginée par deux frères, qui ont reconstitué une façade de Versailles. Une association dynamique est en train de redonner vie à cet endroit étonnant.

Pour les derniers jours de cette année, Biarritz et sa féérie de lumières nous attendait : running le matin sur la plage, et promenade la nuit pour assister aux illuminations, une belle manière de clore 2016.

L’article Décembre entre viticulture et culture est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Like an oasis among frozen fields. Imposant houses, called « Logis » protected by high walls, big porch, and old evergreeen trees,  are numerous  in our cognac region. People living here are rather discreet : show off is not their religion at all….

Too cold for me for early morning running :  -2,5°C.

Sun tries to cross the clouds. Winter time is the period of pruning. Winegrowers work  even if it’s frozen. Work still to be done here…

Do you remember the small Church of Eraville in  the post of last october ? Numerous roman churches nearby vineyards are integral part of cognac landscape.

Typical « Grande Champagne »  landscape : smooth hills, chalky soils. The eaux de vie coming from here give  fine cognacs, requiring long ageing in  oak casks to achieve full maturity.  The origin of the word « Champagne »,  comes from the latin word « campania » which means  open fields (opposite to woods and forests)

Young truffles trees, such as some green oaks, hazelnuts or linden trees, grow on thoses chalky slopes. A perfect soil for the trees and then for the truffles…

Like soldiers ready for the parade, poplars  on Charente banks.

Sun’s coming around 11 am, and quicly the white coat disappears for a while, till the next night.

In fact a quite bright winter day, and a excellent opportunity to wear  turtleneck knit, coat with large collar, boots, gloves. As  it’s impossible to take pictures with them, I have now frozen hands…

Time to come home near the fireplace, even if I am sure that our  cat « Philo », is already on the best place and not really ready to leave it !

L’article Winter weather in cognac vineyards est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

The distiller is either a  grower-distiller called « bouilleur de cru » which means that he operates for his own production, or professional distillers  « bouilleur de profession » who work for them if they are growers  and for winegrowers who don’t have distillations facilities.

A woman in a distillery

Line’s family live and work here, in Biard since 1610. A deep-rooted story in the heart of cognac vineyard, in « grande champagne » : 18 ha devoted to cognac, and pineau. Since 100 years, 3 generations work with passion to the developpement of the property, each of them bringing her skill and insight to make Cognac Guillon-Painturaud  be known for the quality of the products.  A family transmission from grand father, to father and daughter nowadays. Line’s grandfather bought the first copper still « alambic » in 1914, which is still running nowadays and devoted to more precious cognac.

Line’s father has been the  » architect » of the developpement,  in the vineyards and in the distillery (second still).

Line began a professionnal activity outside the property and came back a few years later, as she was deeply committed to the place, the vines, the family story. Since 22 years, Line is totally involved in her passion. « I have no regrets at all » she says even if it’s a lengthy training and sometimes physically tough.  A woman in a rather man’s business ?  « I work with men and it’s  not a problem, I do like work with men also »  The approach and experience could be different  but Line does not see any basic difference in the work. The most important for her is « I do appreciate the freedom we have to be winegrower and distiller ».

Distillation started on nov.2nd and will be over before Christmas time. During this time, each day, Line wakes up very early in order to be in her distillery on 6:30 am, coffee in hand. Then the distillation process, always the same, since the origin of cognac,  begins (detailed explanation in the previous post). A long busy day, in the heart of the elaboration of eau-de-vie. 24 hours are necessary for a complete distilling cycle. At 6:00pm Line prepares for the night. Theses never-ending cycles need constant monitoring and attention. Line’s home is next-door of her distillery in which  she sets up  a small office to work closer to the still.

And now I would encourage you  to practise your french and look at Line explaining what she does each day during distillation period !

Great thanks to Line and http://www.cognacguillon-painturaud.com/

L’article Distiller, full-time job in wintertime est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

First of all, a hello to cranes and geese, the migratory birds which fly every spring and autumn just above the house. Many flights in the beginning of this month :  we hear them before we can see the V Shape of numerous noisy birds. It’s always an emotional moment and I stop my work to tell them good luck, good travel,  hoping to see them again in a few months.

https://youtu.be/fZ5_o-JPs9g

First friday evening  of november, we went in our neighbourhood, in Bordeaux vineyards, to celebrate a  business birthday, the 10 years old of Lyod Associes a consulting office created by a friend of mine. And the party  was in… Château Pomeaux, in prestigious Pomerol vineyard. Great thanks also to, Joel Palous, one of the owner associate of this property, for his kind welcome. As an evidence, wine was  on  top !

Courtesy of Château Pomaux for this pict.

Morning after, we visited Saint Emilion village, and his stunning monolithic church. The mist gave a mysterious and poetic feeeling to the landscape.

Lunch in « L’Envers du décor », a  nice adress I recommend for the table as well as for his sense of humour   « thanks to  the Lord who make vineyards grow here in Saint Emilion, on the very spot where we love so much good wine… »

and  then we went back at home with wonderful images  and friendship memories.

A ending-late meeting in Bordeaux on friday evening,

was the perfect opportunity,  to move in Pays Basque  at about one hour and half, by car  and we arrived around midnight in Biarritz.

Even if the weather was a bit cloudy early morning, running and walking on the beach in the heart of the city is an healthy and nice  moment.

Pays Basque is a paradise for surf and golf. If i am just onlooker for surf, I practice golf as you know now and the international center of Ilbarritz is just amazing. ( yes, it was the same day, grey on morning and blue in the afternoon, we have lunch outside on the terrace…)

One sunday in Cognac museum…

An awesome photo exhibition from scottish photograph Mark Unsworth, guest of the MACO till next february. More on it in  my previous post

… and in Angoulême Cathedral to discover the fabulous  » Trésor », a masterpiece created by french internationally reknown Jean Marc Othoniel. Following a snapshot of this marvel.

In front of Sanctus Anne…

And what about the cognac vineyard ?

Golden leaves are falling down a lot, some vines are already bare. Soon will be time for pruning.

I love autumn in cognac region, a different light  to see the  landscape and architecture in an other way.

an old weigh-bridge

Distillation has began : click on to read the post

Day and night, till march 31st, the winegrowers who are also distillers, live according to the  tempo of theirs stills and the process  called « double chauffe » or « repasse » in french i.e, two separate heatings, in a special « charentais » copper still.Depending from the harvest, the vinification… distillation begins in november.  We know when the process begins when we see small white smokes above the distilleries.

And last, during the yearly gastronomic exhibition of november, I was invited in a girl party in townhall by Angoulême municipality, BNIC, and Konoisseur.  A good idea to discover cognac in an original way for those who used to think that cognac represents more  the image of men, smoking cigar after a good meal…  It has been a great discovery for many of the guests, of course in a responsible drinking. Thanks to @agathedecharente for her video.

L’article November in the heart of a golden autumn est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

So, to summarize this topic in a pre-and-post manner :

Harvest represents a lot of skill, tough work, and passion, men and equipments operate at the peak of performance…

In the vineyards

I talked you about the indian summer, last month. We have been lucky to keep it for a large part of  october :  some misty mornings  specially near the Charente river, and sunny  warm afternoons. A good weather for the winegrowers as it’s not really easy harvesting with rain and cold temperatures, and not so good for wine. So  great thanks to the weather which has been friendly with us.

I already told you how lucky we are to « live in cognac », this small french area which produces the most famous « eau-de-vie » of the world. Let me try to convince you below.

Awesome evening light

Land art in the vines…

The Charente river

Golf addict

Last days to play golf after work, days grow shorter,  and daylight savings at the end of the month, will stop this good moment for several months… Sometimes we could just play 4/5 holes…

A stunning place to see sunset on the white limestone front of houses of the city : a « spot »known by the photographs coming to take pictures and timelapse of this rainbow playing on stones.

Heritage

Do you believe me if I say we have a small Versailles here in Charente ?  A crazy dream of two brothers of past century, art lovers, who lost all their fortune, to build a replica of Versailles facade, closed to their family castle. After they died, it has been a bit tricky for Château de la Mercerie, during too long years. Happily, since 5 years, like a phoenix, the  castle is restored by an association of volunteers who worked with passion all the year long. Many work to do, many work have been done.

The 220 meters long of the facade has entered the Guinness book of records as the longest  castle facade ever built in XX century.

The end of the amazing facade  with nothing behind…

And to end this stroll, let’s have a look at the nice village of Villebois Lavalette,  neighbour of Château de la Mercerie, with its impressive castle and awesome market place.

I hope you have had a nice october month wherever you live.

If you  enjoyed this post, please share on social media, to your friends,  just click the buttons on the page, thank you so much.

L’article October means harvest month in cognac est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

In fact, a quite tricky year for cognac vineyards and cognac winegrowers. Frost on springtime,  then 3 sudden hails storms, occur a lot of damages on the vineyards. Some winegrowers have suffered important losses, as they got both frost and hail storm. For them, grape harvest began early at the end of september. For the others, kick off on 3rd october. Usually taking place  in october in cognac vineyards, harvest time spreads out betweeen one and three weeks  depending from the importance of the vineyards,  the situation, the ripeness of the grapes…  The interprofessionnal organization, called BNIC (Bureau Interprofessionnel du Cognac) and its technical department estimate a date of starting-up, but each winegrower is the right man/woman to decide of his/her due date.

A magic moment for the winegrowers, the result of a year of work and patience.

Both, men and equipments have to operate at the peak of performance. From dawn to sunset, it’s an on-going traffic from the vineyards to the wine press and cellar. Even if they are overstretched, they wouldn’t miss this moment for anything in the world…

Sign of this particular period is on, for everbody living here, is the endless back and forth of the harvesting machines playing their mechanical dance above the rows : a special moment even for persons who are not involved in cognac.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1ytz0aNNjs

Difficult to explain this particular atmosphere, much more easy to live it…Everybody works at his right place and knows what he has to do, in a mixed feeling of stress and excitation. Usually, we find the boss near the press wine and the vats…. Nevertheless it’s really an authentic team-work day after day, and a nice human experience.

Grapes in, wine out.

From grapes to wine, from harvesting machine to fermentation vats,  all theses operations must be achieved in 4 hours maxi. Everything must going right, it’s why september is a very busy month too. More about in  my previous post.

Discover in video the harvest in cognac as if you were on-site.

First of all in the  vineyards, the endless choregraphy of the pair : harvesting machine and  tractor

Thousands and thousands of grapes unloaded  here, one trailer each 15′

The touchy step of the press wine

First control, many others will follow

In no time at all, wine arrives in decantation vat for a short time, before flowing to fermentation vat : the « piano » of the boss, a dispatching device for input and output. No failure is authorized !

The fermentation vats, this one is soon half-full.

The day I was there, a pleasant smell of « daube » with small carrots escaped from the « kitchen workshop » nearby the cellar, a great moment at noon with all the team….

During these weeks, from early morning to late in afternoon, depending of weather, the same operations take place. Nevertheless, every day is different and need the utmost care. The quality of the cognac appreciated worldwide begins here, in this very first minutes of harvest.

A very nice human story of passion. Thanks to all my friends who welcomed me during harvest.

L’article Cognac harvest days, the crunch time est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Cognac vineyards and winegrowers

In cognac vineyards, the countdown is on,  first days of this month. Obviously, the beginning of the harvest is  depending from weather. After very dry july and august, some later rains have been welcomed, except for thoses who have been under an other hail storm.

« Backstage », it’s a busy month for winegrowers devoted to hardware verification, cleaning, and preparing harvester machines and tractors for the 2016 grape harvest.

 The « international circuit des  remparts »

Before the races on sunday in the historical city of Angoulême, the international rally allows to discover nearly 200 km of small roads in Charente, with stop in castles, manors in a nice  countryside of vineyards, forests and rivers. A lot of people is waiting on the side of the roads, to see the cars, some of them with flags of their homeland, as many british and dutch people leave in Charente ! Great moment, some pilots and passengers greet the on lookers, as Queen Mum

On sunday, pilots from all over Europe follow the example  of famous elders such as Fangio, Troubetskoy or Maurice Trintignant, on a tremendous circuit along the ancient city walls.

Looking for thrills ? See the embedded  video of Simon Kelleway in a 1937 Riley Sprite Special on the Plateau Sommer race. « Probably one of my best races ever – certainly the most fun – as it was a real dog fight from start to end with Mark E (Austin 7) and Mark G (Nash). Good close racing. I started 4th, got up to 3rd at the first corner, then back to 4th, down to 5th, back to 4th then 3rd, before finally finishing 4th. There’s always next year! »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nd9pmA2iYg – Thanks Simon for the rights CC

Legends cars plateau.

Many others nice moments take place all along theses days, specially when owners meet public and share their passion.

I met this luxurous car friday evening when I left a vip party. Sure I would’ve been happy to go back home inside.

When the crowd has left the beaches, I can walk  several kilometers along the sea, bathe in the ocean for the last time of the year, a quality time highly appreciated, and also play golf in a stunning place, at golf de La Palmyre.

Playing with light and transparency, inside and outside the club house lounge…

A new book on the cognac saga has been edited this month, only available in french for the moment. I have been one the first readers of course.

Before their own holidays , I met my friends Max and Pierre in their heaven of peace, the Logis de Puygaty. More on their awesome B&B

Finally, harvest began end of september for the vines which have suffered of hail storm.

L’article September in cognac vineyards, the indian summer est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

Let me tell you the true story  of a sleeping beauty in cognac vineyards and of two princes of  design, elegance, and creativity coming for Miami.  For Pierre and Max, it has been love at first sight for this 15th century manor left to rot for a too long time.

« In twenty years when I look back on this chapter of my life, I hope I will remember most the regular walks we take around the Logis with our three dogs, and our cat Nelson. We walk, the dogs unleashed and totally free, for hours-on-end and pass through forests and farmland, by lakes and rivers, and rarely see anyone. The communal destination-of-choice is a source which was framed in carved limestone over 600 years ago and where today the dogs love to swim. And then I think, « Where else in the world in 2010, and only 2 hours from Paris by train » ?

This poetic words, Max wrote them in  the agenda he created to highlight « the best of Charente ». Since 2010, 7 editions have beeen printed for the new year, each of them with a special tone : stone of Charente,  gastronomy and cognac, roman art, skilled artisans, history and so on…

Belgian native, Pierre worked for a long time in States and felt the desire to return back in Europe, and Max, american citizen, who studyied for a while in Firenza, dreamed to live on the old continent. One day,  they left their superb property of Miami and travelled a lot, mainly in Italia and South France,  to find their new restling home : need of wide space for their animals, and sun for them. The quest finished as they passed the imposant front porch  of the Logis : it was there and nowhere else.

They did not know anybody when they arrived, they are famous nowadays, here and not only. Max and Pierre have restored the manor in a magistral manner, in a total respect of the architecture and with a mad skill for interior design. Working with local crafstmen, they used simple, rough material found on the site : wood, steel, old farm tools… an incredible mix of modern design and re-interpreted  old materials.  After 3 years and half of hard work, the Logis recovered his past beauty..The result is so successfull that Pierre and Max opened a boutique in the barn, called « Sortie de grange » featuring decorative objects, antiques, lighting, gifts, fabrics and finds.

And in the outbuildings, overlooking the nice courtyard, they have nestled their B&B, 3 stunning bedrooms,  and a guest cottage, each of them named after a former owner of the Logis. International livestyle, design, tourism and architecture media regularly publish on Logis de Puygaty and their gifted owners.

Max always thought that Charente, which is the adminstrativ area of Cognac region but not only, was not enough known. During 7 years, he edited a luxury  agenda called « Best of Charente » to highlight  the hidden facets of the region. Max is one of the best ambassadors or Charente in the world.  » There is, here in Charente, a heritage which must be know all around the world. To make it known, I have had the idea of the agenda »

Who hasn’t dreamed of such a place ?

Good new, you can spend a few days in Logis de Puygaty,  so kindly welcomed by  Max and Pierre and their good fellows, Farouk, Jackie, Alzane the dogs and Nelson the cat.

You will discover a discret lifestyle, the location is utterly serene and peaceful, and you never forget the stunning welcome of Pierre and Max. The guest book speaks for them.

Thank you so much Dear Max.

More photos video and all informations on :

http://www.logisdepuygaty.com/

L’article From Miami to cognac vineyards est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.

First musical moment of the summertime in the region,  the Cognac Blues Passion Festival. International blues, rock-pop headliners came in Cognac, such as  emerging young artists,  playing  in  the starry night.  Iggy Pop, Marianne Faithfull, The Cranberries…. were present for this edition.  It means for me that holidays are not so far right now.

As the days are the longest of the year,  I can play golf after work in the golf course « du cognac » surrounded by  the vineyards,  or on golf course « de l’Hirondelle » in Angoulême, with a stunning view on the town.

In the vineyards, work in progress, bunches of grapes begin to be nice, next step will be « the veraison » mid august.

Business lunch in a quiet and historical place, the former house of a french writer born in 17 century, Guez de Balzac, and now an hotel and restaurant.

Before to make way for the tourists, we went to Royan and Atlantic sea for a flight over Gironde estuary and vineyards. From the helicopter, Talmont church is as amazing, as when we turn around, like a spotter on the  estuary.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBBtV0x-b8w&feature=youtu.be

The small village of Talmont is so cute, with flowers in the small streets, we called here « roses trémières », a sort of signature of the region.

A true pleasure to go the market of fresh fuit and vegetables  directly from the producer at « la ferme du Tambourinour » also a winegrower. Melon for the evening dinner is perfect as we have very hot days, around 34 ° C.

Sunny and hot sunday in the vineyards, fortunately, there is a light breeze.

And back again on the coast for an other famous and magic festival « Le violon sur le sable »(Violon on the beach) and it’s really the truth. A tremendous idea born 29 years ago : play classical music on the beach on summer, and against all odds, it’s a huge sucess.

« if you don’like classical music, beach, greatest voices of opera, stars, symphony orchestras, danse, well, come to Violon sur le sable, you will see all you did not like…before »

50000 spectators by evening, unforgettable moments, and the last evening with the magnificent voice of Karine Deshayes, the young prince of violoncello, Edgar Moreau and the high virtuosity of the pianist David Kadouch.

To end this month, what better way than music and fireworks on the beach.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXla3QIPchc&feature=youtu.be

L’article Musical july in cognac est apparu en premier sur Living In Cognac Land.