Our Story
From Cognac heritage to welcoming Holiday Homes
A place with history
L’Ancienne Distillerie is more than a place to stay — it’s a place with a story. Our estate was once a working Cognac distillery, where grapes from the surrounding vineyards were brought to be pressed and transformed. You can still feel this history in the stone walls, traditional beams and iconic Cognac arches that shape the buildings today.
Our barn, at the heart of the estate, dates back to 1853 — a date you can still see etched into the stone above the gate. It’s a small detail but one that connects us to the generations who lived and worked here before.
From distillery to gîtes
When we first discovered the property, we immediately fell in love with its character and its setting among the vines. Since moving to the Charente, we have been modernising the buildings to create 4 comfortable gîtes, while keeping their original charm and soul.
Our aim was simple: to preserve the authenticity of the place while making it somewhere guests could feel at home, relaxed and free to enjoy their holiday.
A glimpse into Cognac savoir-faire
This region is shaped by centuries of Cognac-making expertise and our estate is part of that story. Traditionally, grapes were harvested, pressed and fermented before being distilled in copper stills (alambics) to create eau-de-vie. This was then aged slowly in oak barrels — a process that requires time, patience and true craftsmanship.
Today, while the distillery is no longer active, the surrounding vineyards and nearby producers continue this tradition.
Staying here gives you a chance to experience this unique heritage up close.
Beautifully crafted leather products.
Bienvenue chez nous
Living the Charente life
We are your hosts, Nigel and Valérie. Nigel is Anglo-Mauritian and Valérie is French, originally from the Loire Valley. We moved here from the UK with our two sons and we quickly fell for the Charente countryside, its beautiful stone buildings, rich history and welcoming people.
Since then, we’ve been happily exploring everything the region has to offer : unique distillery visits, hands-on workshops, scenic walks, national sporting events, family-friendly activities, local markets, Michelin-starred restaurants, trendy rooftop bars and lively music festivals.
We love sharing our local knowledge and helping guests make the most of their stay — and yes, we’ve done plenty of “research and development” by trying it all ourselves… purely in the interest of good advice, of course!
