Bourgoin Cognac

In Saint-Saturnin, on the edge of the Angoumois region and a few kilometres from Angoulême, Bourgoin Cognac champions a highly personal vision of the winemaker’s craft. Here, the grapes are grown, vinified and distilled, and the eaux-de-vie are then aged on the estate.

Led by the Bourgoin family and Frédéric Bourgoin, a fourth-generation winegrower, the house aims to help people rediscover Cognac in a new light, with an approach centred on the terroir, the vineyard and transparency.

History and origins

The Bourgoin family has been based in Tarsac, in the commune of Saint-Saturnin, for several generations. Sources dedicated to the estate indicate that the family’s history as winegrowers dates back four generations, and that the estate has borne the Bourgoin name since 1930.

Frédéric Bourgoin decided to devote himself fully to winegrowing in 2012. The first bottles marketed under the Bourgoin Cognac label appeared in 2015.

Today, the family estate cultivates vineyards located in the Fins Bois, Petite Champagne and Premiers Bois appellations, with a clear commitment to putting the terroir first.

The expertise

What sets Bourgoin Cognac apart is its ‘grower-producer’ approach, which seeks to oversee every stage of the process, from vine to bottle.

The estate grows mainly Ugni Blanc, vinifies its own grapes, distils its own wines and then ages the eaux-de-vie in its cellars. This approach allows the Cognac to be directly linked to the specific plot and the work carried out in the vineyard.

The house also prides itself on an artisanal and unconventional approach: some cuvées are offered straight from the cask, whilst the range draws heavily on the concepts of vintage, plot and terroir. Bottling is carried out by hand.

The range

• Cognac. This is the heart of the estate’s business. The range includes, in particular, XO Cognacs, cask-strength cuvées, micro-barrel expressions and those linked to specific vintages or terroir characteristics.
• Pineau des Charentes. Bourgoin also offers Pineau des Charentes, notably cuvées aged using oxidative ageing and old vintages.
• Wine brandy / Blanche de Cognac. The range also includes a brandy made from Ugni Blanc grapes, intended in particular for culinary use.
• Verjus. Produced from green grapes, verjus is a traditional culinary acidifier. The house presents it specifically as a product for cooking and serving with seafood.

The signature product

Bourgoin Brut de Fût Cognac deserves special attention. Presented without seeking to mask the characteristics of the brandy, it illustrates the house’s commitment to offering a Cognac closely linked to its origin and ageing process.

The range includes, in particular, cask-strength Cognacs from old vintages, as well as ‘Microbarrique’ cuvées, some of which come from plots with distinctive geological characteristics.

When tasting, it is worth taking the time to observe the nose and then to savour the Cognac gradually, perhaps with a few drops of water to allow the aromas to develop. These cuvées can also be used in cooking and in creating cocktails.

The visitor’s experience

Bourgoin offers a truly immersive experience in the world of cognac: a tour of the distillery and cellars, a tasting session and an insight into the estate.

Several options are available:

• guided tasting;
• tour and tasting;
• a tour of the vineyards;
• a tour of the distillery and cellars.

Tours must be booked in advance.

Where can you buy our products?

Products are available for purchase directly at the estate, at: 14 rue du Puits, 16290 Saint-Saturnin

The estate also has an online shop and works with various retailers.

Key points

Bourgoin Cognac tells the story of a family of winegrowers from Saint-Saturnin who have chosen to put the vineyard and the terroir back at the heart of Cognac.

From cask-strength Cognac and micro-barrels to Pineau des Charentes and verjus, the house offers a unique insight into the Charente’s wine-growing heritage. A particularly interesting stop to understand what lies behind a bottle of Cognac and to meet a producer committed to a very personal approach to the art of winemaking.

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