Tucked away on nearly 25 acres in the most prestigious parts of France’s Cognac Appellation, the Grande Champagne, Le Logis Cognac offers a bucolic setting.
A former home to generations of noble families, the 16th-century estate still retains remnants of its past, like two limestone towers and medieval walls encircling the grounds. But it also accommodates the modern traveler with 14 contemporary, uniquely designed rooms and a long list of amenities you won’t find at other countryside chateaus (it also houses Forbes Travel Guide’s L’Académie). It’s no wonder why celebrities such as Taylor Lautner and Neil Patrick Harris come here for a getaway.
Here are five reasons why your next escape should be among Le Logis’ rolling vineyards.
Enjoy the utmost privacy
Celebrities and anyone else who stays here get Le Logis all to themselves. Surrounded by vineyards, the secluded chateau is a buyout-only private retreat.
The numerous amenities ensure you won’t need to leave the grounds. Swim year-round in the heated outdoor pool lined with cypress trees overlooking a tower. The saltwater pool glows for nighttime dips as well. Watch movies from plush blue velvet armchairs and sofas in the state-of-the-art cinema with full Dolby sound (and raid the well-stocked Bon Bon Room for accompanying snacks). Get in workouts at the newly renovated Technogym-equipped dojo.
While many experiences are complimentary with a stay (like mixology classes, vineyard stargazing and bicycle tours), you also can opt to add on private yoga sessions or in-house massages for an extra fee.
And if you need to work, a well-appointed business facility sits in a centuries-old wing that was once a barn. It provides a board room with high-speed internet and multimedia connectivity and a rustic adjacent meeting room for breakout sessions or lunch.
Play pickleball
Though thousands of pickleball courts exist around the globe, there aren’t many with as beautiful a backdrop as the two at Le Logis. The first private pickleball courts in France, the venues sit alongside a scenic vineyard — so even if the score isn’t going your way, the stunning sights will always prove victorious. You also can admire the view in between matches from the new covered open-air lounge between the courts.
Le Logis brings together passionate pickleball enthusiasts from all over the world to the French countryside for its annual invitational, Dinking in the Vines. Screenwriter/director Doug Ellin (who created Entourage), actor Sara Sanderson, professional pickleball player Roscoe Bellamy and Bellamy’s coach Mariano Bertucci competed in the recent invitational.
If you aren’t yet ready to go head-to-head in a competition, Le Logis can arrange a three-day workshop for an additional fee with a pro from Picklestars, a U.S.-based brand that teaches the fundamentals of the sport in a fun, fulfilling way.
When you want a break from the pickleball action, play a round of pétanque (a lawn game similar to bocce ball) on the dedicated court or borrow one of the bicycles to pedal around the vineyards.
Savor fresh French cuisine
The chateau’s seasonal and mostly local food is one of the highlights of a stay. Once you provide a list of allergies and preferences, the chef will come up with tailored meals and enchanting settings. The menu might include thick steaks sizzling on a roaring fire outside near a communal table on the verdant grounds, a formal dinner under the capiz shell chandeliers in the elegant dining room with hand-painted botanical wallpaper or an alfresco lunch on the charming, sun-soaked patio. Vegan fare is a specialty as well.
While the all-inclusive stay includes French country breakfasts, snacks, house wine and spirits and dinners, it’s worth adding on the unique martinis and Gillardeau oysters experience. The nutty-tasting bivalves are among the best in the world, farmed by a family that’s been in the oyster business since 1898.
If the meals inspire you to learn how to make some dishes yourself, take a cooking class at Le Logis’ culinary center, a newly renovated space with a professional Maestro by Bonnet kitchen, one of the finest in the world handmade by artisans in Southern France.
Savor cognac and more
While Le Logis resides in Cognac, it also has ties to another spirit. Bacardi acquired the estate in 2013, turning it into a VIP getaway for its Grey Goose vodka brand. It’s why the jewel-box bar sits in the heart of the chateau.
Today, master bartender Bastien Gardrat oversees the bar, shaking up cognac cocktails for guests. Don’t miss his complimentary mixology classes, where you can learn how to craft his signature Jasmine Dreams (made in collaboration with Palais des Thés, it features cognac, cold-brew-infused jasmine green tea, vanilla syrup and a touch of lemon) or a cognac Negroni. Gardrat also can show you how to prepare low-ABV cocktails and mocktails.
Of course, if you want to sample the local spirit, Gardrat leads cognac tastings in the living room. You will try five pours from different producers while he shares stories about the region’s cognacs.
Take a side excursion
As much as Le Logis captivates with its turreted tower, private theater and other amenities, the property’s staff is more than happy to set up outside excursions as well. If you want to swing something beyond a pickleball paddle, for example, a round at nearby Golf du Cognac can be scheduled. The estate’s team can also map out a hiking route amid the breathtaking grape vines for you.
But this is Cognac, after all. Behind-the-scenes looks at the eau de vie production process —everything from a distillery walk-through to a private peek at how oak barrels are built — can be arranged. Rémy Martin is just a 14-minute walk away. And if you simply want to learn more about the famed town sitting less than nine miles from Le Logis, city, house and even boat tours around Cognac can also be organized.
Should your curiosity extend even further, day trips to places such as Bordeaux (roughly 82 miles from the estate), Saint-Émilion (61 miles) and the charming coastal village of Talmont-sur-Gironde (38 miles) can be scheduled as well.
