This large villa has a garden that slopes down to the gently flowing Charente below, with the proud silhouette of Bourg-Charente castle, overlooking the vines, visible on the other side of the river. In the dining room with its slate-grey walls and large picture windows offering views of the charming terrace and the banks of the river, chefs Thierry and Julien Verrat (father and son) create fine cuisine where invention goes hand in hand with La Ribaudière’s natural surroundings. The owner of a vineyard and a truffle field, Verrat is passionate about the Charentais region, which is a real land of plenty. Here, he creates dishes that bring out the best of his excellent ingredients with delicacy and conviction, using the full panoply of local produce, ranging from Cognac and Pineau des Charentes to wild snails and fish from the nearby Atlantic.