La Nauve, Hôtel et Jardin

It’s no wonder that Cognac, with its scenic vineyards and historic cognac houses, sees so many visitors — and the recently opened La Nauve Hôtel & Jardin, located on the grounds of a former cognac distillery, is a welcome addition to the region’s rather limited luxury hotel scene. No spirits are produced on site these days, but they flow freely at the hotel’s lively brasserie and cocktail bar, and on the picturesque terrace that overlooks the estate’s carefully landscaped gardens, including a 150-year-old sequoia.

The restored distillery and adjacent Belle Époque mansion sit on a peaceful riverside property just down the river from Cognac’s old town. The regal white manor house serves as the main building, and it’s even grander inside, with luminous pale-colored marble, a romantic staircase, and modern chandeliers made of Murano glass. Most of the hotel’s dozen rooms and suites are located here — the rest are in the restored barrel storehouses next door — and they’re all the picture of elegance, with parquet floors, French doors, gold and ivory brocade, and floor-to-ceiling drapery. Some are cozier, with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams, while others have private balconies with postcard-like views of the gardens.

The old distillery, with its arched passageways and atmospheric lighting, houses the larger of the hotel’s two restaurants, which features attractive outdoor seating and an open-air cocktail bar on the mezzanine. Traditional patisserie and afternoon tea are on offer at the main bar, and breakfast is served in the library. With so much to enjoy on the hotel grounds, one could almost forget that sightseeing and distillery tours await nearby — luckily, guests can cruise into town on the hotel’s electric boat, or borrow canoes or bicycles for independent adventures.