La Nauve Hôtel et Jardin, from Almae Collection, celebrated opening its doors on June 10, 2023.
Each of the properties in the Almae Collection have been hand picked by the owners, with personal connections to each destination. The family was looking for a personal home in the region, further to a childhood spent in Cognac, when the opportunity to reimagine this former distillery felt serendipitous. After a four-year transformation and total reimagination, Almae Collection is delighted to welcome guests to stay and experience this magical corner of France.
Exquisitely restored
The belle époque mansion has been entirely reimagined, with just the exquisite exterior and facade remaining the same. Internally, the design thoughtfully reflects the rich heritage of the beautiful property, whilst artfully incorporating modern features. The grand staircase takes centre stage in the entrance hall, which is dramatically lit by bespoke and contrastingly contemporary chandeliers, made exclusively for the property in Murano, Venice including the Hexagone, which hangs majestically above the bar with blue and white hues. Another interesting feature is the Paradis, a small hidden room which acts as a cellar and home to the finest brandies to be enjoyed pre or post dinner. The twelve, spacious accommodation rooms, including one Junior Suite, all feature delicate furnishings and unique touches such as beds and headboards made using roots of local Sequoia trees.
Picture-perfect gardens
The gardens are a focal point for guests to La Nauve and local visitors alike. The 12 acre gardens provide a total sanctuary with plenty of peaceful corners to relax and unwind, such as reading a book, enjoying a private picnic or even practising a spot of yoga. Featuring a century-old Sequoia tree, a small canal “Jean Simon”, a variety of fruit trees, vegetable garden and rose bushes, the garden leads down to the Charente River, where guests can enjoy the use of a private boat and canoes. In addition, an alfresco pool is the perfect place to cool off in the summer months. The hotel also provides e-bikes to guests for those wanting to explore the area further, beyond the grounds of the mansion.
Destination Dining
Using the finest local ingredients, including homegrown herbs and vegetables from the gardens, the culinary offering at La Nauve reflects the terroir of this fascinating region – with, of course, excellent wines and Cognacs. The main mansion houses an intimate gastronomic restaurant, Notes, a fine dining experience that combines gourmet cuisine and warm hospitality. A fresh, seasonal menu – created according to the hotel vegetable garden – lends pride of place to regional produce from the forests, sea, Cognac distilleries and local farms. The restored distillery building is home to Brasserie des Flâneurs, serving elegant dishes inspired by Chef Anthony Carballo’s childhood memories. In winter, the fireplaces lend a cosy atmosphere to the venue whilst in summer food is served in the garden.
The ultimate Cognac experience
No trip to Cognac is complete without sampling the famous spirit, renowned for its finesse and complexity. Within the hotel, guests can sample up to 70 hand-selected bottles of Cognac, or delight their senses with a custom Cognac cocktail created by Bar Manager, Antoine, and his secret batch recipes. With almost 200 Cognac producers in the area, visitors will never be short of options. Visit the big names like Hennessy, Rémy Martin and Martell, or journey to Delamain, where hotel guests are offered an exclusive visit to the cellars and a unique dining experience. Guests too will be able to pop into town via boat to explore Old Cognac or even try the Otard tour, where visitors are able to visit the old Chateau de Cognac. Unlike anything else in the area, this enchanting, historical hotel is set to put this lesser-visited region of France firmly on the map.
