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In this video you’ll hear from Sarah Lherbier, wine tourism project manager at Explore Cognac and TTG’s head of partner content, Madeleine Barber. 

Video transcript 

Madeleine: Hello and welcome to our In The Spotlight video with Explore Cognac. Sarah, could you give us an introduction to the types of holidays that visitors can enjoy in the Charentes region?

Sarah: It's a beautiful region all year round if you are looking for immersive experiences in France or southern Europe. People who love meeting the locals, great food and drinks, but also cycling, watersports. It's a small region. I like to say it's a bit like a “mini France”. Except for the high mountains, it has a bit of everything people love in France. 

Madeleine: Amazing. And can you talk to us about how clients can get to the Charentes region from the UK?

Sarah: Of course, it's really easily accessible from both Paris and Bordeaux by train or by car. And it's also, in high season, we have direct flights from London with the low-cost companies.

Madeleine: Great. And what would you say some of the unique selling points are that agents can focus on when they're talking about this region to their customers?

Sarah: Of course it does talk to people who love cognac and who love wine. So that's of course the main selling point, but it's more than that. It's also a region with really rich wildlife, landscapes, all the craftsmanship, the know-how around cognac and the wine-making. And of course, innovation, because Cognac is not only about old things, it's about innovation and developing new techniques. It's at the heart of France, the heart of Charentes, and then close to Bordeaux, easily accessible from Paris also. So you can also combine it with that. 

Definitely an all-year round destination, it’s beautiful all year round. And sustainable – people who like slow tourism and travelling by car, by train. It's a beautiful destination for a lot of clients.

Madeleine: Amazing. And I hear it's the ideal choice for foodies as well. What are some of the food and drink highlights that agents should have on their radar? 

Sarah: Of course the cognac, definitely, it is THE thing! But also wine, we have beautiful wines that marry perfectly well with oysters and goat cheese. We also have a specific product, which is called Pineau des Charentes, which is a fortified wine that also is beautiful with other products, such as the local caviar. We also have our own sea salt, so it's also discovering and tasting, but also experiencing. People can go and visit those places but can also participate. There's some great bars, where you can learn how to become a bartender and make cocktails with the Pineau des Charentes or the cognac. So a lot to drink, to eat, to taste, and also to do.

Madeleine: Amazing. Sounds fantastic. And thank you so much, Sarah, for sharing your insight into Cognac today. It was fantastic hearing about the destination. 

Sarah: Thank you very much Madeleine. 

Madeleine: And thank you viewers for tuning in to watch our In The Spotlight video with Explore Cognac. Take care.