Visit Maison Michel Forgeron in Segonzac
In the heart of Grande Champagne, the premier cru of the Cognac appellation, Maison Michel Forgeron welcomes visitors to its estate in Segonzac, in the Charente. Visits are by reservation, in French, English or Spanish.
Welcome to Maison Michel Forgeron
Our family has been growing vines in Segonzac since 1909. That year, Jean Gonthier, Michel Forgeron’s grandfather, bought a small wine-growing estate in the heart of Grande Champagne. The craft has been handed down there from generation to generation ever since.
This history, this terroir and this craft are what we love to share with everyone who comes to visit us.
A family Cognac house
In 1960, Michel Forgeron took over the family estate. In 1965, he installed an 11-hectolitre still, which remained in use until 2019. His sons, Pierre and then Christophe, have carried on his distillation method.
From the 1909 candle auction (“à la bougie”) to the fossils that bear witness to our terroir’s ancient marine past, discover the history of Maison Michel Forgeron.
The guided tour
The guided tour follows the path of Cognac, from the vine to the glass, in six stages.
Some operations only take place at certain times of year. The harvest, winemaking and distillation are always explained to you; whether you see them under way depends on the date of your visit.
1. The vines and the Grande Champagne terroir
The tour begins in the vineyard. Grande Champagne, the premier cru of the Cognac appellation, is known for its limestone soils and for eaux-de-vie that age particularly well over long periods.
The vines live to the rhythm of the seasons and their hazards, as Francine Forgeron recalls in her account of the spring frost of 1991 in the vineyard.
2. The grape harvest
Your guide explains how the harvest takes place. It happens only once a year: the rest of the year, this stage is presented to you without a harvest in progress.
In a video, Francine Forgeron remembers the 1990 harvest, “the year of the polka”.
3. Winemaking
After the harvest, the grapes are pressed and their juice ferments into a white wine, the base of Cognac. Your guide explains this transformation, which follows the harvest and does not take place all year round.
4. The stills and Charentais double distillation
Cognac is distilled twice. The first distillation turns the wine into “brouillis”, at around 28% alcohol. The second, the “bonne chauffe”, concentrates the alcohol and aromas once more: this is the moment that demands the greatest skill from the distiller.
Controlling the heat, making the heart cut, separating the heads and tails: Michel Forgeron developed his own method, which his sons carry on. This is the Maison’s traditional craftsmanship, from the still to the cellar.
The stills do not run all year round. Depending on the date of your visit and the tour you choose, you may or may not see them in operation.
5. The cellars and the ageing of Cognac
The tour then takes you into our cellars. Once distilled, the eau-de-vie is clear: it is over the years, in oak casks, that it takes on its colour and develops its aromas. The cellar master follows its development and decides when the time has come for blending.
In a Cognac XO, the youngest eau-de-vie has aged for at least ten years in wood: we explain the ageing and blending of Cognac XO (in French), from Limousin and Tronçais casks to the work of Christophe Forgeron.
6. The tasting
The tour ends with a tasting of the Maison’s products.
Avis de nos visiteurs
L’expérience de nos visiteurs
Découvrez les impressions de celles et ceux qui ont partagé un moment à la Maison Cognac Forgeron, au cœur de la Grande Champagne.
Avis publiés librement par leurs auteurs sur Google Maps.
Our experiences
Guided tour of the Maison
The six-stage tour described above, from the vine to the tasting.
“Become a Master Blender” workshop
An experience separate from the guided tour, lasting 2 hours in total, including a 30-minute visit and a 90-minute workshop. Book the workshop
Plan your visit
- Maison Michel Forgeron, 11 route de Bouteville, Chez Richon, 16130 Segonzac, France, in the heart of Grande Champagne (Charente).
- Open every day, 9 am to 12 noon and 1.30 pm to 6 pm. Visits are by reservation only: these opening hours do not guarantee that a guided tour is available.
- Tours in French, English and Spanish.
- The stills are in operation depending on the season and the conditions of the visit.
- Information and visit arrangements: +33 6 19 24 65 29.
- General enquiries: +33 5 45 83 43 05.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book to visit Maison Michel Forgeron?
Yes. Visits are by reservation only, online.
Where is Maison Michel Forgeron?
11 route de Bouteville, Chez Richon, 16130 Segonzac, France, in the heart of Grande Champagne, in the Charente.
What does the guided tour include?
Six stages: the vines and the Grande Champagne terroir, the harvest, winemaking, the stills and double distillation, the cellars and ageing, and finally a tasting of the Maison’s products.
Can I see the harvest, winemaking or the stills in operation?
It depends on the date of your visit and the tour you choose: we cannot guarantee it. Your guide will always explain these stages to you.
Does the tour include the cellars?
Yes. The guided tour takes you through our cellars, where the Cognac ages in oak casks.
Can I take the tour in English or Spanish?
Yes. Tours are offered in French, English and Spanish.
What are your opening hours?
We welcome you every day, 9 am to 12 noon and 1.30 pm to 6 pm. Guided tours take place by reservation only, according to the available time slots: these opening hours do not guarantee that a tour is available.