Details: A festival to celebrate the small cognac-producers of the region - about 40 open their doors to the public between November to March so you can meet them via  avraiety of events, from taking breakfast with a producer and their family to a tour through the vines in a jeep. The visits are broken down into three types – those that are more social (such as the breakfast), exploratory (hot air ballooning above the vines) and technical (a tour of a distillery) so you can choose what appeals to you. To find out exactly what’s on offer, pick up a copy of the Distilleries en Fête programme found in the region’s tourist offices or take a look at the website www.cognacetapes.com. In it are marked those producers who speak English – ask for an English version when you reserve your visit.