Every year at Cognac Show, we are delighted by the joy that Pineau des Charentes offers, and this masterclass is a chance to dive into the process behind it with the people who make it.

A delightful aperitif, Pineau des Charentes is made by adding cognac – distilled eaux-de-vie – to the fresh juice of crushed grapes. In its native region, and across France, Pineau is drunk without any ceremony. Chilled down and taken as an aperitif, this is the sort of thing you enjoy in the moment when afternoon slips into evening. But the options for food pairing are myriad, and it is fast becoming the bartender’s secret ingredient.