Chasselas: Cognac country house

Chasselas description

Historic 19C stone built vinegrowers house with walled garden

Set in a tiny hamlet surrounded by the Cognac vineyards

Total privacy and tranquility

We have named our house 'Chasselas' from the grape type that grows across the front of the property and that provides us with a delicious sweet white table grape in September. The property dates from around 1850 when it was built as two houses to accommodate vineyard workers and their families who would have been employed by the local Cognac producers; hence the two front doors! The facade, and all the windows, are south facing so that even in the winter the house has plenty of light coming in.
Downstairs are two large rooms, one is the kitchen/dining room (25m2) with a shower/utility room (6.4m2) with separate WC off. A door leads from the kitchen into the lounge , both rooms look out onto the garden. At one end of the kitchen are the usual worktops, a double sink unit and floor and wall cupboards. The longest wall is of exposed stone .
The spacious lounge (35m2) has a high ceiling with exposed beams. Original features include the large stone fireplace, with wood burning stove, and wooden staircase leading up to an upstairs landing. Both downstairs rooms have white tiling that keeps them feeling cool even in in the hottest weather.The lounge has its own external door leading to the garden.
Upstairs, off a landing that runs the length of the house, are 3 double bedrooms (18m2, 12m2, and 14m2) and a bathroom (7m2) all having South facing views over the garden. The bedrooms have double glazing so that even the occasional tractor that passes the house in the mornings is difficult to hear. The third bedroom has a built in wardrobe. The bathroom contains a handbasin unit, shower cubicle and WC.
Chasselas has a walled garden (162m2). It is partially gravelled to enable cars to be parked off the road, access is through a pair of metal gates. Facing the house, on the other side of the garden is a stone barn (32m2) that doubles as a garage and boathouse. The barn has a mezzanine floor which is used as a storage space. The garden has a small grassed area and cherry, fig, and apple trees. Also in the garden is a working well that has a lockable cover.
Our Cognac country house is situated in a tiny, tranquil hamlet, surrounded by vineyards, only a 15 minute drive to the historic town of Cognac and the beautiful River Charente. The Atlantic beaches are just over an hour's drive.