A gastronomic experience in the heart of Cognac, co-created by Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud and three-Michelin-starred Chef Alexandre Mazzia.
Maison Martell’s Château de Chanteloup, the historic home of the Martell family, is officially opening to the public for the very first time with the launch of Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia in July 2024. Co-created by Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud and Chef Alexandre Mazzia, it is an exceptional, intimate dining experience – a sensory and emotional journey – celebrating cognac and gastronomy. The décor of the space was designed to reflect both the Château and the Cognac region.
An unforgettable, confidential experience
The Château de Chanteloup, once the Martell family home, has been a haven of serenity and refinement in the heart of the Borderies, the signature terroir of Martell since 1715. Transformed in the 1930s by Maurice Firino-Martell into a Deauville-style manor for the love of his wife Elisabeth, the Château de Chanteloup continues to reflect the generous spirit of the House with the debut of Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia. At the very heart of the Château, this singular dining concept features a single, modular table open to the kitchen. It seats only up to six, ensuring intimacy and attentiveness throughout the meal, and inviting interaction between guests and Alexandre Mazzia’s Executive chef.
Designed around cognac, the experience is a celebration of precious blends crafted specially by Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud from the House’s extensive reserve of eaux-de-vie – a remarkable heritage of 11,000 references – showcasing exceptional savoir-faire and excellence. The hallmarks of Chef Alexandre Mazzia’s cooking, like toasted, spicy, smoky, and chili flavours, are evident in the menu he has imagined for Signature Martell, carefully designed to reveal the richness of the cognacs’ nuances. Each sequence of the meal subtly reveals the aromatic specificities of the blends and of the terroir itself.
For the first time, Christophe Valtaud has selected rare vintages from the Martell reserves which are also on offer during the meal, à la carte, for guests who wish to personalise or further enhance their tasting experience.
With Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia, guests enjoy a profound journey through the craft and sensations of cognac. The experience begins at the bar of the Château de Chanteloup, where guests are welcomed with a signature cognac cocktail created by Christophe Valtaud and Martell Master Mixologist Rémy Savage. It concludes in the library, where guests can savour a final cognac and discover Maison Martell’s most exclusive editions, which are available for purchase at the Château.
Powered by audacious creativity
Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia is the culmination of a daring collaboration between Christophe Valtaud and Chef Alexandra Mazzia, achieved through a shared sense of audacity, generosity and savoir-faire. Through months of collaborative creativity, this unprecedented team has dreamed up an experience that is truly exquisite, with a unique menu designed to complement the blends elaborated by Christophe Valtaud, all in a space designed to enchant guests and reflect the terroir of Cognac in a perfect harmony.
For four years, Chef Mazzia is partnering with Maison Martell to define generous culinary-and-cognac experiences, including Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia and events around the world. His unconventional journey has taken him from basketball to gastronomy, from the Republic of Congo to Marseille – and now as far as Cognac. Alexandre Mazzia and his Executive Chef at Château de Chanteloup, Michele Donvito, strive to work with respect for nature, focussed on short supply chains and sourcing high-quality ingredients from a network of regional producers. Seafood, naturally abundant in the region and deeply connected to Alexandre Mazzia’s personal history, is prominently featured on the Signature Martell menu. As the sous-chef at Mazzia’s three-starred restaurant in Marseille, Donvito mastered Mazzia’s philosophy and will faithfully orchestrate his vision in Cognac.
Signature Martell breaks the boundaries between kitchen and table to delight guests and heighten their tasting experience. The space is a fusion of contemporary design and the historical and architectural elements of the château, its decorative details and carefully chosen materials reflecting the Château’s history as well as the surrounding terroir. The House commissioned Spanish designer and creative director Jorge Penadés to create the furniture and the cognathèque which dramatizes the presentation of the precious blends created for this exclusive experience. He designed a scenography that gradually reveals the space, transforming before the eyes of the guests as they enter.
Tailored explorations of Maison Martell
Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia is the most exciting new addition to Martell cognac-oriented experiences, offering three distinct journeys. The first option, Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia iscentred around a lunch or dinner. The second option, Au Coeur de Martell, invites guests to the very heart of Maison Martell, including the Signature experience as well as a private visit and tasting in the historic cellar. The final option, Grand Voyage Martell, adds a private blending session to the already full programme featuring the Signature cognac-and-cuisine pairing as well as the cellar visit and tasting.
In addition to Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia, Maison Martell offers an array of propositions for cognac connoisseurs and cultural omnivores alike, including guided visits of its historic estate and recently refurbished three-hundred-year-old cellar. Guests may also enjoy a truly “elevated” moment at Indigo by Martell, the House’s bar and rooftop offering an exceptional panoramic view over the city of Cognac.
About Signature Martell par Alexandre Mazzia at the Château de Chanteloup:
- Address: 64, Avenue de Cognac, 16370 Cherves Richemont
- Opening: July 25th, 2024
- Details:
- Open Thursday and Friday dinner, and Saturday lunch and dinner
- Menu with cognac pairings: €500 per person. Wines and champagnes may also be proposed under request.
- Privatisation of the full table available upon request for up to 6 guests for €3000.
- By reservation only: https://mar.tl/chanteloup
