AOC Ciders

The molly-coddled apple

Coming from orchards of standard trees and cordons identified by the INAO and located in the "Pays d’Auge" appellation area (part of the Calvados département but which also takes in a few adjoining communes in the Orne and Eure), our apple trees are planted in the shallow soil of argilo-calcareous slopes and enjoy a temperate oceanic type of climate.

The cider apple is very different from the eating apple, small in size and characterized by its rich tannins.
Categorized into four families, sweet, bitter-sweet, sharp and sour, just 50 varieties were selected from the 750 still extant in the Pays d’Auge.
Thus, 70% of the apples blended in order to make Pays d’Auge AOC cider belong to the bitter and bitter-sweet categories.

The largest in quantity, the bitter-sweet apples (Bedan, Bisquet, Noël des Champs…) are balanced in sugars, acidity, bitterness and are often fragrant.
The bitter varieties (Domaine, Fréquin Rouge…) being rich in tannin, give the cider its body and intense colour.
The sweet apples (Germaine, Rouge Duret…), with their sweeter fragrance help to give Pays d’Auge cider its roundness while the sour varieties (Rambault, René Martin…) bring freshness.

The subtle blend of these different varieties gives Pays d’Auge cider the balance and outstanding aromatic richness that ensure its distinctive taste.