097: Cider Chat Travels in Europe | Normandy

In this chat I take you along on my travels a.k.a reconnaissance for a future travel tourist trips to Normandy. This main chat begins at 12:30 minutes

Before I headed to France I first made a stop in the Netherlands, specifically Amsterdam and the well love park called Vondelpark.

Cider Travel Tip: Nearby Amsterdam Centraal Train station is a great bike rental shop called Star Bikes.

While on the bike I found my first Medlar tree laden with fruit.

The next day I flew to Paris, rented a car, and drove out to Normandy in search of the perfect cider loop to bring a group of cider tourists.

I headed to Honfleur and met with Agathe Letelliet of episode 49.

I then head north to see both Etretrat and Vincent who is the farmer and maker at Ecomusee de la Pomme et du Cidre

The next day it was onto meet Jerome Dupont of the Domaine Dupont

The area surrounding Domaine Dupont is dotted with cideries everywhere. You can spend hours roaming around in search of the perfect glass or find yourself wanting for a rest at a cafe to enjoy the French country air. I however was on the quest for cider or as it is written in French cidre (sedar).

I made one more stop to meet with Stéphane et Lucile Grandval – Manoir de Grandouet before heading onto to the Domfront region of Normandy where pears are celebrated like no where else in the world.

Thursday was spent meeting with Phillipe who along with his wife open their farm to a festival of art called The Appel au Bois Normand - this is not an apple fest, but it sure is one heck of a festival.

Having stayed with my new friend Michel Dargent who owns the Airbnb that I stayed in while touring the Domfront region of Normandy, I learned of a local cidermaker whose Poire knock my socks off! I will speak about Roland as I roll out these episodes from France.

My last night in Normandy was spent having dinner with Eric Bordelet. We discussed the world affairs of cider as we drank a bottle of 2008 and 2014 Argellete, along with a bottle of red wine. To contrast the wine with the cider helped me understand and appreciate what Eric offers as a maker. His ciders are about terroir and that means the earth. When he walks in his orchards he looks to the ground and picks up the local stone - You can taste the earth in his cider. Yes they are dry, but they also yield the taste of stone or minerality that you feel on your teeth and in your mouth....imagine being in a rock quarry and having the stone dust coat your mouth. Bordelet ciders are dry and wet at the same time and of course delicious.

Next year in 2018, I will be offering to two trip to 20 people to come with me to the UK and then on to Normandy. Many of the people mentioned in this chat will be part of the Normandy tour, including Eric who will provide a seminar on how to taste cider.

Patrons of Cider Chat will be the first ones to be offered to come on the trip. If you would like to become a patron and help support this chat go to this link.

Next I will put out a mailing on the eCiderNews - you can subscribe via this link.

Suffice to say, it was a memorable experience in Normandy and the Netherlands - and I can't wait to return. Perhaps with you?

Mentions in this chat

• What's up with CiderDays this year?
• The origins of the term "Hard Cider" at 6:43 minutes
  • Winemakers Recipe Book, Raymond

Ask for the following 9 #ciderGoingUP Campaign sponsors - By supporting these cider makers, you in turn help Cider Chat

1. Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14
2. Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35
   
3. Oliver's Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29
4. Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60
5. The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California
6. Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56
7. Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75.
8. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg.
9. Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia

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