Cidriculteurs Manche

Théo Capelle tells the story of cider, calvados, apples, and its fabulous nectars, from a family production. The Théo Capelle cider-distillery consists of 10 hectares of orchards, 6,500 apple trees, fifteen varieties, a press and a shop. The orchard, distillery and shop can be visited all year round. You can stroll through the apple tree alleys, listen with delight to the sweet vocabulary of apple work, and discover the still where the AOC Calvados and the AOC Normandy pommeau are distilled. Of course, you can taste some of the clever potions!

You can't visit the cider factory's production facilities, but you'll be warmly welcomed here. Francis Dupont's Cidrerie de la Brique has come a long way since it was founded in 1953. The nectars are made from apples (and pears) harvested in Cotentin orchards planted with traditional, high-stemmed apple trees and more recent, low-stemmed apple trees of carefully selected varieties. In addition to cider, you'll find pommeau, poiré, organic apple juice... and a 33 cl format called La Brick.

Taken over by the young Louis Dethezy some time ago, the venerable Ferme de la Butte, whose cider products have long been a reference, remains among the best establishments in the business. Today, the farm is still the place of production, and it has a nice little cider museum. There is also a point of sale at the nearby Château de Chanteloup, as well as at the Crécey farm market in Saint-Pair-sur-Mer in the summer.

A well-known local cider maker with no shortage of products and certifications attesting to the excellence of its production. Masterfully run by Vincent Pichon, Le Brécéen cider house is located in the heart of the Normandy bocage. The premises, which have been awarded the "haute valeur environnementale" (high environmental value) certification, allow you to discover marvellous ciders, as well as calvados and many other products: juices, compotes and jellies. The boutique is open Tuesday to Thursday mornings, and all day Friday and Saturday!

The Hérout family's property is composed of orchards of selected cider apples certified Organic Agriculture. It is in the respect of traditional cultures, with 100% organic productions, that a unique cider is produced here, benefiting from the PDO Cidre Cotentin, and developed according to several exceptional vintages. That's not all, here we also produce pommeau and calvados, also among the best in the whole region, as well as fruit juice and vinegar. The place is well worth a visit.

If you're familiar with the Maison des Produits Régionaux, also known as Vergers de la Passion, located in Martinvast, then you're going to love the cider house! Located in Rauville-la-Bigot, some ten kilometers from the store (you'll have to head for Bricquebec), it can be visited from April to September and offers visitors the chance to discover how cider and vinegar are made. The tour ends with a tasting session.

For no less than four generations, the Lefranc family has been distilling cider at La Lucerne d'Outremer, of course, but also wonderful calvados. The press used, which has also been in the family for a long time, has enabled the family to obtain excellent results. Proof of this is the fact that the productions have been widely awarded. Unquestionably one of the best houses in the field. So don't hesitate to keep your eyes open when buying cider: Lefranc cider is a guarantee of quality.

Damien Lemasson offers a cider that can be described as "grand cru", very well-known, as shown by his gold medals and his "vintage" ciders. The shop also offers calvados AOC, apple juice (in bottles and in Bibs), pommeau, "44", a sweet, acidulous and tonic liqueur, a mixture of calvados, orange and coffee, and "P'tit zef", a planter's aperitif, calvados punch and orange juice, all made in-house. In summer, the original guided tour of the orchard is an opportunity to taste a dozen different products, all made on-site.

A story of passion: that's the story of Maxime Haupais, who took over the family dairy and transformed it into a cider farm whose products are becoming increasingly well-known in the area. In the pretty little boutique created here, you'll find award-winning products of excellence: brut, extra brut, doux and demi-sec ciders, as well as a few spirits. Open Wednesday afternoons and Friday afternoons, you're sure to come and stock up.

This is a small producer like one likes to find at random our escapes, on the roads and at the time of the villages. Clément Joseph is one of them. He began to market his cider in 1973 - 40 years already - and in spite of the years that pass, his method remains unchanged. His cider is high in barrels from the apple varieties selected for three generations themselves, from certified high-stalk apple trees in organic farming. Try to put your nose in this production (Certified Quality France - First prize of the Brotherhood of the Bocage of the Bocage normand) which remains very local and therefore quite confidential. It can therefore be found directly in the domain and, with some luck, on the local markets of Villedieu-les-Stoves, Into, Saint-Lô, among others.

The Vergers du Val de Sée are the pride of Vincent and Sandrine. You will be welcomed with open arms by the charming owner-harvesters of this domain whose 12 hectares of orchards benefit from a sunny climate particularly favourable to the quality of cider apples. Extra raw cider, raw cider, semi-dry cider and sweet cider, identifiable by the label "Le Brécéen", are known by connoisseurs from Nantes, Poitiers, and the Paris region.

Pierre Bourdon fell into the apples at the cradle! His grandfather and father already were traders of cider, delivering 1 500 litres barrels in all the coffees in the Villedieu-les-Poêles region. Peter could not escape the family virus. Today he proposes in his farm discovery of La Janière à La Colombe, four kilometres from the silent city, in the heart of his apple orchard, some wonders of his vintage: raw cider, soft, natural and filtrés cider. Régulièrement regularly awarded and graduates, among others, to the competition of the Golden Apple, organised each year in the nearby village of Gouvets which rewards the best cider in the region. A member of the association of "Apple Croqueurs", Pierre, with all his bonhommie, will be happy to make you discover the secrets of fruit around local varieties at the same time as he tells you the trees of the orchard. An introduction to the pomologie that will make you better appreciate the know-how of this exciting and passionate producer. You can naturally extend this moment around a glass of cider, pommel, old Calvados and other Agricultural products after being passed through the press, the cellar and before you install, why not, for picnic under apple trees or a meal in the room with wood fire. Nice no?

La Ferme de Jean-François Vaultier is a former serving of the Templar. Its history, linked to that of cider, makes this stage an exciting stop that the master of the places will be happy to tell you. Here everything is carried out in reasoned culture. The grass under high-stem apple trees is area by animals, under the gets apple trees. From apple to bottle, from apple to cider, the greatest respect and utmost care are brought to the environment and to what nature offers better. We already look forward to marrying the bubbles of this Cotentin cider, slightly amertumé when it is raw, with the flavours of the agneau lamb, another king of the peninsula of Bas-Norman. Here tradition fits into the press. He saw it passing tons and tons of apples that one! Precious press! As if the years had no grip on him, he has never been missing since 1942. Even today apples are assigned to him for five hours before they go into a tank. And you learn that Jean-François takes 1,7 ton of apples to get 1 000 litres of juice. Sweet cider, raw cider, extra-raw cider: the result of the three generations'know-how which carries the banner "Terroirs Land" is often rewarded with gold, silver or bronze, during the competitions: competition of the Saint John des Ciders or contest of the union of producers of cider in Cotentin. The panoply would not be complete if we did not mention cider vinegar, cider conflict, jellies and other delicacies. Needless to say, here too we fervently hope for the upcoming arrival of AOC Cider Cotentin today, recognizable by its motto «Pleasure by nature». A pleasure we share, naturally!

Located in the fields valognais, bordering the Val de Saire, the farm of Vastel began its cider-producing activity in 2007 from small and family farmhouse in sleep for several ten years. The sales on fairs and markets, in Amaps, local shops and some wine merchants enabled him to make known. In regional cider-producing competition, the ciders obtained a gold medal in 2009, silver and bronze in 2010. Today, the farm and its productions, certified Ecocert are labelled "bio-lifting consistency". It is an approach similar to that of the natural wines that is applied on the farm. Oenological fracture of followed adapted to this operation, a vintage underwent an accident and was lost. Christophe Bouvet has to call on the generosity and the solidarity of his pairs (friends, neighbours, family) to save his farm.
And if it is not for the time being (2014) is meant much cider to sell, the activity starts again. A small round by Ferme de Vastel is therefore essential. Christophe will tell you the adventures and mishaps a militant of the land around a glass of its production: raw cider harvest (2010), spice cider (flavoured with cinnamon, ginger), flower of elderberry or apple juice...

This family business passed from father to son fell into the bath from cidriculture, by passion. Its production boasts a very comprehensive range of soft pear and apple wines, reflection of the land of the normandy-maine Regional Nature Park and an incontestable and undeniable expertise. Thanks to the high stem orchards, Daniel Gérard them and his work items from a recognized quality some of which are protected designation of origin (AOC-AOP Domfrontais). The pear Domfront, in particular, cider-producing jewel of the region, the Calvados Domfrontais AOC, pommeau of Normandy AOC. The presentation of the ingredients are fresh and pleasant with wish of many temptations (we love the flasks and the mignonnettes of Calvados that make the happy among collectors and good nice gifts memory for family and friends). And even if it does not have the star here, sweet farm cider and semi-dry account of the ambassadors of the house. We also love the apple liqueur to the Calvados, pear the condiment, apple the condiment, pear and apple juice. Everything is delicious and natural here. Very beautiful and good house, probably.

A warm welcome and organic production are on the menu of this lovely farm. Here, the specialty is perry, but the cider is defended: visits and tastings are by appointment! You will leave with some good bottles and why not the recipe for nasturtium pesto... You can also find the products of the Motte farm on the summer market of Mortain. The farm is also a gîte, gives organic cooking classes and offers a stopover for hikers: a whole range of friendly services that make the place a favourite.

This initiative deserves a tip of the hat from the Petit Futé! Christophe and Lydie Bourdelles have made quite a change in their lives, moving to the Manche and launching their own cider production! The result is a delicious cider, available in brut, doux and demi-sec. Christophe and Lydie also offer other products, such as apple juice, which is also excellent. We highly recommend it!