Cowbell

A new dry cider from Blyth, Ontario, made with 100% Ontario apples. A pronounced apple taste but quit off-dry, sweeter than I like. 6.5/10

French cider festival

Each year in early February is the "Les Mordus de la Pomme" apple festival. Located in Les Broussettes, 56140 Saint-Laurent/Oust, Brittany. See also the Facebook page for one of the organizer.

Brittany Cider

From the Brittany tourism site: "Where would Brittany be without the apple, its emblematic fruit? There are more than 600 varieties of apple in the region and some of them go back a long way. Breton farm cider is made using an ancient process and is the ultimate local drink."

Outstanding Breton Ciders
It’s the skill of the producers that make these ciders great, from the choice of apple varieties to the various stages of production. Like wine, cider also has its outstanding vintages.

Cidre de Cornouaille AOP
In 1996, Cornouaille Cider was the first product from Brittany to be granted an “Appellation d’Origine Protégée” (AOP). It comes from an area that covers 38 communities around Quimper, which meet certain criteria such as hours of sunshine, rainfall or altitude. The area draws on the traditional skills of around 28 producers. Cornouaille is a semi-dry cider made from 100% pure juice and has a golden colour, very fine bubbles and a slight hint of bitterness.

Royal Guillevic, France’s only Red Label Cider
At the gateway to the Rhuys Peninsula, the Cidrerie Nicol, founded in 1928, makes a cider that graces some of the most prestigious tables. Because of its delicate flavour, gourmets consider it to be the “Breton champagne”. It is made from a single apple variety, the Guillevic.

Cuvée Prestige Carpe Diem: a cider for the Elysée Palace
Since 1997, the Cidrerie du Domaine de Kervéguen has supplied its Prestige Carpe Diem cider to the Elysée Palace. Made from late-season apples, this cider is produced in the same way as late-season wines or wines made from dried grapes. An outstanding, traditional cider, it is made using organic techniques and matured in oak barrels.

Other Cideries to Visit

Brest Terres Océanes

• Cidrerie de Rozavern, Crozon – Organic ciders 
• Ferme de Kermarzin – Maison du cidre, Argol – Organic ciders  

Cap Fréhel – Saint-Malo – Mont Saint-Michel Bay

• Cidrerie Sorre, Plerguer – Ciders with IGP Bretagne certification 
• Cidrerie Prié – Musée du cidre, Pleudihen-sur-Rance – Organic ciders

Pink Granite Coast – Morlaix Bay

• Cidrerie du Léguer, Lannion – Organic cider, free tours and tastings 
• Cidrerie de Cozmezou, Plouégat-Guerrand – Craft ciders and apple juices 

Quimper Cornouaille

• Cidrerie Manoir de Kinkiz, Quimper – Craft cider with AOP Cornouaille certification 
• Cidrerie de Menez Brug, Fouesnant – Tradition du cidre Fouesnantais et jus de pomme 
• Cidrerie Melenig, Elliant – Organic craft cider with AOP Cornouaille certification 
• Cidrerie Paul Coic, Plonéis – 4 medals at the Concours Général Agricole 2018 
• Cidrerie Kerné, Pouldreuzic – Gold medals for sweet and dry ciders at the Concours Général Agricole 2018

Saint-Brieuc Bay – Paimpol- Les Caps 

• Cidrerie de la Baie, Plangunoual – Organic cultivation since 2000 

Southern Brittany – Morbihan Gulf 

• Distillerie du Gorvello, Sulniac – Organic production, award at the Concours Général Agricole 2018

Where can I try cider? 

The Comptoir Breizh Café in Saint-Malo
The Comptoir Breizh Café in Saint-Malo is a crêperie and cider bar with more than 60 recommendations, not just from Brittany but from all over the world. Carine, the cider waitress, can also suggest some original combinations of dishes and ciders.

Le Sistrot in Quimper
Le Sistrot is a must for all cider lovers when in Quimper. There are many different vintages to try including cidre de glace (ice cider) and cidre de feu (fire cider) from Québec, where the bar’s founders spent a few years.

Normandy Cider Route

Normandy is the heart of French cider. There are hundreds of cider producers throughout Normandy and Brittany. Here is one suggested cider route east of Caen. 

From the cider route website: "To the east of Caen, the Cider Route is a 25 mile signposted trail that criss-crosses the Pays d’Auge down picturesque country lanes connecting the villages of Beuvron-en-Auge (one of the ‘most beautiful villages in France’), Cambremer, Bonnebosq and Beaufour-Druval. Along the way, you have the choice of stopping off at over twenty cider farms!"

1. La ferme du Bout du chemin 2. Jean-Louis Caignon 3. Ferme de la vallée au tanneur 4. Genevieve Denis 5. Ferme cidricole Desvoye 6. Domaine Dupont 7. Marie-Louise Foucher 8. Manoir de Montreuil 9. Cave du Manoir de Grandouet

10. Francois Helie 11. Calvados Pierre Huet 12. Aurélien Lepage 13. Antoine Marois 14. Famille Montais 15. Distillerie des Ambres 16. Thierry Rungette 17. Alain Sauvage 18. Bruno Vilain

Cider Festivals 2022

East Coast Cider Festival, Halifax NS
May 28, 2022 

Location: Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel, 1919 Upper Water St, Halifax, NS B3J 3J5 (map)

Will feature 26 cidermakers from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and P.E.I.

 

Ludlow Spring Festival
May 14-15, 2022

Location: Ludlow Castle, Shropshire, SY8 1AY (map)

Live music, classic cars, talks n' tipples – what more could you want? All of it takes place in the stunning setting of Ludlow Castle at the Ludlow Spring Festival. We like this one because there's a big emphasis on cider. All in all, there will be over 200 beers and ciders available from brewers based locally and throughout the UK.

 

Royal Bath & West Show
June 2-4, 2022

Location: The Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6QN (map)

This event is a little different, The Royal Bath and West Show is a renowned agricultural event. It also plays host to the British Cider Championships. In fact, The Royal Bath & West Society set up the competition in 1895. It is thought that theirs is the oldest cider competition in the world. This year, a selection of ciders will be available each day to show-goers. Another interesting element of the show are the tutor-led cider tasting sessions.

 

Welsh Perry & Cider Festival
June 2-5, 2022

Location: Caldicot Castle and Country Park, Church Road, Caldicot, Monmouthshire, NP26 4HU (map)

 

Brogdale Cider Trail
August 26-27, 2023

Location: Brogdale Farm, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ (map)

Taste over 40 locally produced ciders. A free shuttle bus will be running from Faversham mainline train station to Brogdale.

UK Cider Festivals     UK Cider Festival Guide

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Chalkdown Cider

An English cider producer has made an exceptional sparkling cider made using the champagne method. Chalkdown Cider has won numerous awards for this unique cider. I have yet to try it.