Golf medal for our AOC Cotentin dry cider !

AOC Cotentin cider annual competition

On Monday 13 March 2017 took place in Paris the 10th edition of the AOC Cotentin Cider Competition.

The competition AOC Cotentin cider

For the 2^nd consecutive year, the producers of the newly created Controlled Designation of Origin (october 2016) went to meet the professionals (journalists, cellarmen, wine waiters) of wine and gastronomy.

This competition 2017 was symbolic twice : in addition to reach the milestone of the decade, this 10th edition is the first with the Controlled Designation of Origin. It was organised in Paris and more exactly at the Pomze, a restaurant dedicated to the cider and apple’s universe.

On this occasion, the AOC Cotentin farm dry cider  vintage 2015 derived from our family cider-making farm « Les Vergers de la Passion » received a gold medal in the category « Dry Cider ».

The AOC Cotentin cider

The project was originally initiated in 1999 by a collective of producers. It was approved in october 2016 by the Comittee of the National Institute for Origin Designation (INAO) with the rankings of their production in AOC (Controlled Designation of Origin).

The AOC Cotentin Cider relies on methods of traditional production, meaning without pasteurisation and with a natural foam (non gasified). It is thought to take into account the territorial and environmental issues and intends to be a lever of tourist promotion for Manche department and its cider works. The production revolves around 100 000 to 150 000 units, with a potential of 300 000 bottles from now to 3 to 4 years.

The producers – who also transform – answer to the accurate specifications of the Cotentin AOC. Below are some extracts : apples of local varieties (mostly bitter and bittersweet), establishment of the orchards in a wooded countryside, fermentation and natural foam in bottle.

For your information, 95% of the commercialised ciders in France are gasified, whether industrial, traditional or agricultural.

The AOC Cotentin Cider is characterised by a yellow straw-colour to orangey colour and offers to the nose some subtles flavoured, where can be found butter and dried herbs scents. It gives off a discrete acidity that ensures a nice equality in mouth and also the expression of some bitterness with a great coolness.