057: Eric Bordelet | Normandy, France Part 1

057: Eric Bordelet | Normandy, France Part 1

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist November 30, 2016 Duration: 47:03

Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.

Eric Bordelet is both the maker and the brand at Chateau de Hauteville in the southern edge of Normandy in the village of Châtaigne. The fact that he exports 80% of his ciders to markets around the world at a premium price worthy of a fine wine is just one of the reasons that the brand Eric Bordelet is so highly sought after by both wine and cider enthusiasts.

This episode is Part 1 of a two-part chat. Part 2 will follow as episode 058.

During this chat The Nose and I are having lunch with Eric at the Hôtel Gayot in the lovely and lively village Bagnoles de l'Orne. You will find Eric's cider on tap at this hotels restaurant - though it might not say anything other than "cider" it is indeed Bordelet!  There is also a shop where you can buy many of Eric's cider's and poires (perry) and calvados.

Listen to the background sounds of lunch time at as we discuss his path towards cider, beginning when he worked as a waiter, then a sommelier. Part of Eric's fame is that in Paris at the time his wine list was second to none...and for France not to mention Paris that is quite a feat.

With his parents retirement and the realization that one could not age into the role of a sommelier he decided to head back to the family farm and make cider.

Eric discusses how his interest in food and working with chefs, helped to hone his cider skills. And certainly the impact of his late friend and mentor Didier Daganeau.

In Part 2 we tour the rebuilding of the Chateau de Hauteville and the chay (the common phrase in this region for cidery). 

Contact Eric Bordelet

Eric Bordelet
Chateau de Hauteville
53250 Charchigné - France
 
Website: http://www.ericbordelet.com/
Tel : 0243039572
Fax: 0243000936email : eric@ericbordelet.com
 
 
049: Agathe Letelier : Manoir d'Apreval, France

050: Didier Bedu |President I.D.A.C, France

Go to this page to see the ciderchat.com show notes page with photos

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There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
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