123: The Perry Farmer in Loré, France

123: The Perry Farmer in Loré, France

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist April 11, 2018 Duration: 56:41

Poiré Fermier is French for Perry Farmer, which is only part of the story for the featured guest in this episode 123. Cidermaker Philippe and wife Marie-Claire Derouault also manage a herd of dairy cows who graze and laze among orchards of apples and pears on their 120 hectares (297 acres) situated in Loré, France.

There are 14 Poiré producers in this region of southern Normandy and the Perry they make is known as Poiré Domfront.

Here Calvados is made with a base of Poiré rather than cider. The standard is to have up to 70% Poiré in this region's Calvados which has the following appellations

  • an AOC or Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (since 2002),
  • an AOP(*) or Appellation d'Origine Protégée, is equivalent to the AOC in Europe (since 2006).

Pears used in this region Normandy

  • Plant de Blanc - up to 40% of the juice for Poiré must come from this pear.
  • Rouge Vigné
  • Gros Blot
  • Plant Roux
  • De Cloche
  • Gaubert

Here the pear trees are hundreds of years old. Notably, Pear trees were already growing in Normandy in the 11th century, before the cider apples arrived via Northern Spain.

Come explore this region of France, meet the maker and drink Poiré and Cidre with Cider Chat Host Ria Windcaller via the Totally Cider Tour to Normandy September 23-29, 2018.

Philippe and Marie-Claire's farm "Earl du Bois" is on the tour!

Mentions in this chat

Cider Festivals

Cider Competitions

Ask for the following ciders - By supporting these cidermakers, 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
  10. Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103
  11. Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK
  12. Process and Analytical NMR Services - John Edwards provides analytics of cider - stay tuned for his Chemical Fingerprints workshop coming up on Cider Chat

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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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

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