- Durata
- Half day, with estate visit and tasting
- Dimensione del gruppo
- 6–30 pers.
- Destinazioni
- Normandia
- Budget indicativo
- Da 80 € a persona
Normandy is the heartland of French cider and apple brandy. The Pays d'Auge, with its orchards, half-timbered farms and clay soils, is where calvados is distilled and aged under strict appellation rules. A visit gives a group a clear view of a craft that combines agriculture, distillation and patience.
Estates welcome groups with a guided walk through the orchards and cellars, an explanation of the pressing and the distillation, and a tasting of ciders, pommeau and calvados of different ages. The programme is adapted to the group's interests, from a short tasting to a more technical session on blending and ageing. The visit suits a group staying on the coast, and it is often combined with a Norman lunch of cream, apples and seafood.
Obiettivi
- Explain how cider and calvados are made, from orchard to glass
- Introduce the appellation rules of the Pays d'Auge
- Give participants a structured tasting of different ages and styles
- Pair a rural visit with a Norman lunch and a coastal programme
Svolgimento
- 1We confirm the group size, the estate and the tasting level, and check the opening times and the language of the tour.
- 2The group is welcomed at the estate, where the owner or a guide explains the orchards and the apple varieties.
- 3The visit continues to the cellars, with an explanation of pressing, distillation and ageing in oak.
- 4A tasting follows, covering ciders, pommeau and calvados of different ages, with notes on how each is made.
- 5A Norman lunch is served on request, followed by a transfer to the coast or the next point of the programme.
Da sapere
- Estates set their own visiting hours and may close for part of the year. Spring and autumn are good times to see the orchards.
- Calvados is protected by appellation rules. The tasting is always supervised, and the group is asked to drink responsibly.
- Participants who drive must not drink. Transfers are arranged for the group where needed.
- Orchard visits involve walking on grass and gravel. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Budget indicativo
Indicative, from around €80 per person excluding VAT for a guided estate visit and tasting. Lunch, private transfers, workshops and premium aged calvados are quoted separately.
Domande frequenti
What is the difference between cider and calvados?
Cider is made by fermenting apple juice. Calvados is distilled from cider and aged, usually in oak, under appellation rules that govern the fruit, the method and the age.
Is the visit suitable for a formal group?
Yes. Many estates welcome executive groups, and the tasting can be seated, with a structured presentation and a formal lunch if required.
Can we combine the estate with a coastal programme?
Yes. The Pays d'Auge is close to Deauville and Honfleur, so the visit can be added to a coastal day or to a golf or dining programme.
