Christian Drouin
Christian Drouin is a family business. In 2004, Guillaume Drouin, the third generation took up the relay. He trained as an agricultural engineer and winemaker. After that, he devoted his first five years in the company to developing exports before taking over production management and then general management of the business in 2013. Today the blends are still created jointly by Guillaume and his father, who also share responsibility for the export markets.
From a production perspective, there are a number of well established methods and the harvesting of apples to produce cider and calvados comes from two family orchards standing between Gonneville-sur Honfleur and Coudrav-Rabut. Some thirty apple varieties ranging from bitter sharps (20%) through bittersweets (50%) to sweets (20%) and sharps (10%) are planted there. The orchards are certified organic and cows graze the orchards, contributing to the production by fertilising the soil and eating the windfall apples that have fallen during the growing season.
Apples are harvested from the ground when fully ripe, between September and November, and then pressed immediately.
In addition to the family orchards, apples are also acquired from neighbouring farms in Gonnevillesur-Honfleur where soil conditions and growing methods are identical.
The cider is fermented from the fresh pressed juice. The naturally occurring wild yeasts on the fruit ferment the sugars within the juice using the traditional French keeving method.
Hear from the producer directly in the video below :
Christian Drouin cider is made from around thirty varieties of cider apples, the majority of which are bitter apples (70%) rich in tannins which give it its body, 20% sweet apples which bring their fruity aromas and 10% acidic to provide a balanced mouthfeel.
The apples when ripe are picked, crushed, and then pressed to extract the juice. Thanks to temperature control, fermentation remains slow. The Brut cider is then bottled at 4.5%. A second fermentation consuming the residual sugars then starts in the bottle, giving the cider its sparkling appearance.
It is best consumed chilled, ideally in a wine glass.
Christian Drouin Brut Cider is a light, fresh and fruity cider with good structure. It is dry with good balance and great length. There are yellow fruit flavours and apple like fresh fruits. This brut has a delicate mouthfeel with a gentle effervescence.
Perfect to enjoy with food or as an aperitif.
It is best consumed chilled, ideally in a wine glass.
MADE IN FRANCE
Christian Drouin Demi-Sec Cider is made using the same method as its sister brut cider but with slightly more of the original apple juice sugar retained (hence the lower ABV). It has a yummy caramel characteristic with a generous, viscous mouthfeel and a young fruity kick to it.
Perfect to enjoy with a dessert.
It is best consumed chilled, ideally in a wine glass.
MADE IN FRANCE
