Lemasson Cider - Tancrède Lemasson

In 1999, I took over the family business and the legacy of several generations. Passionate about orchards and our Norman bocage heritage, I wanted to modernize the offering of natural ciders by improving the quality of production while preserving the soul of this know-how passed down through generations; this in order to safeguard our orchards and our varieties.

In 2004, I established the cider house in Cametours, between Coutances and Saint-Lô, in the Cotentin PDO. Our estate, certified organic since 1988, covers 20 hectares: 4 hectares of high-stem orchards, 9.5 hectares of low-stem orchards, and 7 hectares of meadows. Our sheep, our primary crop helpers, graze across the entire property. We preserve 37 apple varieties. Some of these, endemic to the region, have almost disappeared with the decline of other orchards.

I harvest the apples from the ground at their peak ripeness. After natural clarification, my ciders ferment spontaneously with their native yeasts. My job is to control these fermentations to retain residual sugar and achieve natural carbonation in the bottle, using the traditional method.

Today, our range of ciders, apple juices, Pommeau de Normandie, Calvados de Normandie, and other aperitifs and digestifs reflects what has always driven us: the balance between heritage, preservation, and respect for the orchard. Each vintage tells the story of our year and our terroir. Our ciders complement any dish, and any excuse is a good one to open a bottle.