Wednesday, 9 November 2011

Wordy Wednesday: Apples, Cider & Calvados


#1 here. As you know, I have been spending the last several days accompanying a group of American apple/cider producers from the Hudson Valley (NY State) around the Perche. It has been a really interesting experience as I have visited orchards, cider works and the caves where the best (25-year old) Calvados is aged. I thought that today, I would share a few of those photos with you.

A 15th century manor house behind apple orchards:


Apples on the ground, ready to be gathered:


Mountains of apples await washing and processing at the industrial cider works:


The contrast between the stainless steel cider vats that hold up to 50,000l litres each...


and the old oak barrels in the aging cellar for Calvados:


The Calvados is aged in these barrels for 25 years before being bottled and marketed.

And this is Fernand, who has been the master "ager" here for many years. He was on the front cover of Food Arts magazine in the October 2007 issue!



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23 comments:

  1. Yas9 November 2011 at 14:42

    Yummy!! Look at all those apples!
    Reminds mommy of the time she was in Japan
    during autumn, visiting the apple orchid there!
    Ah..memories!! ;))

    Cheers
    Maxx

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  2. Marlene9 November 2011 at 14:52

    I always love your misty otis. So dreamy! Al that cider too. Yum!

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  3. Marlene9 November 2011 at 14:53

    Photos not otis...

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  4. TabbyNormal9 November 2011 at 15:04

    Very nice! Our Mum wishes she could try some of that cider. Perhaps she could find some of that Hudson Valley cider since we live not too far from there.

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  5. Random Felines9 November 2011 at 15:14

    yummy - mom has never had calvados but says she might have to sometime....

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  6. Hannah and Lucy9 November 2011 at 15:39

    We bet that was a very interesting visit - we hope you had plenty of samples!!
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

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  7. Cat9 November 2011 at 16:09

    Great pictures...I love that house!!!

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  8. Gemini and Ichiro9 November 2011 at 17:34

    Oh look at how lovely. I'd love a home like that.

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  9. Daisy9 November 2011 at 18:31

    That was fascinating! I wish I could peek inside that old manor house.

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  10. SuziQCat9 November 2011 at 18:55

    What a beautiful place! We love apples and apple cider..yummy!

    PS - I amgoing to Japan next month. Do you know of any good places to buy fun cat toys? You can email me at scanipe1 at nc dot rr dot com

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  11. Catio Tales9 November 2011 at 18:58

    Never again will Äiti think she has 'a lot' of apples.

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  12. Milo and Alfie Marshall9 November 2011 at 19:09

    We wish you had a scratch-and-sniff-blog ~ 'cos mom said those apples will smell delicious.

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  13. Sparkle9 November 2011 at 19:59

    My human had no idea that authentic cider was aged that long!

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  14. Mr Puddy9 November 2011 at 20:49

    Woaw !!! A moutain of apple !!!
    Interesting post : )

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  15. Asta10 November 2011 at 00:31

    Yummmyummm, apples, and cidew and misty bootiful manow houses and calvados..sounds pawfect
    Mommi is salivating..I just want the apples
    smoochie kisses
    ASTA

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  16. Tamago10 November 2011 at 01:07

    Wow, that's a lot of apples!! It must smell very sweet there :-) I love apple ciders - I wish I were there!

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  17. Admiral Hestorb10 November 2011 at 01:27

    Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed this glimpse into life where you are. Very much enjoyed it.

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  18. Two French Bulldogs10 November 2011 at 01:59

    Oh my goodness, what a terrific assignment you have there
    Benny & Lily

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  19. The Island Cats10 November 2011 at 04:15

    How interesting!! Thanks for sharing those great photos!!

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  20. Oui Oui10 November 2011 at 05:26

    How lucky you are to live in such a beautiful place! The mom has been thinking about making apple pie, and after seeing all those apples, she's going to have to do it soon.

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  21. Teddy Westlife10 November 2011 at 10:44

    I think those apples look like great fun.

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  22. Pippa10 November 2011 at 13:49

    Do not mention cider. Misery has decided after a zillion years that she quite likes it again. She is even going to write about it!!

    Pippa

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  23. Cat with a Garden10 November 2011 at 15:15

    Strangely, mom is uuuhing and ahhhing at these pictures. She says she'd have loved to hear and see this stuff too. Humans are strange!
    Purrs, Siena & Chilli

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