Calvados

Question 1

What is Calvados?

Answer 1

While not technically classified as brandy, a range of eaux de vie is produced from a wide assortment of fruit other than grapes. Calvados, an eau de vie distilled from apple and pear cider and produced in the Normandy region of northern France.

Question 2

Name the 3 appellations of Calvados.

Answer 2

Three delimited appellations: Calvados AOC,
Calvados Domfrontais AOC,
and Calvados Pays d’Auge AOC

Question 3

How is Calvados distilled and aged?

Answer 3

Calvados is traditionally distilled twice in a copper pot still and aged for a minimum of two years in oak casks.

Question 4

Describe the Calvados Pays d’Auge region?

Answer 4

Calvados Pays d’Auge is the premier region of production and limits pear cider (perry) to a maximum 30%

Question 5

Describe the Calvados Domfrontais region?

Answer 5

Calvados Domfrontais, the most recent appellation, requires a minimum 30% perry and a minimum three years of aging in cask. Calvados Domfrontais is always produced by continuous distillation.

Question 6

Fine / Trois Étoiles / Trois Pommes / VS refer to what age of the Calvados?

Answer 6

Fine / Trois Étoiles / Trois Pommes / VS: min. 2 years old

Question 7

Vieux / Réserve refer to what age of the Calvados?

Answer 7

Vieux / Réserve: min. 3 years old

Question 8

VO / VSOP / Vieille Réserve refer to what age of the Calvados?

Answer 8

VO / VSOP / Vieille Réserve: min. 4 years old