Calvados

Question 1

Definition & Origin

Answer 1

• apple Brandy produced in Normandy region of France
• named after the Spanish Ship El Calvador
• basically distilled cider

Question 2

Delimited Area of Production

Answer 2

1. AOC “Calvados”
2. AOC “Du Pays d’Auge” - highly sought after
3. AOC “Domfrontais”

They each produce a distinctive type of Calvados

Question 3

AOC Calvados

Answer 3

74% of total production
Single distillation (usually) in column still

Question 4

AOC Calvados Du Pays D’ Auge

Answer 4

• Fermented for a minimum of six weeks
• Double distillation in alembic Charentais
• Aged minimum of 2 years in oak casks previously filled with fortified wines
• about 25% of production

Question 5

AIC Calvados Domfrontais

Answer 5

• town of Domfront
• minimum of 30% cider in the blend
• column distillation
• apples and pears must come from that region

Question 6

Raw Materials

Answer 6

Apples:

1. Sweet
2. Bitter
3. Bitter-Sweet
4. Tart

Usually a blend is made

Question 7

Crushing

Answer 7

Transformed into a pulp known as pomace then pressed only once

Question 8

Fermentation

Answer 8

Natural Fermentation process that is carried out slowly:
Calvados- one month
Pays d’Auge- six weeks
Domfrontais- eight weeks

Question 9

Distillation

Answer 9

Pot Still or Reflux Still- copper, double distillation, required for Pays D’ Auge

Reflux Column Still- for Domfrontais, also used in AOC Calvados

Question 10

Reflux Column Still

Answer 10

Made of three elements:
The heater chamber
Stripping column made of 15 or 16 bubble up plates
Condensation column made up of 8 enrichment plates

Question 11

Blending

Answer 11

Calls for a skill in striking a balance between woodiness and fruitiness

Question 12

Maturation

Answer 12

Some producers place young calvados in new 250 to 600 liter barrels of wood highly charged in tannins
Some producers out calvados directly in used 1,000 to 10,000 liter vats providing storage and aging

Question 13

Label

Answer 13

1. Blends- only age of youngest

2. Vintages- only from a single year

Question 14

Vintages

Answer 14

Fine, VS- at least 2 years in wood
Vieux- at least three years in wood
V.O., VSOP- at least 4 years in wood
Goes d’ Age, XO, Napoleon- 6 years in wood