WINNER OF THE GUILD OF FOOD WRITERS AWARD 2023: DRINKS CATEGORY
Longlisted for the André Simon Award for Drink Books for 2022
Real cider, craft cider, farm cider, artisan cider: Whatever you wish to call it, at its best, cider is made and should be enjoyed like a fine wine, with all of the sophistication but less of the pretentiousness. Just as there are many volumes devoted to the great wine regions of the world, we now need a ‘cider appreciation’ manual to fully understand and delve into the rich culture of cider and perry. Cider Planet is that book and Claude Jolicoeur is our expert guide.
In Cider Planet, Claude Jolicoeur – a cider expert, a passionate cider maker, and author of the internationally-acclaimed New Cider Maker’s Handbook – takes readers to the world’s greatest cider regions, providing a guided tour and a deep understanding and appreciation for how this ‘Prince of Beverages’ is made. Describing orchard practices and specific apple varieties used in different countries, he reveals the long and proud history of the world’s oldest ciderlands. He also profiles different cider styles and rituals and learns from some of the most knowledgeable producers and local cider experts in each country.
Cider, though, is no longer just a traditional European drink. In recent years it has caught on in other parts of the globe and Jolicoeur talks about these new and emerging regions, which are building upon the old traditions and creating new ones of their own. Jolicoeur also explores the most revered areas for making pear cider or ‘perry’, and he even transports readers to Kazakhstan, famous as the ‘birthplace of the domestic apple’.
A mechanical engineer by profession, Claude Jolicoeur first developed his passion for apples and cider after acquiring a piece of land on which there were four rows of old abandoned apple trees. He started making cider in 1988 using a “no-compromise” approach, stubbornly searching for the highest possible quality. Since then, his ciders have earned many awards and medals at competitions, including the prestigious Great Lakes Cider and Perry Competition (GLINT).<br /><br />Claude actively participates in discussions on forums like the Cider Digest, and is regularly invited as a guest speaker to festivals and events such as Cider Days in Massachusetts and the Common Ground Country Fair in Maine. He lives in Quebec City.
