Following the successful launch in March last year of Duché de Longueville “Gros Oeillet” Varietal Cider from Normandy, Sainsbury’s supermarkets have increased their distribution to over 300 stores around the UK and it is out-selling all other traditional ciders. Now with a new label, this ‘cidre de récoltant’ is made from apples harvested at the Duché de Longueville estate near Dieppe. It is packaged in 500ml bottles and priced at £1.49.

James Rackham, Chairman of Winefare says, “This year we have concentrated our national allocation of Duché de Longueville through Sainsbury’s supermarkets, but in the coming year we shall be extending the distribution to other retail outlets”.

The response to this cider has been very positive. It is the only naturally sparkling dry cider and has no added sugars, yeasts or preservatives. It is made exclusively from pure pressed apple juice, not concentrates and has a clean, refreshing taste.

Duché de Longueville press coverage:

“ . . .deliciously light, bubbly and distinctive”, Richard Neill – Daily Telegraph – Saturday 17 June 2000

- “. . . boasts a lovely, soft, rounded and delectably fruity taste”, Julie Arkell – Sunday Express Magazine – 2-8 July 2000

“The Gros Oeillet was instantly appealing, a refreshing glass for a summer afternoon”, Giles MacDonogh – Financial Times – Weekend 17/18 July 2000

Further information is available from:

EURO STRATEGIES LTD.
120 Wilton Road, London SW1V 1JZ
Tel: 020 7828 7029 Fax: 020 7630 9198
e-mail: info@eurostrategies.co.uk

WINEFARE AGENCIES LTD.
The Church, 172 London Road, Guildford, Surrey GU1 1XR
Tel: 01483 458700 Fax: 01483 454677
e-mail: james@winefare.freeserve.co.uk

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON DUCHÉ DE LONGUEVILLE

February 2001

The ‘Gros Oeillet’ variety was specially chosen for this market from a selection of five varietal ‘cru’ ciders produced by Duché de Longueville (a division of Pernod-Ricard who also make the biggest on-trade cider in France ‘La Cidraie’). Its subtle, apple flavours and fine mousse appeal to the palate of UK consumers, who are increasingly looking for better quality and more unusual drinks.

Located near Dieppe in the region of Pays de Caux, the cider factory of Duché de Longueville follows a long tradition of cider making in Normandy. The company owns hundreds of hectares of cider apple trees which are unique to France and this allows them to control the quality of the fruit and have their own supply for producing a range of varietal ciders. All the varietal ciders are made from pure pressed juice and bear the name of the variety of the apple from which they are made.

Duché de Longueville have been improving their know-how for 20 years and have developed their own cider making equipment. This enables them to produce ciders which are not artificially carbonated but naturally sparkling, as the CO2 produced naturally for the fermentation process is retained in the cider.

When ripe, the apples are brought to the factory where they are carefully selected and then pressed in an automatic cider press. To respect tradition, only one pressing is made. This is why the Duché de Longueville varietal ciders are allowed to be called ‘pure juice’ and have a potential degree of alcohol that is slightly higher than other ciders. At the end of the pressing phase, the juices are stocked in cool cellars (+3ºC) in order to facilitate natural fermentation. When the juices reach the correct density, fermatation is stopped by centrifuge and the fermented juices are then stored in cellars before bottling.