Producer
Domaine Julien Thurel
French producer specialized in gastronomic cidre, poiré and cormé, based in Loury (Loiret, Loire Valley). Practices organic agriculture and agroecology, values old varieties of apples and pears, and employs bottle-based natural sparkling fermentation with remuage and artisanal dégorgement.
- Loury · Centre-Val de Loire · France
- Since 2012
- 7 products
The story
Julien Thurel began varietal research in 2009 and started cidric production in 2012. The project focused on rediscovering and planting local and traditional varieties of the northern Loire, aiming to produce cidre, poiré and cormé with gastronomic character.
Production philosophy
Preservation of old varieties and integrated verger–cellar work: agroecological practices, hand harvesting, natural fermentation and rejection of industrial techniques such as gazéification or pasteurization. The goal is to express terroir through artisanal cellar work.
Territory
Loiret (Les Usages, 45470 Loury), in the area of the Forêt d'Orléans and the northern Loire (Centre-Val de Loire), France.
Production method
Hand harvesting of fruit, pressing and fermentation on site; bottle-based natural sparkling fermentation (bubbles formed in bottle), storage of bottles on their side with remuage and dégorgement performed at the domaine; cellar work with low sulphite use (very limited addition at dégorgement). Some cuvées undergo a long élevage before release.
Ageing
Bottle aging with a minimum rest of one year for the youngest cuvées; many cuvées are long-aged in cellar before remuage and dégorgement. Strategy aimed at enhancing maturation and the natural aromatic complexity of the fruit.
Characteristics
- Type
- Producer
- City
- Loury
- Categories
- artisan cider producer
- poiré (pear cider) producer
- organic producer
- agroecology
- gastronomic fruit specialties (cidre/poiré/cormé)
- Raw materials
- apples
- pears
- quince
- service tree fruit
- Representative products
- Cidre Alchimie
- Cidre Champêtre
- Cidre Equinoxe
- Cidre Solstice
- Poiré Athéna
- Poiré Courlis (Ker Anna)
- Poiré Cru des Loges
What makes it distinctive
- Organic Agriculture certification
- Agroecological practices and preservation of old varieties
- bottle-based natural sparkling fermentation with artisanal remuage and dégorgement
- Hand harvesting and full farm-to-cellar processing ('from verger à la cave')
- Presence on restaurant lists and gastronomic selections