Cider is one of the living symbols of French farming tradition. Behind every bottle sits a terroir, a microclimate and a body of skill that shape its character.
With Maison Hérout, cider regains its full dimension: an artisan product, 100% pure juice, organic and naturally sparkling, born in the heart of the Cotentin and shaped by generations of committed makers.
A family cider house from Auvers
Founded in 1946 at Auvers by Auguste and Marie-Thérèse Hérout, Maison Hérout is one of the oldest organic cider houses in Normandy.
From the start the family worked with standard and half-standard orchards, planted with local cider apple varieties of bitter and bittersweet character, typical of the Cotentin.
Since the 1970s the estate has been certified organic, with an organic orchard and a clear commitment: natural ciders, with no added carbonation and no artificial pasteurisation.
A singular terroir
The Cotentin is a peninsula shaped by the Atlantic and the sea winds, a climate that yields apples low in sugar but rich in aromatics.
That combination gives Maison Hérout’s products a dry, complex, balanced signature — a style that at times comes close to serious wine.
Natural, living cuvées
Every Maison Hérout cider is made from 100% pure organic apple juice, with a natural second fermentation in bottle and no added gas.
An exacting craft
Unlike many industrial ciders, Maison Hérout’s products are neither carbonated nor pasteurised. Fermentation happens naturally, letting the richness of the apples and the terroir come through.
The estate works with more than 25 local varieties, mostly bitter or bittersweet apples, which give the cuvées their fruity, dry and complex profile — ideal with seafood, cheese or traditional Normandy dishes.
Passing it on, and recognition
Maison Hérout played an essential part in the creation of the AOC Cidre Cotentin, the official recognition of the region’s distinctive style and cider-making skill.
Today the house carries that family tradition forward, supported by local people attached to authenticity, biodiversity and quality.
Why Maison Hérout belongs at Terroir
At Terroir we select makers deeply rooted in their place and faithful to natural, demanding production.
Maison Hérout embodies that: organic cider from 100% pure juice, identifiable terroirs, an artisan approach and respect for the environment.
👉 Discover the organic ciders and spirits of Maison Hérout in the Terroir selection.