Our Awards

John and Lynn McWilliam bought the farm at L'Aunay in Orne, Normandy in 1989 after living and working overseas in Africa and southwest Asia. John, a tropical agronomist by training, dreamt of returning to this part of France after a stint working as a lumberjack in the nearby Forêt d'Ecouves when he was 17. Lynn loved the idea of living in France after a 'fruitless' search for appropriate properties in Canada, England and Scotland. John wanted to plant cider apple trees.

The farm buildings had been unused for a number of years after the previous farmers had retired from their small-scale dairy business. There were eighty ancient cider apple trees scattered throughout the property but subsequent storms felled most of these trees.

From 1990 to 2000 twenty acres of 10 local varieties of French cider apple trees - Kermerrien, Petit Jaune, Avrolles, Fréquin Rouge, Douce Coet Ligne, Douce Moen, Bedan, Judor - were planted, 7000 trees in total.

In 2002 an old barn was renovated and to create a cider barn, six 5000 litre fiberglass vats were installed to store the pressed juice for the first fermentation before bottling. In another barn an exsisting insulated cellar was renovated. Recently an old cottage attached to a third barn has been renovated as a cider shop and gallery, where cider tastings are offered for free.

It took 15 years of hard work, with the willing help and support of friends and neighbours, before John and Lynn McWilliams were ready to sell their unique blend of L’Aunay cider. 

« To create something this delicious you start with a vision and live a passion. The hard work has been worth it. »