Cider tasting in Balestrand

Droplets on the skin of apples. The light kiss of blossoms. Bubbles rising through sweet gold. Do you care about the stories behind what you drink? Are you thirsty for new flavors and insights?

The tour starts at the beginning, in the organic orchard on the banks of the Sognefjord, the oldest fruit-growing region in Norway. I’ll show how the tastes we seek start with small cuttings. They stretch towards the sky in Balestrand’s unique fjord light, which has inspired adventurers and artists for generations. Together with your guide, you learn the basics of growing apples and the local traditions, from the 1100s to today.

Then you step into the Cider House, where we taste our way through five ciders. and learn that apples are more than just apples. You will get acquainted with the whole spectrum of tastes: sweet dessert apples, acidic cooking apples, and bitter cider apples. And you’ll taste that cider is more than just cider. You sample your way through five unique styles, from light and easy “veranda cider” to heavy tannin-infused cider, best drunk alongside bold and savory dishes. 

The Cider House is a family business. Gard and Åge bring the beverages from the cider cellar, Eli-Grete grows herbs and lettuce in the garden, and Tuba, leaning on her Turkish legacy, mixes it all together in the kitchen.

Visit fruity Balestrand on the Sognefjord in a Nutshell™ trip.