Famille Dupont
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Country of Origin: France
Location: Calvados Pays d'Auge
People: Anne-Pamy & father Etienne Dupont, Owners
Viticulture: Certified Organic
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The history of the Dupont Family in the Pays d'Auge region in Normandy goes back for more than 3 centuries. The oldest known archives testify to the birth of Pierre Dupont in 1703. In 1887, Jules Dupont arrived as tenant farmer at La Vigannerie, the old name of the present estate. In addition to raising cattle, he produced cider and Calvados. The proceeds of his successful enterprises he was able to buy La Vigannerie in 1916.
His son, Louis Dupont, succeeded him in 1934. He continued his father's business of cattle raising. He also produced Calvados which he sold in bulk to local merchants. When he died in 1974, his wife Colette, with the support of the family courageously assumed control.
It was in 1980 that Etienne Dupont took up the reins of the family estate, thus succeeding his father, Louis. He extended the estate, concentrating its activities around cider and Calvados production. The old orchards were redeveloped and ten further hectares of low growing apple trees were planted. He went to Cognac to immerse himself in the best techniques of double distillation. Etienne Dupont was instrumental in the creation of the appellation A.O.P. Pays d'Auge.
Today, the orchards of the Famille Dupont estate cover 30 hectares (74 acres) right in the heart of the Pays d'Auge region, 6000 apple trees in 13 different varieties. The poor soils of the Pays d'Auge region, consisting of marl and chalky marl limit the growth of the trees, and this leads to the production of small apples. The aromatic intensity is thereby increased and the ratio of skin to pulp helps to favor the extraction of tannins. The apples are only gathered when at full maturity, which necessitates at least three visits to each apple tree. The orchards are certified organic by FR-BIO-09.