The Making of Perry

This is my first blog which is primarily about Perry, no, not a friend of mine, nor a celebrity but a drink made from pears, about the pear trees which grow them and the tasty legendary drink

The town hall or Mairie is nearly always one of the most impressive buildings.

Where can we go, where we won’t find as many tourists and site seekers? Domfront-au-Poiraie is not exactly a secret but the town is a gem where the main products are camembert (with the Le President as a main employer) and Perry, or pear cider. Domfornt-au-Poiraie is found just an hour and a half’s drive form the Caen ferry and about sixty miles as the crow flies.. Domfront offers to visitors in Normandy an enjoyable new experience in a town of 4800 people, perched on a rocky outcrop with medieval buildings and a Mairie which is proactive. They are always putting things on. This is a town with a market where you can rub shoulders with local people, and try out your French, buy some Perry, a round of camembert and a French baton, retire to a cool shady seat in the park and while your time away. Martock is also a small town near Taunton with a Perry story which has a good reputation, it is a pretty town of Georgian architecture.

Domfront is known for Perry made from pears grown around the town in nearby orchards, producing a rather slightly alcoholic pleasantly light sparkling pear drink. Perry is back in fashion sold in the UK supermarkets. However Domfront is the place to try some. The growers have their own domain in recognition of its quality - it’s own AOC. A legal recognition that the Domfront perry can only be grown within a certain area of the town. The appellation d'origine contrôlée is the French certification bestowed on certain French geographical localities for wine, cheese, butter, and farm produce.

Domfront, its medieval summers are a joy to experience with jesters, tumblers and revellers joining to sing folk songs of the era dressed in period clothing

Domfront is a town in Normandy not just famed for the drink, but its castle ruins and medieval town perched on an impregnable hill, a rocky outcrop with views of the traditional orchards in spring in blossom in the Orne valley below. Traditionally the pear trees, some are 300 years old grow in fields and orchards under grazed by Normandy cattle, a practice which is part of the natural cycle of things as the cattle fertilise the pasture and the trees, and keep the grass from being in competition. The ‘Mairie’ (Town Hall) has devised a ‘Perry’ route which passes some several producers, where farmer-hosts welcome visitors for a feast of tasting and pancakes. I advise making a day of it, cycling along the Perry route to work off some of the calories. There are fifteen producers all quite close and in cycling distance. I have singled one which is my favourite, where Yurts or traditional camping is available, and makes a great base, sleeping under the boughs of ancient pear trees, at 'La Touche' which is just a few kilometres away from Domfront. The town retains a good number of its medieval buildings with half-timbered houses in the streets, for cafes and restaurants. In the summer a medieval festival is held with jousting and music, cheese and Perry along with many other events.

15 years before they produce fruit,live to 100, take 100 years to die, and in one harvest proudce 1000 kilo of pears to make AOC Domfront Perry

The pear orchards of Domfront

Meanwhile a farm in the county of Somerset is a similar sized town which makes Perry (Poiré in French), Martock is just an hour from Poole or two hours from Portsmouth. half an hours drive from Taunton, the county town of Cider and Perry making. Martock’s Somerset Brandy Company produce a delicious Perry.

“The fruit varieties used in this perry read like the character list from a Harry Potter book. Thorn, Brandy and Hendre Huffcap pears are all present and go to create a bewitching mix of delicate flavours, making this a delightfully quaffable booze with a thirst-quenching dryness.” The Independent.

Perry can be bought or drunk at the orchard, or at the towns pub and hotel, The White Hart and also their eau de Vie, a pear brandy. Eau de vie made from pears can be found at the producers around Domfront and in the local shops and bars if you have time to compare.

Nearby another artisan perry maker is Paul Ross, making his elixir at Dowlishe Wake, this is a superior Perry made out of the pears from the orchards around Shepton Mallet. His Perry is sold from various outlets from Bristol to Taunton but Perry's Cider is nearer to Ilminster.

Ilminster is a market town, its fresh fruit and vegetables in season bought from the market stalls is second to none.

Meet Paul Ross in his video on harvesting and making Somerset Pear Cider:

Below: Paul Ross's Perry

The following short videos made by the national park about the Domfront region will help the visitor decide whether to stay:

Video1 Video 2  Video 3
Video 4 Video 5

Perry is also the secret to a resurrected British cheese which has the Royal Seal of Approval called Stinking Bishop. Stinking Bishop is made by the Charles Martell family, with the help of their Gloucester cows, grazing Gloucester grass. "It is a full fall pasteurised soft cheese with vegetarian rennet. the rind is bathed in Perry to give the cheese its distinctive flavour" Stinking Bishop, Camembert, Perry and some good bread what more can you ask for?

Stinking Bishop is in demand as it is supplied by only one maker and is often oversubscribed.