A passion for ciders
At the end of 2019, a wine merchant friend from southwestern France contacted us to ask whether we knew of a cider distributor in Brittany.
Looking to expand his selection, he wanted to offer quality ciders, but his usual suppliers had nothing particularly exciting to propose. We were convinced that cider lovers deserved better than mass-market ciders with their limited range of flavors, and we wanted to address the lack of distribution channels showcasing these products.
Because we simply cannot accept being in a bar or restaurant in France without being able to choose a cider from one of our outstanding cider makers, we created Cidrea!
We are a collective of bold producers committed to crafting authentic ciders bold producers, committed to crafting authentic ciders.
Our partner producers constantly strive to make ciders with as few additives as possible. Often organic, fermented with indigenous yeasts, naturally sparkling, with no added sulfites… because the apple already contains everything needed to create beautiful juices.
We carefully select every cider we offer and always aim to present ciders that tell a story: the story of the apple varieties they are made from, the story of the terroir that shaped them, or the story of the cellar master and the passion they pour into fermenting their juices.
And finally, because cider is not only meant to be enjoyed with crêpes and certainly not served in a bowl, we also suggest food pairings to help you discover the perfect harmony between your dishes and our producers’ ciders.
Renaud
After 17 years as an executive in the French Navy, including nine spent traveling the globe, I was looking for new professional challenges.
Living in Britanny for 15 years, with solid experience in logistics, a deep attachment to the terroir and a love for the aromatic palette of ciders, I am committed to carrying over the team spirit that drove me throughout my first career to help consumers discover, or rediscover, cider.
Nicolas
I began my career in 1998 after completing a BTS in Viticulture and Oenology in Beaune. In 2024, after 23 years dedicated to the wine industry, in both sales management and production, and following a move to Lorient, I decided to join Renaud at the head of CIDREA.
The very essence of Cidrea is to offer signature ciders to its customers while providing high-quality commercial and logistical support to its producers. I am committed to continuing and developing this project further.
Laurent
A true Breton at heart, an experienced logistics professional, and a lover of the gastronomy of our terroirs, I had always dreamed of one day combining my professional skills with my passion for food and drink. By embarking on the CIDREA adventure alongside my two friends, I am finally making that dream a reality. I am convinced that cider has not yet earned the place it deserves at our tables, and that there is still so much to be done around this exceptional product.
Rémi
A hedonist, surfer, and traveler always in search of new flavors from here and elsewhere… With a background in law and management, and as a former officer and human resources manager within the French civil service, the Cidrea adventure is above all the result of a friendship and the successful belief that the ciders of our terroirs are true treasures, carefully preserved through generations by artisans, farmers, and producers who deserve to be widely celebrated and shared.
Virginie
Originally from Central Brittany, Virginie Thomas, formerly a sommelier, enjoys challenging the conventions of traditional sommellerie. For more than three years, she has immersed herself in the world of ciders and perries, which she has passionately championed ever since. In 2020, she notably co-authored the book Le Cidre with Le Journal du Sommelier.
Since then, through Bouscule Tes Sens,, she has helped promote these vibrant ciders and perries. She shares her passion and expertise through unique training courses, workshops, and events for both professionals and private individuals.
Today, she lends us her pen to carefully craft the tasting notes for each cuvée from our producers.
