IESSEL Cider is made by Marin van Sprang, Joost van Hoof, and Rob le Rutte from fruit from nearly one hundred private high-stem orchards in the IJssel Valley. Together with their fruit donors, sales outlets, hospitality businesses, and cider enthusiasts, they contribute to the preservation of these old orchards – and thereby to the landscape and biodiversity.
In Empe, on land owned by the Land van Ons cooperative, they are developing a new orchard with varieties specifically suitable for cider. Currently, there are 120 apple and pear trees, each of a different variety, and 50 grapevines. A hedgerow with a herb-rich fringe attracts beneficial insects and pollinators and makes the landscape more attractive. Moreover, the orchard is shared with neighbors from the nature farm De Hommelhoeve.
The cider itself is artisanally crafted in the cidery in Schalkhaar, which will move to the old steam pumping station in Terwolde in 2025.
Do you have fruit of heirloom varieties in your garden or orchard? Then you can have it processed into cider. Visit the IESSEL Cider website for more information, sales locations, and tastings.
Address and contact
Hommelstraat 4
8161 PH Empe
