Alain Rety, as sparkling as his organic cider in Ploërdut

Chinese portrait of Alain

Quality
Professionally innovative, I create a new product every year
Fault
Sometimes lacks organisation, but is making progress
A guilty pleasure
Cider
Passion
Hiking, travelling
An ideal day
I've managed to achieve 80% of my objectives, but there are always unforeseen circumstances
Favourite spot in the King Morvan region
Malvoisin in Ploërdut
Le Pays du roi Morvan for you
I particularly like the Pays Pourlet, which is part of the Pays du Roi Morvan (the canton of Guémené).

A first life...

Alain Rety comes from the charming village of Malvoisin in Ploërdut, near Guémené-sur-Scorff: "My ancestors have been there since 1902. My great-grandparents arrived first. I represent the 4th generation". He moved away from this little paradise to work, but he didn't go very far, just 40 km away, to Hennebont. He set up his family in Inzinzac-Lochrist and worked as a legal adviser in a farm management centre for 30 years. But the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! And an idea has been running through his head... " For a long time, I'd wanted to create something in the agricultural sector with the possibility of direct sales to maintain human contact". To realise this dream, he ideally wanted to set up in the eastern part of the Pays du Roi Morvan, the Pays Pourlet.

From his parents, he inherited a dilapidated building with an old wine press. "My father used to make cider as an amateur". That was it! Alain returned to Malvoisin for a change of career. He would become an organic cider producer.

...and a second one!

A new life begins, and it requires a lot of work and big changes. From the outset, Alain knew that he wanted to produce a sufficient quantity of organic, local and traditional cider, but in a sensible way, so that he could make a living from it. To succeed, he doesn't remain alone in his bubble. "You have to know how to modernise and surround yourself with the right people.

He is carrying out work on his parents' old building, and buying around ten orchards in the surrounding area, but in different locations. "It's important, because if there's a problem in one orchard, it won't necessarily affect the others. It also means that we can grow different varieties of apples with different flavours. It's clever not to put all your apples in one basket!

Another advantage of having your own fruit is that you can harvest it in the morning and grind it in the evening.

To preserve quality, no more than half a day should elapse between harvesting and crushing.

As a shrewd man, he also introduced new techniques. He worked closely with the Brittany Chamber of Agriculture, which provided him with a process for working in large quantities and respecting health standards. This passionate producer even works with an oenologist to create the best possible blends. "You gain a lot from advice, and not just time! And not just time!

With this level of professionalism, you can rest assured that there won't be any glitches when it comes to tasting!

At this market, I found a team of craftsmen and small organic farmers whose passion is passed on to consumers.

Local production mastered from A to Z

By dint of his hard work, Alain has beaten the odds and proved that it is possible to produce good cider in the Guémené-sur-Scorff area! And now it's time to bottle, label and package...

His daughter created the labels, logo and website. Bottling and packaging are done on site.

Very concerned about theenvironmental impact of his business, Alain realised that bottle management posed a problem from an ecological point of view. So he decided to introduce a deposit system. He recovers 40 to 45% of his bottles. "Rather than sending them by lorry to Guingamp to be washed, I bought a small machine and I work with a local employment association that comes on site to clean them.

Intelligent sales in a short circuit

So far, for Alain, it's a no-brainer. Really, this production is virtuous from start to finish. There are no worms in the fruit at this traditional cider mill! What about sales?

Alain sells his cider direct, within a 40 km radius. He also sells at the Ploërdut market alongside local producers. "At this market, I've found a team of craftsmen and small organic farmers whose passion is passed on to consumers. In fact, he prefers to use the term "artisan-countryman ", as they do everything from A to Z: "We produce, we process, we sell".

Today, Alain is more determined than ever to evolve, to continue to offer the best. He creates a new product every year. In 2024, he will set about reviving Chistr-Per, the Cléguérec perry. We'll all be as wrinkled as old apples before it loses its energy! To the range of ciders that has gradually been added apple juice and cider vinegar.

And what about his chouchenn! When you savour a little glass, it's enough to make you faint!