Åkre gård – Sørfjorden i Ullensvang

The first thing you notice is the steep slope. The apple trees at Åkre Gård cling to the western side of the Sørfjord in Ullensvang, where the mild Hardanger climate produces apples with an acidity and freshness you won't find elsewhere. Arita and Gjermund Åkre grow fruit in the eighth generation, but it's what they do with the apples afterwards that truly sets them apart. Edel Sider is made using the champagne and charmat methods, and the result is a sparkling, dry cider with distinct notes of apple, herbs and citrus. Several national and international awards since 2014 confirm that this is no ordinary farm cider.

The apple juice is pressed in single varieties — Gravenstein, Aroma and Discovery each on their own — so you can taste the difference. The farm shop is open all year round, and in summer you can book a tasting at one or three o'clock through Taste Hardanger. It pairs well with Hardanger's cider route, where you can cycle, drive or take a boat between the farms along the fjord.