History: Douce de Charlevoix was discovered by Claude Jolicouer in a Quebecois village in the 1990s. He has since dubbed it a 'first class early cider apple' and in 2015 a cider blend using 40% Douce de Charlevoix won a bronze medal at the GLINTCAP competition.
Why We Grow It: This apple is quite attractive with orange-red stripes across green skin and makes an excellent juice with a notable bitter taste. In general this apple has medium tannins, some sweetness, and very little acidity. The tree itself is also quite vigorous and hardy.
Canadian Hardiness Zone: 4
Soil Preference: Sandy loam, loam, clay loam.Prefers average to moist conditions, avoid planting anywhere that floods for more than two weeks in the spring. Generally quite adaptable to different soil conditions.
Growth Habits and Disease Resistance: Very vigorous, hardy, produces well annually. Resistant to scab.
Sun/Shade: Full sun (approx. 8-10 hours of sun daily)
Pollination:Requires a pollinator of a different apple variety that blooms around the same time
Flowering Time: Early?
Ripens: Mid September
Storage: Keeps less than a month when stored in cool, humid conditions
Recommended Use: Cider
Cider Properties:*
Class: Bittersweet
Sugar: Medium, SG 1.052
Acidity: Low, TA 2.9 g/L
Tannins: Medium, astringent juice that is slightly bitter
Juice Yield: High
Taste: Nice flavour with mild bitterness
Recommendations: Good in blends, pairs well with Bilodeau
Size including roots:
1 year grade 100-200 cm whip
2 year grade 100 cm+ with 3 or more branches, 30 cm or more
B grade less than 100 cm
*Information based on Claude Jolicouer's The New Cidermaker's Handbook
