Fourth-Generation Farmer, First-Generation Cidermaker

Sophie Horstink of De Groote Wei, which means The Great Meadow in Dutch, is crafting Dutch cider as a value added project at her family’s farm. Located in the eastern Netherlands near Arnhem, the farm spans 16 hectares and has long produced dessert apples and pears.

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Sophie Horstink

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The Horstink family market is well-known and is a go-to place for locals to shop and would be considered a grocery store.

She released her first cider in 2022. The early response was enthusiastic, selling out quickly and prompting her to scale production. She now ferments around 5,000 liters annually in what is called the ‘cider cave” on the family farm.

De Groote Wei’s Ciders

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cider garden

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• Appel Vink (Apple Finch)
  • ABV: 6.5%
  • Notes: Lightly sparkling with fresh acidity and a hint of sourness. Made entirely from eating apples including Elstar, Jonagold, and Belle de Boskoop.
• Groente Vink (Green Finch)
  • ABV: 6.5%
  • Notes: A blend of apples as used in the Appel Finch and 30% Conference pears. Also bottle-conditioned, this cider has a rounder mouthfeel and delicate fruit aromatics.

Contact info for De Groote Wei

• Website: https://www.degrootewei.nl

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Family Farm shop

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Mentions in this Cider Chat

• VT & NY Cider Road Trip
• Totally Cider Tours
• SpaceTime Mead and Cider Works set to close June 22, 2025 – listen to the Space Time episode 288 with Dan Schreffler

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