Egge Gård: A taste of Norway in every bottle
By Andri Papanicolas | Photos: Vibeke Glosli
Set among the rolling orchards of the fertile Lier valley, Egge Gård has spent nearly three decades quietly redefining Norwegian fruit and craft beverages. Today, it is an internationally recognised pioneer in cider, ice cider and alcohol-free premium drinks.
From award-winning ciders to Norway’s first alcohol-free ice cider, Egge Gård, just outside Oslo, continues to push Nordic craft drinks onto the international stage, one apple at a time. The story began in 1997 with apple juice production. Located in one of Norway’s best fruit-growing regions, the farm initially focused on pressing apples from both its own orchards and neighbouring farms.
“Lier was once the largest apple-producing municipality in Norway,” explains CEO at Egge Gård, Gunn Turi Ådnegard. “There are still many fruit growers here today, and we work closely together.”
Gunn-Turi Ådnegård.
Pioneers within the field
What started as a local sustainability initiative soon evolved into something much bigger. In 2005, Norwegian legislation finally allowed small-scale alcohol production on farms, and Egge Gård became the very first farm in the country to seize the opportunity. “We were the first in Norway to start producing alcohol from a farm after the law changed,” she explains. “It felt like a natural continuation of the farm’s history.”
To develop its cider production, the farm brought in a specialist from Normandy, France, introducing the traditional method used in Champagne production. Even today, its sparkling ciders are still crafted using the same labour-intensive process, where the bottles mature on the lees for a full year before being hand-finished. “It gives the cider finer bubbles and a richer flavour profile,” Ådnegard explains. “Most cider producers simply add carbonation, but our bubbles develop naturally in the bottle.”
That dedication to craftsmanship has earned Egge Gård widespread recognition in recent years. Over the past two years alone, the farm has won awards for Norway’s best apple juice, Norway’s best wine, and Norway’s best ice cider.
Internationally, its products have also impressed judges at CiderWorld in Frankfurt, which is often considered the cider world championship. Here, Egge Gård has taken home both gold and silver medals for its products. The signature ice cider, Iseple, was awarded Best in Category at the prestigious competition.
Reflecting the Norwegian climate
Ice cider itself remains a relatively young category in Norway, despite its growing popularity in recent years. Egge Gård was the first producer in the country to create it back in 2010, helping to establish Norwegian ice cider as a recognised premium product internationally.
The process is as fascinating as the result. Fresh apple juice is frozen at extremely low temperatures, then slowly thawed, allowing only the concentrated essence of the apple to be extracted. “It’s pure apple flavour, sweetness and acidity without the water,” Ådnegard says. “It becomes this intense explosion of flavour.” The result is a dessert wine unlike anything else: sweet yet sharply fresh, with vibrant acidity that pairs beautifully with creamy desserts, tropical flavours and blue cheese.
Norwegian climate conditions also play an important role in shaping the final taste. While warm summer days help the fruit ripen, the cold nights of inland eastern Norway preserve acidity and complexity. “It’s similar to wild berries grown in the mountains,” Ådnegard continues. “The tougher growing conditions create more concentrated flavours.”
This balance between sweetness and acidity has become one of the defining characteristics of Norwegian cider and fruit wine production, something that Egge Gård believes international visitors increasingly recognise.
Alcohol-free ice cider
The farm’s latest innovation may be its boldest yet. In late 2025, Egge Gård launched what it believes to be the world’s first alcohol-free ice cider. As the demand for premium alcohol-free alternatives continues to grow globally, the team realised that one category was still missing from the market: a true non-alcoholic dessert wine experience.
“There were alcohol-free sparkling wines and cocktails, but no alcohol-free ice cider,” the CEO explains. “So, we decided to create it ourselves.” The response exceeded expectations. What they expected to sell over the course of a year sold out in just two months, with exports already expanding into Sweden.
Strong ties to the community
Despite growing international attention, Egge Gård remains remarkably hands-on. The production team consists of just a handful of full-time staff, supported by returning seasonal workers during harvest season. Every apple is still hand-picked.
The farm also maintains strong ties to the local community. Private customers regularly bring apples from their own gardens to be pressed into personalised juice bottles featuring custom labels and family photos, a tradition that has become surprisingly popular. “There’s always a story connected to someone’s apple tree,” she says. “We love being part of that.”
For Egge Gård, the ambition moving forward remains simple: continue producing world-class quality while bringing Norwegian cider culture to a wider audience. “We hope international visitors leave with the understanding that Norway can create incredible products from nature,” Ådnegard concludes. “We really do have something unique to offer.”
www.egge.as
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