Apal Sideri is a fruit farm that has been in the same family since the 1600s. Dan Olav Sæbø is the 13th generation to work this land. Originally trained as a carpenter, he took over the farm in 2020 and shifted the focus to cider production.
The results were immediate. His first cider, "Sølvsider", won gold at the World Cider Awards in 2020 for the world's best sparkling cider. Since then, Apal Sideri has become one of Norway's fastest-growing cider brands, with 45% growth in 2024 and over 3,500 visitors to the farm that year.
The orchard grows several apple varieties including Gravenstein, Rød Aroma, Rubinstep, Discovery and Rød Elstar. Apple juice has been produced here for generations, but the cider is new. The farm shop sells both, and you can enjoy them on the terrace overlooking the Hjelmelandsfjord.
During summer, guided tours take visitors through the orchard and production facilities, followed by tastings of different ciders. Hjelmeland has strong fruit-growing traditions, and Apal Sideri is a good example of how a new generation is building on that heritage.