At Angry Orchard they use the ripest apples, harvested by hand, to ensure the highest quality. European apples provide a taste that U.S. domestic apples cannot match. The French bittersweet apples from Normandy provide a complex flavor while contributing tannins – like red wine grapes and a superior mouthfeel that adds tartness. Italian culinary apples from Meran at the foothills of the Northern Alps provide balance and offer a crisp fruitiness to the cider.