What is Mergel and why is the place called Mergelsø?
Mergel is a product of the ice ages. It consists of a mixture of clay, lime, and sand, which the ice masses pushed together into large deposits. Mergel is usually quite white and soft, and the clay particles promote the availability of the nutrients the soil naturally contains.
Mergel was extracted in the period around 1930. At that time, the surrounding heathland areas were cultivated, and mergel played a crucial role in improving the nutrient-poor and sandy soil. Narrow railway tracks, on which steam-powered locomotives with small tip wagons ran, led from the depths of the excavation to the south, north, and east. From the local historical archives, we know that the tracks extended for many kilometers to the fields north of Randbøl heath.
In the mid-1930s, the excavation had run out of mergel of sufficiently good quality. Only mergel with too many stones and sand remained. The excavation stopped and groundwater quickly took over. The place became Mergelsø.
Mergelsø: A Family Enterprise
Mergelsø has been a family enterprise since 1983 when Karin and Karl Olaf acquired the property. They dedicated significant efforts to cultivating a diverse and thriving natural environment. Due to the unique soil composition, a wide variety of trees and herbs have flourished. The forest now regenerates naturally, and the biodiversity among animals and plants is impressive.
The forest and nature estate is now in the second generation of family ownership. Since taking over, we have been committed to continuing operations in harmony with nature while ensuring sustainable utilization of natural resources. The abundance of apple trees immediately caught our attention as a prime resource. In the initial years, we pressed the apples into juice, resulting in an exceptional product with unparalleled flavor and body. This marked the beginning of our cider-making journey.
We continually discover new natural resources on the estate. This is how our Pomme Avec came to be. Plums, wild raspberries, numerous self-sown mirabelles, and various other fruit bushes have enriched our offerings.
Our vision has always been, and continues to be, to capture all these exquisite flavors in a bottle.
In 2016, we received approval from the Danish Food Agency for cider production, and in 2017, Mergelsø obtained organic certification.
