Cider: By Royal Appointment
June 29 2011
News that the Queen’s estate at Sandringham is to sell cider has been warmly received by industry experts, as cider makers line-up to try the first batch made on the Norfolk farm.
Henry Chevallier, an eighth generation cider maker in neighbouring Suffolk said: “Sandringham has established orchards planted decades ago and should be capable of producing a really good cider.
“Demand for the product should be great from visitors to the estate, but perhaps the reason for the launch has more to do with Prince William, as the Queen’s grandson is a confirmed cider fan.”
Around 150 tonnes of apples are harvested each year from the 65 acres of orchards at Sandringham, with the majority being used to produce apple juice. Now a proportion has been set aside for a 6 per cent cider.
Henry Chevallier is also Chair of the National Association of Cider Makers (NACM), he commented: “Interest in cider as something of real quality has never been higher with 20 per cent of sales now being premium products – and that is increasing year on year in a growing market.
“Not only has the number of consumers enjoying cider expanded significantly but interest in making cider is dramatically on the increase.
“On our latest estimate, there are around 500 active cider producers in the UK and we are delighted to now add the Queen’s estate to that list.”
The Sandringham cider, as yet un-named, is not the first time a royal has ventured into the production of cider. Prince Charles, under his Duchy Originals label, has produced a Herefordshire cider for many years.
The apple varieties grown at the Queen’s Norfolk farm will produce a different style of cider to West Country products many are familiar with.
Gabe Cook, spokesman for the NACM and a small-scale producer of Herefordshire cider said: “The available fruit in Norfolk will probably mean a lighter, more delicate yet still quite dry cider when compared to very robust and tannic styles of cider produced in the West Country using cider apples.
“There are fewer cider makers in the eastern counties but the quality of what they produce is certainly on a par with the best produced elsewhere.
“News of this cider certainly increases awareness that a great breadth of different styles of products are possible to match with different occasions and different foods.”
ENDS
Notes
In the 17th Century, cider was the drink of choice for the English Aristocracy and ornate crystal flutes, engraved with images of apples, were used to drink cider.
Credible evidence now claims that it was a cider maker that first invented the process of secondary fermentation in the bottle to create sparkling ciders – the process was later employed and made more famous by Champagne producers.
The UK cider industry is worth around £2.1 billion in annual sales and for several years the industry has been the fastest growing sector of the drinks market. Around 10 million hectolitres (or 1.76 billion pints) of cider are enjoyed by UK consumers every year.
ENDS
For further information please contact Simon Russell on t. 01179 066 519/m. 07879 402 145/e.
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