Jan 5, 2017
The world of cider has continued to turn whilst we have all been gorging on food and fun over the festive period. Here’s a round up of the latest cider news:
Thatchers cider has commissioned its first canning line at its production facility in Somerset as part of an £8.3m investment
Westons Cider celebrates increases in sales and profits through premiumisation drive
Market research analysts Technavio have forecast continuing global cider growth in their latest report
A legendary name in the cider world, Taunton Cider, has been resurrected and its first cider has rolled off the line
Dec 12, 2016
Thatchers Cider is introducing a new series of special vintage, limited edition ciders under the brand Cider Barn. Each of the small batch ciders will demonstrate the skill and dedication the cidermakers have honed over four generations at Myrtle Farm. Using single variety, dual variety, and multiple blends, the new ciders will each have a story to tell about the apple varieties chosen.
Spartan, Morgan Sweet & Grenadier, and Redstreak are the first three Cider Barn ciders to be released following the 2016 harvest.
The first, Spartan at 5.2%, has been a long-time favourite cider at Myrtle Farm, now welcomed back as a single variety cider after a well-earned rest. Pressed from Spartan, a rosy, crisp and juicy dessert apple, Thatchers cidermakers have created a medium dry, naturally pale cider with a refreshing bite that oozes apple flavour.
Redstreak, 8.4%, is the second single variety pressed following the 2016 harvest, and also making a welcome return after a few year’s break. The Somerset Redstreak apple is high in tannin and big on flavour. Embracing the cuvage technique, where the apples are milled and then held for a day before pressing out the juice, develops the best flavour for this cider. Redstreak is a bold, peppery cider with a spicy apple pie flavour, smooth feel and deep rich colour.
The third cider has been crafted from two apple varieties from Thatchers Christon and Sandford orchards. Morgan Sweet & Grenadier, 7.4%, combines the Morgan Sweet dessert apple with its wine-like sweetness and body with the refreshing bite of the acclaimed Grenadier culinary apple. The result is a delicate and refined cider, with a gentle hint of tropical fruit.
The Cider Barn ciders will be available in Thatchers Cider Shop, online at www.thatcherscider.co.uk, The Railway Inn in Sandford, as well as Thatchers direct delivered pubs.
Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cidermaker says, “Being able to produce batch ciders with some of our favourite apple varieties of each harvest is a real joy. Our cidermakers have taken this year’s harvest and used their knowledge of the fruit to work with a single variety, or combine two varieties together that balance and complement each other.
“This year we have revived two single variety ciders, Redstreak and Spartan, and in a dual variety we have combined Morgan Sweet & Grenadier – the characteristics of the dessert apple providing a foil to the high acidity of the culinary apple. Morgan Sweet is an apple with a great history in our family – my grandfather and great grandfather used to grow it in the early 1900s and send across by train to the South Wales Valleys.”
Dec 9, 2016
Been too busy with Christmas shopping to catch up on the latest happenings in the cider world? Fear not, we’re here to round up all the latest cider news.
Aspall Cyder receives extra funding to continue its growth and innovation strategies
Such has been the size of the harvest this autumn, some smaller producers have been struggling to get their hands on traditional oak casks to ferment their cider in.
Aston Manor shouts loud and proud about their record number of award wins in 2016.
Nico Rosberg celebrates winning the Formula 1 Driver’s Championship in the best known fashion – with a cider!
Farmer Fear is attempting to put Nottinghamshire cider on the map
Bulmers announces its new Orchard Pioneers Range for 2017, including Sarah’s Red Apple Cider and Kier’s Cloudy Apple Cider
Nov 11, 2016
It is with great excitement that we can announce the winner of our 2016 Apple Harvest Photo Competition. Congratulations to Richard and Jill Courtney from Whimple in Devon, who have taken the award with a shot of their 1970s Leyland Tractor towing a trailer full of freshly picked cider apples from the orchard on their farm. Aptly, the photo was taken on the morning of 21st October: Apple Day.
NACM Communications Officer, Gabe Cook, explains why this photo was chosen: “Anyone who has made cider can relate to this image – the misty morning, the wet ground, the apple picking bucket. It’s such an evocative shot. You can almost smell the apples!”
The Courtney’s orchard was once owned by the Whiteways Cider company. It comprises of 15 acres of traditional, standard orchards of mostly older trees, but with some new plantings also. It is managed in as natural a way as possible, with no sprays, under-canopy sheep grazing and late sward cutting. This means the orchard is a haven for biodiversity with deer, owls and bats all present.
Richard and Jill’s son, Paul Courtney, Director at Vigo Presses Ltd, said, “We are delighted that this photo has been chosen by the NACM as being most representative of the apple harvest. We hope it shows the value of traditional orchards for biodiversity.”
Oct 20, 2016
Good morning cider fans – it’s COMPETITION TIME!
We are now in the height of the apple harvest and it provides the opportunity to take some great photographs.
We want you to show off your artistic skills by capturing the essence of the apple harvest in one photo. The best photo wins a mixed case of cider from NACM members.
Send in your photos to photo@cideruk.com to be in with a chance to win!
Deadline is Monday 31st October
18 + only
Wassail!
