News and Features

Wonderful Somerset Cider!

The epitome of Somerset, cider has forever been associated with our traditions, our landscape and our celebrations, so whilst it is not obviously associated with Christmas it is fitting that we are celebrating cider this month, inspired by Alan Stone’s book, Somerset Cider Handbook. 

Somerset Cider Handbook

Alan set out to visit every cider producer in Somerset, with the aim ‘of putting Somerset and it’s cider on the map and keeping it there’.  The book has a short chapter for each producer there are interesting sections with personal anecdotes throughout on subjects such as on what cider is, cider wassailing, how to make cider and where to go and see cider making.

The section on Roger Wilkins, pictured left, prompted me to re- visit Wilkins Cider at Mudgley.  This cider house was my introduction to Somerset cider some 15 years ago.  I had arrived to work at Cow & Gate, fresh from my brewing job at Courage, thinking like most youngsters that I knew a bit about drink and could keep up with the boys.  The operators on my shift thought they would show their new towny manager how things are done in rural Somerset and took me to Mudgely’s one Sunday lunchtime.  Suffice to say I don’t remember much beyond the first half!

This year I arrived in the middle of harvest and pressing season and Roger was busy loading the press.  He interrupted what he was doing to pour me a large sample to enjoy whilst I watched the pressing.  I stayed for over an hour, talking to the steady stream of cider buyers, ranging from locals, to a hen party who had heard Mudgley’s was the place for a ‘cider experience’.  I have to agree. 

I gave the book to my husband for his 40th birthday and he will testify that it is a fine gift for anyone interested in cider and local tradition.  Click here to see it in our foodie gifts feature.

Alan Stone says he learnt a huge amount about cider and cider making whilst researching the book, but that his overriding memory is of the wonderful people he met.  This is a sentiment echoed by Bill Bradshaw, which leads me onto . . .

IAMCIDER

The beautiful photographs used to illustrate this feature are courtesy of Bill Bradshaw Photography.  Many thanks to Bill for his permission to reproduce them here.  The images are from Bill’s  ongoing IAMCIDER project, a personal project which he feels very passionate about.

Bill says,  “The Cider world has so much to capture and offers a photographer a perpetual challenge, the seasonality and idiosyncrasies of the landscape, the rare and colourful characters involved, the origins of an area, a cider farm, a person, an apple.  Like any industry it has a peculiar mix of tradition and commerce, both of which have their value and place, and I see my role as a photographer is to record this, these photos are a visual response to the realm specific to cider making and apples.” 

Click here to see these photographs in their full glory, view more and read more about the project. Some limited edition prints are available to buy.

Thatchers Cider – where trend meets tradition

To quote Martin Thatcher, “Thatchers Cider is ‘in the middle’ in the cider world”.  Their annual volumes fall a long way short of the mega producers Scottish & Newcastle and Magners who produce some 50million gallons every year, they produce traditional cider like that available from the many small cider farms featured in Alan’s book, yet they have also embraced modern technology and developed new products which appeal to a new generation of cider drinkers. 

We asked Martin Thatcher to explain how trend meets tradition.

Click here to read the interview 

Cooking with Cider

We have some lovely cider recipes for you. 

Jan Maggs and Patricia Tallack cook two very different dishes with pork, whilst Mike Ward customises a Keith Floyd recipe with cider and Somerset Cider Brandy.

Click here to see the recipes

Cider for Prince Charles

A heart-warming story of how one voice can make a difference.

Barry Harding, UK Independent Party's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Somerton and Frome, visited Windsor Castle in October and was “perturbed to find that the only cider available was from the Republic of Ireland”.  Rather than just moan to his companions, Barry took the trouble to write to the Estate Manager suggesting “it would have been much more appropriate to have been offered one of the excellent ciders from the English cider producing counties”.When he received no response he wrote directly to Prince Charles.  After several emails back and forth, Barry received a response advising ‘On picking up on your valid points and discussing the issue with the purchasing team we are with immediate effect going to be purchasing Blackthorn cider which uses Somerset apples’.

Perhaps not the variety Barry would have chosen, esepcially with the announcement yesterday that Magners has taken over Blackthorn, but nonetheless Power To The People

We can make a difference.  What a message to take forward to 2010!

Stop Press

We have just heard that Julian Temperley, who runs Somerset Cider Brandy Company, has been presented with a special Judges' award in the Best Food Producer category of the BBC Food and Farming awards.

Judge Sheila Dillon said Julian was a worthy winner.

"Julian and his team were the perfect recipients because not only do they produce something which is the best of its kind but they have helped to preserve an entire region's tradition," she said.

click here to read more

And, don't miss this . . .

A Somerset Wassail Evening

At Glastonbury Rural life Museum

A traditional event with music, dancing, mulled cider and apple cake held in the Abbey Barn. 

Tickets adult £7.50 child £4.50 on sale now. 

Ring 01458 831197  for details.