After this initial planting we were taught how to bud new trees from these existing ones. We had a good deal of help from Orchardist Tony Gentil and his wife Liz. As a result there are now over 150 cider apple trees in this area of Cheshire.
The fruit from these trees are used to make our own cider. We produce four bottle conditioned ciders plus a traditional still cider. Our ‘ special cider ‘ is a blend of all the varieties growing here.
Varieties of cider apple
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Browns
This vintage cider apple has a sharp quality which makes it good for a single variety cider. Brown's is a variety from the South West, originating in Totnes, Devon.
Sharp - High Acid, Low Tannin -
Foxwhelp
An old variety known since the 17th century which probably arose in Gloucestershire. A small to medium brilliant red fruit. It produces a vintage quality cider with a characteristic strong musky flavour.
Sharp - High Acid , Low Tannin -
Dabinett
An old cider apple which arose in the Martock area Somerset which produces a bittersweet cider. Widely grown for cider in the West Country. The tree is of low vigour, is self-fertile and crops well.
Bittersweet - Low Acid, High Tannin -
Harry Masters
A cider apple believed to have been raised in late 19th Century by Harry Masters of Yarlington, Somerset. A dark red flushed fruit. The sweet, medium tannin juice produces a full bittersweet cider.
Bittersweet - Low Acid, High Tannin -
Sweet coppin
A sweet vintage quality cider apple variety. It grows a medium sized pale yellow fruit and originated in Devon during the 18th century.
Sweet - Low Acid, Low Tannin -
Kingston Black
Generally considered to be the best cider apple tree there is. The flavour in unrivalled but Kingston Black is also harder to grow than some others and is a modest yielding apple. But balance against that the ideal combination of acid, alcohol, body, fruit and tannin and it’s worth the trouble.
Bittersharp - High Acid, High Tannin -
Yarlington Mill
A cider apple of the Somerset 'Jersey' type. From Yarlington, near North Cadbury, Somerset, where it was found growing out of a wall near a water mill, probably in the early 1900's. It was transplanted into the gardens of Yarlington Mill and propagated by nurseryman Harry Masters, very soon achieving local fame for its high yields.