real cider and perry
For those who have been enquiring about where to buy cider apples, over on Cider by Rosie, the journal of a Dorset cider maker, Rose Grant has passed on details of a possible supplier. You’d need to be able to buy and collect a minimum load of half a ton, from Waytown near Bridport in West Dorset.
Here’s the link: 2007_September - Where to buy cider apples
Thanks to Martin of HarrodHorticultural for commenting with his article about Apple Day from last year, the original being here
There are a huge number of events this year, because apple day just keeps on growing and the cider wiki current events page for October points to the common ground apple day page where you can see them all listed county by county.
Now there’s also a shorter list of Apple Day events which include cider in some form, and which local event organisers can easily add to just by editing the wiki as normal. It’s not late to think about putting on a small apple day event even now. If you have a common orchard nearby you could just invite the neighbourhood round to admire the fallen fruit, learn a bit about apple varieties and then go for a meal afterwards with some cider or perry. Or make it a childrens party day with apple juice and a drop of real cider for the grown ups.
Myself, I’ll be making my way to Walthamstow Apple Day on October 13th and I do hope you manage to find an event near enough to wherever you live as well and support it on the day. If you do know of any events in October loosely connected with apple day and incorporating cider in some form then please add them to the Apple Day page.
Pete Yarlett reports that Salisbury Food Festival was held on Sunday 23rd September in the market square.
Charles May of Abbey Stores organised a beer and cider bar with seven ciders and perries on offer. This proved very popular, especially after the beer ran out!
Mr Whitehead’s also had a stand outside selling their complete range
of Hampshire ciders, bottled and draught.
Bridles gave demonstration pressings with two cider presses in action alongside the bar marquee. Spotted in the marquee was ex Good Cider Guide editor David Kitton in deep conversation with Roy Bailey.
Rose Grant’s cider proved extremely popular with at least four 20ltr boxes opened and Roy Bailey’s perry was also selling well with the box tipped well forward. All in all a most enjoyable afternoon and thanks go to Charles May for organising a cider bar at the Salisbury food festival, supported by his family and Salisbury CAMRA.
The first Rochford cider festival is tomorrow in South Essex. Rochford is a lovely village and an easy place to visit by train if you can get to London Liverpool Street Station or Stratford East. So I’ll be there early before the perry runs out 
Here’s the cider list:
Biddenden Bushells 6.0% Kent
Broadoak KB 8.4% Somerset
Double Vision Cider 7.4% Kent
Gwynt y Ddraig Medium 7.0% Wales
Old Monty Rum Cask 6.0% Wales
Perry’s Farmhouse 6.0% Somerset
Thatchers Cheddar Valley Medium 6.0% Somerset
West Croft Janet’s Jungle Juice 6.0% Somerset (award winner)
Wilkins Medium 6.0% Somerset
Winkleigh Autumn Medium Dry 7.5% Devon
Broadoak 7.5% Somerset
Gwatkins 7.5% Herefordshire
Hecks 6.5% Somerset
Moores 6.0% Gloucestershire
The Malvern Autumn Garden & Country Show takes place at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, W13 6NW on 29th 30th September 2007.
Ukcider member Tom Oliver of Oliver’s Cider and Perry sent in this press release:
For over 400 years, up until the early 20th Century, perry making was
one of the traditional crafts of the western Midlands and played an
important part in the rural economy. In the late 17th Century the
product was in significant demand and was held in high esteem
throughout the whole Country. Perry was kept for special guests and
family occasions and, when bottle-fermented, certain perries were
accepted as being comparable to a fine Champagne.
Today, in the early 21st Century, ‘true’ perry - made entirely from
genuine perry pears is now only produced in small quantities -
primarily in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire. These
counties can therefore be regarded as THE home of perry. It was for
this reason that in 1991 The National Collection of Perry Pears was
established at the Malvern Showground. This unique and valuable
collection contains at least one example of all the accepted vintage
perry pear varieties associated with The Three Counties - some 90
different types - many of which are now very rare indeed.
Although the “Pear Cider” is currently being used as an alternative
name for “Perry”, many would argue that ‘true’ perry should only be
made from traditional varieties of perry pears - as it was during its
17th Century hey-day and up until about 30 years ago. Pear Cider can
be made from any variety of pears, including imported pear
concentrate. A range of other ingredients are also permitted. Some
pear ciders can be primarily produced from fermented apple juice, with
pear juice added as flavouring.
In 1993 EU legislation came into force, which provides a system -
Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) - for the protection of food
names on a geographical or traditional recipe basis (similar to the
‘Appellation Controll=E9e’ system for wines). Products named as
Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire perries are PGI
registered and, as such, the pears used for fermentation can only be
locally grown traditional perry pears.
Furthermore, the international Slow Food movement has now formally
recognised and listed, in its “Ark of Taste”, Three Counties and Welsh
Marches Perry. Such products can only be made from 100% fresh juice
from locally grown perry pears, with no artificial flavourings,
colourings and sweeteners being permitted. On behalf of Slow Food - an
organisation that aims to protect excellent gastronomic products that
are in danger of disappearing - the recently formed Three Counties and
Welsh Marches Perry Presidium (working group) oversees production
standards to ensure product quality and authenticity.
To recognise and celebrate the special association between this
esteemed product - perry - and its traditional home in the Three
Counties, the Malvern Autumn Show host’s the International Perry
Festival, which is being held as part of Festival of Food & Wine in
the Avon Hall. A number of participatory events are planned, which
include:
There will also be a range of other perry related exhibits and
exhibitors on hand to illustrate the wonderful heritage and diversity
associated with these fine products. You will be able to find out
about future perry-related activities, events and even courses to help
you to help you learn more about perry and - indeed - become a perry
maker yourself.
On whichever of the days you are visiting the show, we would like to
welcome you to the Avon Hall. Be there.
The full list of cider apples and Perry Pears available through the SCOTTS NURSERIES catalogue, from www.scottsnurseries.co.uk
Cider Apples
The number after the name indicates the flower
season. The months shown indicate the normal
harvest time. The quality of the juice is described.
ASHTON BROWN JERSEY, 4, November,
bittersweet. Orange yellow striped. Small trees.
BACKWELL RED, 3, September, medium sharp.
Bright red flush. Small trees
BREAKWELL’S SEEDLING, 2, September,
mildly sharp. Dark red flushed on yellow fruit. Small
to mediumsized tree.
BROWN’S APPLE, 3/4, late October, full
sharp.Medium sized tree.
BROWN SNOUT, 5, November, sweet, mildly
astringent. Fruit yellowish green with some
russeting. Small to medium sized tree.
BROXWOOD FOXWHELP, 2, September/October
medium bitter sharp.Small red apples on a small tree.
BULMER’S FOXWHELP, 2/3, mid October,
medium bitter, full bodied.Red apples on a small tree.
BULMER’S NORMAN, 3, late October,
bittersweet.Green yellow. Medium to large.
CHISEL JERSEY, 4, November, bittersweet.Red
flushed fruit on a medium sized tree.
CRIMSON KING, 3, November, bittersweet.Green
yellow flushed scarlet. Medium to large.
DABINETTE, 4, late October, November bitter
sweet. Yellow flushed dull red. Small to medium.
DYMOCK RED, 2, late Sept. bitter sweet. Dark red
flush.Small to medium.
ELLIS BITTER, 4, late September, October
medium. bitter sweet.Red flush. Small-medium.
FILLBARREL, 3, November, medium bittersweet.
Red flushed. Russeted. Small.
FREDERICK, 3, mid-October full sharp.Dark red
flush. Small.
HARRY MASTERS JERSEY, 3, November, bitter-
sweet.Yellow flushed dark red. Medium.
IMPROVED RED STREAK, 2, October, bitter-
sharp.
KINGSTON BLACK, 3, November, sweet.
MAJOR, 4, late September, bittersweet.
MICHELIN, 3, late October, medium sweet.
MORGAN SWEET, 3, August. A prolific pale green
early apple, once widely grown for eating in August.
NEHOU, 2, September, bittersweet.
NORTHWOOD, 2, late October, sweet.
PLUM VITAE, July/August, dual purpose,
Cider/Dessert.
PORTER’S PERFECTION, 2, November,
bittersweet.
REINETTE D’ORBY, 2, November, medium sharp.
SHEEP’S NOSE, 3, September-October, Cider/
Cooker
SOMERSET REDSTREAK, 3, October, bittersweet.
STEMBRIDGE CLUSTER, 4, full bittersweet.
STEMBRIDGE JERSEY, 3, October, medium
bitter-sweet.
STOKE RED, 4, late October medium bitter sharp.
SWEET ALFORD, 3, November, sweet.
SWEET COPPIN, 2, November, sweet.
TAYLORS, 1, October, mild bittersweet.
TREMLETT’S BITTER, 1, October, bitter.
VILBERIE, 5, November, bittersweet.
WHITE JERSEY, 5, late September, medium
bittersweet.
YARLINGTON MILL, 2, October, sweet, mildly
bittersweet.
Perry Pears
These are also grown from Long Ashton virus free
stock. We offer half standards and standards.
Perry Pears live to a great age and grow into large
trees, their massive branches and trunk rivalling
those of the oak, and their timber is much sought for
furniture making. A full account of their history, with
over fifty varieties described and illustrated, is
available in ‘Perry Pears’, a Long Ashton monograph
(1963), (copies available).
The numbers and months refer to flower and
harvest times.
BARLAND, 4, late September.
BARNET, 5, early October.
BLAKENEY RED, 3, late September.
BRANDY, 4, October.
BUTT, 3, early November.
GIN, 3, mid-October.
GREEN HORSE, 2, mid-Ooctober.
HELLEN’S EARLY, 3, September.
HENDRE HUFFCAP, 2, early October.
JUDGE AMPHLETT, 1, late September.
MOORCROFT, 2, late September.
OLDFIELD, 2, late October.
PARSONAGE, 2, early October.
RED PEAR, 5, October.
SWEET HUFFCAP = HELLEN’S EARLY.
TAYNTON SQUASH, 1, late September.
THORN, 2, late September.
WINNAL’S LONGDEN, 3, early October.
YELLOW HUFFCAP, 2, early mid-October.
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