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   CIDER, PERRY 

& COUNTRY WINES -2009 LIST 

The cider and perry selection is brought to us by Matt Browne and Phil Kennedy (Stubbing Wharf Cruises) who supply the Stubbing Wharf pub, Hebden Bridge which hosts its famous International Ciderfest each June and an Apple Day every October. You will note that many smaller Herefordshire producers are making their first appearances at Wakefield. Due to difficult conditions for perry producers, supplies of perry are very limited this year, although this autumn's perry pear harvest promises a bumper 2010 for perry. Matt and Phil's company is the Real Cider Company, 1 Thistle Buildings, Charlestown, Hebden Bridge HX7 6NW, tel: 01422-846994. Over the course of the festival the following should be available:

information shown in this colour may not be entirely correct 

Please note that quoted abv of farm produced products may vary from year to year, according to the fruit crop.

Notes on some of this year's cidermakers and perry producers gathered by Wakefield Cider Bar Manager, Richard Norris:

Gwynt Y Ddraig -Gwynt Y Ddraig Cider started production in the late autumn of 2001. Bill George and Andrew 'Drew' Gronow embarked on a cider making venture with one remit, to make cider using traditional methods. There were no plans with what would be done with the cider once made, apart from being drunk that is, and it was all very much approached as a hobby.

H. Weston and Sons-  Established in Herfordshire in1880 Westons is now the last of the crop of large scale independent cider makers, it has survived as a family firm and its ciders can be found country wide. Unlike some large producers Westons uses only pure juice in its cider  production. www.westons-cider.co.uk 

Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Co- One of the great producers of the craft cider revival. Cider has been made on the Johnstons' farm for more than twenty years, Over 70 varieties of apples and pears are grown all of which are turned in to cider or perry. Ross makes great use rum or whiskey casks to produce a distinctive flavour. A great believer in the art of blending you will find out why Ross cider has been a firm favorite at festivals around the country. www.rosscider.com

Butford Organics- Yorkshireman Martin Butford set up an organic farm including an orchard and has gravitated gradually to cider and perry making on a larger scale. Martin produces delicately flavored well balanced ciders. www.butfordorganics.co.uk  

Olivers- Tom Oliver, also the tour manager for the band the Proclaimers, produces excellent easy drinking ciders which are well balanced. www.theolivers.org.uk 

Broadoak Cider Brian Blunt has been making cider and perry of all sorts for 25 years and is now one of the country's biggest independents.

Westcroft Founded in 1994 John Harris makes high quality award wining ciders www.somersetcidervinegarco.co.uk/westcroftcider.html 

Burrow Hill- Julien Temperly has been producing cider for over 35 years. Something of a pioneer in the cider world, he decided not to go the traditional route when he started, and instead made ciders worthy to be placed on the tables of the affluent and discerning, as they had been two centuries ago. He then progressed to cider brandy, it too has  won numerous awards. Today a third of his 150,000 gallon output goes into distilling the brandy but this still leaves a healthy 100,000 gallons to ferment into delicious cider. www.ciderbrandy.co.uk

Hecks Farmhouse Cider – Hecks, a family firm in existence for over 70 years making over 20 differing ciders www.hecksfarmhousecider.co.uk 

Ben Crossman – Small producer with farm shop selling chutneys, free range eggs and of course delicious  farmhouse cider http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~gunning/scrumpy/scrpro01.html#crossman 

Rich's  Third generation family business, the cider farm now has a gift shop, restaurant and a museum, all cider related. www.richscider.co.uk  

COUNTRY WINES (2008 selection)