6 ciders that make great wine alternatives
Following her feature on why cider makes a great alternative to wine, we asked pommelier Jane Peyton to choose 6 of her favourites
1. Starvecrow, Qvevri
Bottled Pét-Nat style but fermented and matured in a Qvevri (clay amphora) under a veil of flor.
5.5% abv, £44/3 x 75cl bottles. Fine Cider Company, https://thefinecider.company
2. Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry, Raison d’Etre 2018
Current BBC Food & Farming Drinks Producer of the Year, Raison d’Etre is an annual release fermented in former Scottish whisky barrels, then bottle conditioned.
8.4% abv, £10 x 750ml bottle. Ross Cider & Perry. https://rosscider.com/
3. Find & Foster Methode Traditionelle Seven 2018
Find & Foster are Devon based MT specialists. They work with landowners to manage and revive moribund orchards and protect local apple varieties that might otherwise be lost.
7.5% abv, £48/3 x 750ml, Fine Cider Company https://thefinecider.company
4. Little Pomona, Col Fondo 2019
The latest in a series of single variety Egremont Russet expressions from Little Pomona. ‘Col fondo’ means the lees from bottle conditioning have not been disgorged leading to a natural, sour tang.
8.4% abv, £15 x 750ml bottle Little Pomona https://littlepomona.com/
5. Oliver’s Cider & Perry, Yarlington Mill 2019
A single variety from the master Tom Oliver. Yarlington Mill is a bittersweet cider apple which means it has more tannins than acidity. Aged in oak.
6.5% abv, £6.90 x 750ml bottle. Oliver’s Cider & Perry https://www.oliversciderandperry.co.uk
6. Once Upon A Tree, Blenheim Superb Ice Cider
Intensely sweet from cryo-concentrating the juice. It is fermented slowly with Champagne yeast.
7% abv, £20 x 375ml bottle. Once Upon A Tree https://shop.haygrove-evolution.com
Interested in finding out more about why cider can make a great alternative to wine? Read Jane's original feature here...
This article was updated from one that was originally published in imbibe live magazine on 27 Nov 2020.