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

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

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/

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

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/

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

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.