MikeandCindy

looking for small ciderys in south west england to stay when we are traveling through this february

flanneruk

What do you mean by SW England, and how important is "organic"?

Few craft cider (or perry) makers are particularly obsessed about organicness: it's the cider making techniques and the quality of the apples or pears that comes top of their list - and relatively few can afford the cost (or justify the damage to the environment) in grubbing out old orchards, keeping them out of production while the land qualifies for Soil Association certification, then replanting.

So, while there are a fair few craft cider makers, you might struggle to find many making a feature of organic certification.

The craft end of the cider-making business is, like the industrial end, concentrated in the Three Counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. You'll find a list of their non-industrial members at http://www.thethreecountiesciderandp...o.uk/links.htm.

Elsewhere in the SW, for Somerset: http://www.ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index....rs_in_Somerset. For Devon: http://www.ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index....ucers_in_Devon

Otherwise: a reasonably full list of all cider makers is at http://www.ukcider.co.uk/wiki/index....onal_Producers.

For a list of industrial makers any cider aficionado would pour into the nearest drain, except it'd be cruel to the rats: www.camra.org.uk/page.aspx?o=nonrealciders . This list of bulk purveyors of instant pissedness to Britain's youth is practically identical to the membership of the National Association of Cider Makers. Their site (www.cideruk.com/members_and_links) has lots of interesting stuff about cider making: just don't go near any of their factories - or drink what they make.

chartley

Two things. I think this is the first time I have seen the word "cidery". When you are in the West Country, the phrase "cider maker" is probably more readily understood.

The other is that you ask for places where you can stay. I think you will find it very hard to find a place which is suitable for both a visit to the factory and a place to sleep.

You do realise that "cider" in Europe is always alcoholic?

MikeandCindy

Thanks!

Certified organic is not important. And we're willing to explore beyond Devon and Cornwall (where we are already going) to find small Cider makers. If any of the producers have B and Bs or accommodation that would be a bonus. We'll check out all those links!

(We're farmers and Cider makers in Canada).

Gordon_R

Just out of interest - and for reference for future travels - what is the alcohol content of cider and is this a popular drink over in Canada?

annhig

Hi mikeandcindy

here are a couple of links to cornish cider makers:

http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/food/cider

htmhttp://www.thecornishcyderfarm.co.uk/

for accommodation, especially lists of B&Bs, you might like to look at the cornwall tourist board site:

www.visitcornwall.co.uk

another place you might find interesting is the Trevaskis farm, which is a pick your own, with a very good shop and restaurant attached:

www.trevaskisfarm.co.uk

also the followng which is an organic farm with farmshop:

www.cusgarne.org

do come back to me if you want some more help with accommodation once you've narrowed down what area/s you're interested in.

regards, ann [your cornish correspondent].

stfc

Google is my friend. Cidery appears to be another one of those N American words that has no life this side of the pond. Most 'Brits' I think would treat it as an adjective. Like spidery. But not like winery.

Hope you find some interesting places to visit. Cider has made great advances in popularity here in the last decade, after all the wrong associations for too long.

G_Hopper

@MikeandCindy - Westons in Herefordshire makes organic cider:
http://www.westons-cider.co.uk/Visitors-Centre/
I've been able to find it in Ontario at the liquor stores.

@Gordon_R - Hard Cider, as it's often known in N. America, has an alcohol content similar to beer: 4-7% I've only been in Canada a couple of years but I don't think Hard Cider is hugely popular. Pubs will occasionally have Strongbow on tap and you can find some offerings in the liquor stores. MikeandCindy, as cider makers, can probably tell you its actual popularity in Canada. You can go to this link to see what ciders he LCBO (Ontario liquor stores) sells:
http://bit.ly/77SdGZ

Cholmondley_Warner

Hard Cider, as it's often known in N. America, has an alcohol content similar to beer: 4-7% >>>

That's about the same - 5% is normal - and there are some mad ones that go up tp 10%.

Somerset is the pace for Cider not Devon or Cornwall IMHO.

CW - raised on scrumpy. Probably now has Alzheimers.

annhig

Somerset is the pace for Cider not Devon or Cornwall IMHO.>>

keep up to speed, CW.

you don't know what you're missing.

http://www.cornishrattler.co.uk/