With grape harvest now complete and the winemaking process underway in the winery, our focus now turns to apple & pear harvest, which for us here at Biddenden means it’s a busy time for pressing fruit for our juices & ciders.
We’ve been making cider & juice for over 40 years and are proud to use our traditional family recipe to produce a range which is packed full of flavour, whilst giving a nod to our expertise as winemakers.
We work with local farms, many of whom also have grown fruit for generations, who keep the fruit on the trees for us until it is perfectly orchard ripe. This means that the apples & pears are picked when they are at their most flavourful and packed with juice. By allowing the fruit to fully ripen, we are then able to really showcase the flavour, something which shines through in our whole range, from our strong Kentish cider made with a blend of culinary & dessert apples, or our Clearly Juice, each made using a named single variety or blend to give a whole spectrum of flavours to choose from.
Over the years, our range has grown vastly and there’s sure to be a cider to suit every taste. Our strong Kentish ciders are all still, and almost wine-like in style, whilst for those who enjoy a little fizz, our bottle fermented Sparkling Cider is made to the traditional method, as a champagne would be. But it’s not just these traditional styles of cider we produce; Biddies are the most recent edition to our range, with a choice of 3 lightly sparkling ciders, more craft cider like and perfect served over ice.
Of course, as we head into the colder months, and with Halloween & bonfire night coming up soon, it’s our Monk’s Delight which takes centre stage – our still cider blended with honey & spices which is perfect served as a mulled cider. No need to add anything at all, simply pour into a saucepan and warm through.
And for real cider connoisseurs, Biddenden Special Reserve is a must try. Fermented for 18 months in oak whisky casks, it has a rich, smoky-oaky taste, and is ideally served as a sipper – great to enjoy in front of the fire or as a night cap.
If you’re visiting over the coming months, it’s highly likely you’ll be greeted by the scent of freshly pressed apples in the air as we press & bottle both our own drinks and those for other local farmers & producers.
All of the ciders mentioned above may be purchased from our Vineyard Shop, which is now open 6 days a week under our autumn hours, or online for nationwide home delivery.
– Tom
