Somerset is pretty much synonymous with cider making. Around this area are many small farm scale producers each producing a fairly heady mix (called 'scrumpy' in its rawest form). Of course cider seems to be having a revival, and when anything gets popular all the big industrial businesses try and cash in with bland and not-very sustainable versions, using lots of sublte branding and marketing to push it.
But the traditional are getting overwhelmed and one producers stands out as a big British success , and that is Thatchers Cider. Still family run (for over 100 years) they are based just a few miles from Cheddar, on the North side of the Mendip Hills and indeed if you cycle the Strawberry Line you'll find a section passes through and along the edge of their extensive home orchards (thanks to Thatcher's providing a critical off-road link for the route). They do a great range of ciders, and perry's (from pears and not apples), bottled and draft, and some single varietal ciders from single apple types (and not blends). You can sample of of this if you care to pop by the "cider shop" at Myrtle Farm in Sandford (a minute or two off the Strawberry Line).
But the traditional are getting overwhelmed and one producers stands out as a big British success , and that is Thatchers Cider. Still family run (for over 100 years) they are based just a few miles from Cheddar, on the North side of the Mendip Hills and indeed if you cycle the Strawberry Line you'll find a section passes through and along the edge of their extensive home orchards (thanks to Thatcher's providing a critical off-road link for the route). They do a great range of ciders, and perry's (from pears and not apples), bottled and draft, and some single varietal ciders from single apple types (and not blends). You can sample of of this if you care to pop by the "cider shop" at Myrtle Farm in Sandford (a minute or two off the Strawberry Line).
Good local product is one thing but the point of this blog is to acknowledge the great sustainable work Thatchers do, most recently resulting in them being awarded the J.D. Weatherspoons CSR award for their care in reducing energy, water and waste in all areas of production. And it gets better as they have recently been working with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to develop the orchards even more thoughtfully to support Bumblebees and solitary bees which are hugely important in pollination (and not just for orchards) and which have been seeing a worrying decline in recent years.
Of course a delightful way to support Thatchers is by sampling one of their ciders: either in the local pubs, or by taking a bottle of two back to Gorge View Cottage to enjoy in the sun.
Of course a delightful way to support Thatchers is by sampling one of their ciders: either in the local pubs, or by taking a bottle of two back to Gorge View Cottage to enjoy in the sun.
RSS Feed
