Somerset cider makers, Thatchers, has kicked off its earliest harvest in history — a full 10 days ahead of schedule — thanks to this year’s long, hot, summer.
For the first time in over 120 years of cider making, the Thatchers team have begun picking apples from their 550 acres of orchards before the August Bank holiday. The extended sunshine has produced apples bursting with flavour, with rich sugars and tannins and promising outstanding quality.
Speaking about this year’s crop, Martin Thatcher, fourth generation cider maker, said; “We’re particularly excited about this year’s harvest. Thanks to the hot summer, the apples are packed full of flavour, rich with sugars and deep, full-bodied tannins. That’s going to be really exciting when it comes to blending as traditional bittersweet apples bring the tannins and full body, while dessert apples, such as our favourite Katy, add freshness and sweetness – combined they create delicious blends like our signature cider, Thatchers Gold.”
The first to be gathered are the bright red Katy apples — a signature variety for Thatchers. Known for their crisp, sweet flavour, they feature in Thatchers Juicy Apple and the award-winning single variety cider, Thatchers Katy, which was recently hailed as “perfect” by judges at the Cider World Awards. Once picked, the apples are pressed immediately to lock in freshness, often within the hour and ready for fermentation.
Richard Johnson, Head Cidermaker at Thatchers Cider said; “We had an excellent spring, where the warm weather and bountiful blossom gave us good pollination, meaning the trees are laden with fruit. The apples are slightly smaller due to the lack of rain, but the flavours are intensified. I’m particularly excited to see our favourite bittersweet varieties like Dabinett and Somerset Redstreak, rich with the tannins that give our ciders the distinctive depth and character we’re known for.”
Thatchers make all their ciders using 100% renewable electricity, including power from their 3,500 solar panels on the roof of their farm.
The earliest ever harvest is not the only record Thatchers has achieved this year. The family-owned company also became the bestselling cider brand in England and Wales, and their latest release, Thatchers Juicy Apple, was the drink of the summer, taking the top spot as the fastest growing new cider.
To help meet demand, they planted 14,500 new apple trees this spring, adding another 50 acres to their orchards, and extended their production facilities at Myrtle Farm where all their cider is made.
Thatchers is also home to the Exhibition Orchard, the largest collection of cider apples in the UK with 458 different varieties. It is a hub for innovation with Thatchers being one of the only cidermakers carrying out research into apple varieties. The 100 Tree Trial, which involves 100 trees of 100 varieties, will help future cider makers understand which varieties will thrive in modern climates and deliver the fresh, full flavours that tomorrow’s cider drinkers will love.
Visit www.thatcherscider.co.uk for more information about Thatchers.
