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It’s about time we dug into one of the world’s biggest cider cultures – and the only only outside the UK with a large concentration of bittersweet and bittersharp cider apples – France.
So who better to catch up with than Virginie Thomas of @bouscule_tes_sens – author, consultant, advocate and trainer?
We cover all things French cider, chat through some of the similarities in how the drink’s perceived in the UK and France, then talk about writing a world cider guide during a pandemic, doing tastings with blindfolds on, the mighty crêpe and Brittany’s new cider route.
Follow the link in bio to listen, or head to your favourite podcast provider – we're on them all.
Something you'd like to hear us discuss? A guest we desperately need to get on? A hot take you'd like to share? We love to hear from our 12 listeners, so give us a shout at [email protected]. We might even read it out if you're very unlucky...
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Manglende episoder?
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We level up once again this week as we welcome international cider dignitary Darlene Hayes to Cider Voice.
One of the most important and influential figures in the American and now global cider revolution, Darlene has played a central role in expanding cider education, especially through the Certified Cider Guide and Certified Pommelier Programmes.
We talk through Darlene's introduction to cider, burrow down a rabbit hole of varietal curiosity (with a shoutout to Albert's new Sherrington Norman) and then chat all things Pommelier following the course's worldwide expansion.
If you want the inside track on these new cider qualifications; what they are, how they were put together, what's involved in taking them – and how to avoid any obvious slipups, this is the episode for you. Plus a special behind the scenes glimpse at the shape that these cider education programmes might take next.
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With Albert on Freya-watch, Adam and Justin decide to celebrate a year of Cider Voice by learning how to actually podcast, and chatting to our secret producer, Neutral Cider Hotel's Martyn Goodwin Sharman, aka @cidershit
Cue a wide-ranging chat with someone who's watched the aspirational cider revolution first-hand for almost a decade. Everything from Daniel Craig ice lollies to cider tie-die t-shirts, not really caring about varieties (sorry Albert) and the question of how to get people to care about cider.
Turns out all we need to take the next step in podcasting is a celebrity presenter, six-hour recording sessions, a pandemic and a few convincing impressions from Justin. Cheers Martyn!
Albert makes cider @rosscider@adamhwells writes about it @cider_reviewJustin is getting dangerously knowledgeable @justinwellsjustin
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It's been a year since we relaunched Cider Voice and to celebrate, Albert's holding a massive festival at the farm and launching 14 special edition ciders.
In this episode we run through all the festival releases, from the last of a particular perry pear ever to be grown on the farm to an apple that isn't called Hagloe Lobster. Has Albert been coerced into releasing a perry by Adam? And is Ross-on-Wye just becoming a sea of acid.
Have a listen to discover this year's full festival release rundown, and if you haven't booked your festival ticket yet, hie thee to rosscider.com
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‘The wobbler’. ‘The shakey shakey’. ‘Ladder method’. ‘Plank method’. ‘Squolch’. What does it all mean? With harvest rapidly incoming, Albert and the Cousins Wells sit down to discuss the vital topic of Toil.
The physical business of making cider is, we feel, much underdiscussed. But between Adam’s leather jacket and Justin’s ‘hands more suited to picking up cake’ we feel we’re the people to do it.
From trees that are laughing at you, to trailers that won’t tip their apples, splishy-splashy filth water and the squolch bucket, every facet of toil is covered. Plus has it turned out that the route to big sales is dressing in a medieval cowl?
In other plugs, Ross Fest is round the corner, Justin’s becoming a regular at the brilliant Joyce and The London Cider House and it’s definitely not too early to buy Adam’s book Perry: A Drinker’s Guide as a Christmas present for everyone you know.
Albert toils @rosscider@adamhwells spoils@justinwellsjustin recoils
Bonus cider this week from @evescidery
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The team pull a late one for an extra exciting episode with a serious time difference as we catch up with Camilla Humphries (@camillas_crush) cider maker, expert and advocate in Mornington Peninsular, Australia.
We see almost none of Australia’s amazing cider scene here in the UK so Camilla gives us the full rundown from climate to apples to the inspirational Cider Australia (@cideraustralia) movement.
We also learn about her travels around the cider regions and orchards of the world on a research trip for the Churchill Trust, and how her learnings have been applied by Cider Australia in their advocacy and research.
Read Camilla’s report here: https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/project/to-investigate-orchard-growing-systems-for-improving-australian-cider-production/
Albert pulls all-nighters @rosscider@adamhwells moonlights @cider_reviewJustin burns the candle @justinwellsjustin
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The team welcome a transatlantic cider rock star to the pod for this episode as they're joined by Eleanor Leger, co-founder and owner of Vermont's @edenciders
We talk about all things ice cider and how Eden experiment with this magnificent dessert cider style. Plus the economics of fine cider, and how Eden have diversified over the years whilst staying true to their full juice roots.
Having experimented with British varieties we talk about the different flavours they produce in American terroirs, which leads us to a discussion of the new frontier of propagating wild American apples for cider.
Finally things get extra serious as Eleanor demonstrates the massive impact that climate change has had on not only her orchards, but the very styles of cider she can make.
An absolutely brilliant chat with one of the most significant figures in aspirational cider.
Albert is lightly chilled @rosscider@adamhwells cools off @cider_reviewJustin breaks the mill @justinwellsjustin
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It's the 44th episode of Cider Voice and in Albert's absence thanks to his exciting new role we have a huge question: do we finally have a 13th listener? To celebrate we're joined by whisky writer and new Cider Review contributor Beatrix Swanson.
Bea talks to Justin and Adam about growing up in Germany's apfelwein country and how she joined the cider community. We extol the virtues of the bagnum and ponder whether cider and perry might be the ultimate drinks for Gen Z.
Since, like all the best people, Bea's come to cider from whisky, we also turn our attention to the vital question of the perfect whisky and cider pairings, whilst Justin worries that he might need a bigger bottle rack.
A really fun episode chatting to one of the most exciting new voices in cider.
Albert has a new job @rosscider@adamhwells has a new whisky @cider_reviewJustin has a new mouthful of pasta @justinwellsjustin
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Well, it's another Albertless episode, but that doesn't hold Justin and Adam back from interviewing the once and future Cider Critic James Finch of Chapel Sider and Cider Review fame!
They discuss Chapel Sider's origin and future, James' love of orchards, and the vicissitudes of cider writing and advocacy, along with a bit of a retrospective on Cider Review and how it came about. Not to mention the legendary Fine Cider Fridays 👀
What's next on the radar for James? Will Justin keep asking questions he asked ten minutes ago? Will Adam survive the brutal summer heat of Ireland? And, most importantly, will the guys avoid the Wrath of Albert by managing to wrap in less than an hour?!
Find out at CiderVoice.com, or wherever you pod!
Albert is on paternity leave @rosscideradamhwells in spoiling in the heat @cider_reviewJustin is forgetting what he's asked @justinwellsjustin
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With the whole CV team back together again we thought about doing an earnest and serious conversation about apple and pear varieties. But with all the sport on we changed our mind and turned it into a knockout tournament to discover the greatest (British) cider apple or perry pear of them all.
Pitting 32 contenders against each other, Adam tasks Justin and Albert with finding the ultimate.Thorn vs Bulmers Norman?Egremont Russet vs Yellow Huffcap?Moorcroft vs Kingston Black?Stoke Red vs Butt?Which will be left standing at the end?
Get ready for an extreme fund of sporting metaphors:What are the Gareth Southgate and Andy Murray of perry pears?Who is the Joe Root of Cider Voice?Which matchup is like Hamilton winning Silverstone for the 9th time?And which round do our judges just want to dispense with?
Featuring Justin’s pomological insights like ‘Coppy sounds a bit like cuppy’ and Albert’s true feelings on Bisquet, the biggest question of all is will the final go to penalties? Want to know the greatest apple or pear? You'll have to listen.
Shoutout to Swedish cidermaker Hjulsjö 103
Albert's the midfield general @rosscider@adamhwells has a vicious backhand @cider_reviewJustin's dug in @justinwellsjustin
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In this episode Justin and Adam demand the finest ciders available to humanity and they want them here and they want them now, so who better to speak to than Felix Nash, founder of the Fine Cider Company.
We talk the 10-year development of Fine Cider, the ways Felix has found to bring restaurants round to the concept, parallels with and differences to fine wine, the new Fine Cider Shop in London and the importance of getting the public on board via events like the upcoming Stockport Cider Salon.
Shoutouts primarily to tomoliverscider
Albert makes fine cider @rosscider@adamhwells writes fine words @cider_reviewJustin's feeling fine @justinwellsjustin
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With Adam still MIA, Justin and Albert make it all the way to the top, sitting down with the godfather of aspirational cider, Mr Tom Oliver @tomoliverscider.
Drawing on Tom's wealth of knowledge and abundant wit we chat adventures in America, ordering everything on the menu and the increasing importance of aspirational cider on keg.
As a kindred Herefordshire cidermaker Albert and Tom compare notes on the importance of the stamp of the maker, the recent inaugural edition of Cider School, pride in Herefordian produce, collaboration and the upcoming Apple Fest.
A privilege, as ever, to talk to one of cider's most important characters.
Ciders by @chapel_sider and @hudsonvalleyfarmhousecider
Albert makes cider @rossciderJustin leads tastings @justinwellsjustinAdam can't think of a single Tom Oliver pun @cider_review
(Ed: why didn't he just write, Adam wants some more @cider_review?)
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Absolute cider royalty comes to the pod this week as Justin and Albert are joined by Alison Taffs, head honcho at multi-award-winning might-as-well-keep-the-trophy cider pub The Hop Inn.
We talk about Alison and Justin's shared background as drama students at Mountview, and how that armed them to become tasting host extraordinaires, we touch on managing alcohol intake when working in the drinks industry and Alison schools us on what makes good hospitality.
Only momentarily distracted by Justin looking up directions to the Hop Inn on his phone, we learn how to build the ultimate cider list as a pub and how gaining confidence with tasting notes can help drinkers, producers and hospitality staff.
Ciders by @gospel_green
Albert lords the land @rossciderAdam hops in @cider_review Justin is on heavy antihistamines @justinwellsjustin
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In the latest instalment of 'Seminal Ciders' Adam catches up with someone who's been writing about cider even longer than he has – Natalia of @ciderexplorer.
Based in Germany, Natalia's been covering the continental cider scene since 2017, shining a light on central European cider cultures as well as countries whose cider doesn't always get a spotlight.
We talk about the cider that got her started, the current state of German cider, the magical event that is @CiderWorld, the first cider she ever gave full marks, the bottle that persuaded her perry could be good and more!
Featuring ciders from Poland, Germany, Austria, France and Croatia: @cydr_ignacow @gutshof_kraatz @blakstoc @Jerome.forget61 @kertelreiter_cider @buzdovan_craft_cider
Albert explores apples @rosscider@adamhwells charts words @cider_review Justin may be some time @justinwellsjustin
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Albert and Adam sit down to chat with Gabe Cook aka The Ciderologist on everything from his origins in the cider world, to the state of bittersweet cider, to education in cider and perry and the way forward. Part trip down memory lane and part assessment of the current British cider scene.
Join Gabe's substack: https://theciderologist.substack.com/
Sign up for the Certified Cider Professional Programme here: https://www.theciderologist.com/pages/certified-cider-professional-programme
BBC Natural World: Wye, Voices from the Valley (2007).
Albert grows weird apples at @rosscider@adamhwells assesses weird apples for @cider_review (and has written a book!)Justin drinks the weird apples (@justinwellsjustin)
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Albert’s away again so it all goes off the rails – Adam’s distracted by how good a cider is and Justin’s gone for a sauna.
But then we rein it back in and chat about Justin’s first experience leading a cider and perry tasting – ‘an introduction to Herefordshire.’
We talk what he served, what he learned, preferences and preconceptions and and Gin Pear/Cookie Dough Affogato.
Planning a tasting with some of your own friends? This is the episode for you.
Albert toils @rosscider@adamhwells spoils @cider_review (and has written a book!)Justin broils @justinwellsjustin
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For the third instalment of our 'this is your life, but in cider' series, Adam finally stops just talking to co-hosts and sits down with drinks writer Rachel Hendry (@ratchellle), who is definitely appearing in a full-length cider voice episode for the first time.
With absolutely no technical hitches whatsoever we cover accidentally becoming an award-winning beer writer, the relationships between pub regulars and the staff who work in those pubs, ciders so good they make you scream and the trials and tribulations of fact retention.
Have a listen and discover Rachel's five all-time most important picks, from the perry that 'did it' to the 'most fun drink ever'.
Albert makes cider @rossciderAdam (@adamhwells) writes on @cider_review (and has written a book!)Justin is London's hottest new cider tasting impresario (@justinwellsjustin)
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In the second part of our series on the drinks that shaped our journey in cider, it’s Albert’s turn to reveal the bottles that have most impacted him.
Shockingly, three of them are Ross-on-Wye – though Albert didn't actually press the apples in any of them, though he helped bottle and shape the latter two. Even more shockingly however, two of the ciders aren’t Ross-on-Wye's at all!
In this episode we learn the bottle ‘that did it’ for Albert and the two Ross-on-Wyes that shaped his cider making trajectory. Plus the British cidery that’s most impacted him and a recent cider that inspired him to keep learning and evolving.
A lovely conversation with one of aspirational cider’s modern greats (Adam’s words, not Albert’s!)
Ciders by @rosscider @littlepomona and @haykinfamilycider
Albert makes cider @rossciderAdam writes about it @adamhwells and @cider_review
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In our new episode we finally sit down and get properly technical (ish) thanks to Laurence Cocking, former winemaker now cidermaker extraordinaire at @littlepomona.
In other news, we get an earth-shattering four emails from listeners – and it turns out we’ve had one of them since February. Justin and Adam refuse to skip the banal bit. Laurence brings traditional method know how, ably supported by Justin’s advice on ‘blasting the dead yeast cells out’. And Albert wants to know just how damn big champagne bubbles are.
In an epic instance of poor co-ordination Justin and Adam both taste ciders from @bluebarrelcider, with Laurence and Albert staying on brand.
Albert methods traditionally @rossciderAdam bubbles over @adamhwells and @cider_reviewJustin ferments in bottle @justinwells1346
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