The 2023 harvest season is drawing to a close, but we still have a few intense weeks ahead. Now is the time to bring in the late-ripened, extra rich fruit before the autumn wind sweeps it all off the trees. The temperatures are in the single digits and the rains have arrived - but it's worth making a final big push.
Overall, we are very satisfied. While the rest of Baden-Württemberg reported a shortage of fruit from meadow orchards, we hardly knew what to do with all the apples and pears. A late karmic adjustment for the 2 years of harvest loss we had to endure after the heavy hailstorm of 2021. We are especially happy about the incredible pear yield: some trees we harvested for the first time since we started in 2019. After a very poor pear crop in 2022, we are able to produce plenty of perry again this year. There will even be a few single-varietal Perries - the 2023 vintage will be very exciting!
Awards
This year we again went toe to toe with our international competition: After Frankfurt and London, we opted for the XIII SISGA Awards Gijón, in Asturias, Spain.
SISGA (Salón Internacional de les Sidres de Gala) is the most important cider fair in Asturias. It is a celebration of Spanish sidra; but ciders and perries from international producers are also presented and evaluated. With an annual production of 45 million liters, Asturias is one of the most important cider regions in the world. People take their Sidra very seriously here and the competition is correspondingly demanding.
This competition is unusual in that the jury consists mainly of participating producers. So you can be sure that the submitted products will be examined competently and critically. We are all the more pleased with the result: two silver medals for our Perry Cuvée 2021 and Perry "Cobalt Lake" 2022.
Perry - A Drinker's Guide
Wine made from perry pears has long been overshadowed by cider and grape wine. But finally things are beginning to change: The first book devoted exclusively to modern perry is about to be published. If you are at all interested in immersing yourself more deeply in the world of perry, you now have the book to guide you. Adam Wells, one of the most respected voices in the scene, provides all the information you might want, packaged in his inimitable and entertaining prose.
Oh, and yes, 1785 Cider is one of just a handful of German producers featured in the book.
New Releases
Our combination of cider and black currants quickly gained a lot of fans - the initial 100L of 2021 sold out quickly. With its pretty red color and intense flavor, it is a festive drink; and also makes a wonderful base for a mulled cider. The 2022 vintage is available now, just in time for the winter season. Unfortunately, there are again only 100L - but fear not, next year's batch is going to be 300L.
Something very special for cider nerds: a co-ferment of apple and wild plums. These plums and apples grow together in the same orchard, so why not try combining them? Unfiltered, like all our products, this cider is somewhat cloudy due to the addition of the plum. On the nose, the plum is clearly noticeable, especially if the cider is not served too cold. On the palate: dried prunes and apples, big body and long finish. A powerful cider that demands attention.
This cider would pair well with anything that you would combine with a Chinese plum sauce, e.g. grilled or smoked food.
This is a very limited release: we only made 95 bottles total.
Last but not least: We are embarking on a little experiment and offering you a "Cider Club" subscription. Why? Because it will help us moderate some of the seasonal spikes in demand; and because you will enjoy some unique membership benefits.
We are starting very modestly, but if the response is positive, we would like to expand the offerings. Let us know what you would like to see as club benefits.
Club membership fee is €95 per year and includes:
- twice a year (December and June/July) delivery of a selection of 3 different ciders/perries, with detailed description and background information
- exclusive access to new products: We will notify you about 2 weeks before new products are made available to the general public
- 10% discount on all orders or event bookings
If you register by December 1st you will receive the first delivery in time for Christmas. A club membership would be a great gift, wouldn't it?
If you have read this far, thank you for your interest and stay tuned - we have a few more things planned for this year.
Cheers,
Wendy and Patrick |