Originally published in 2013. Retained as part of our early cidery archives.
There’s always a long list. On that list are all the jobs that need doing now; all the jobs that need doing soon; and all the things I’d really like to do because they’re far more fun than the first two categories. Unfortunately, I never actually write this list down — which means I usually get distracted by the fun stuff and ignore the priorities. Then this time of year arrives, and I realise the folly of my ways: plenty still to do, and only a few days before the first apples of the season need pressing.
In my defence, I was working to early September for the first apples, thanks to the late spring. But they’re not as far behind as I’d hoped. Still, I think I work better to a deadline, and I’m now frantically making final preparations for what looks to be another big year for The Virtual Orchard.
A quick update: after the long, cold winter we launched the usual Hard Core, along with two new ciders — Saxon Aelle (5.5%) and All About Eve (5.5%) — back in June, having finally run out of the 2011 Hard Core around May. Saxon Aelle was a fruity cider made with five early apple varieties, and All About Eve was a light single‑varietal cider made entirely from Discovery apples. Initial reaction was good, and both have now run dry, so new ones are on the way: Falstaff (5.5%) and Hogshead (5.5%).
The new press and milling machine arrived in July, and we’re currently scurrying around making the final hose and pipe connections to get it running. I’ll introduce the new kit properly in the next post, but this little beauty is a monster — it eats apples like they’re going out of fashion. Most of the manual effort of juice‑making is now gone, so I might actually make it to Christmas in decent physical shape… unlike last year, when I was worn to a crisp.
I should probably also mention the Perry pear orchard we planted, our new cidery at Galleon Wharf in Old Wolverton, our newly granted premises licence (so we can finally sell direct to the lovely public), and the new company vehicle. I really should blog more regularly — then I wouldn’t have to spew all of this out in one slightly incoherent burst. Sorry about that.
Right, time to crack on. There’s a cider‑making course to prepare for on Saturday, and deliveries that won’t deliver themselves.
This post captures the energy and organised chaos of our early cidery days — a reminder of how far we’ve come, and how much of that spirit still shapes what we do today.
