PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE EFFECT

15th October

A FIRST FOR THE UK: "DESSERT CIDER" - BLENHEIM ORANGE CIDER

Deliciously Sweet Blenheim Orange Cider Ready for Official Launch

Local cider, perry and juice producers, Once Upon A Tree, holders of this years International Cider & Perry competition Champions Cup, are adding two new exciting products to their array of award winning ciders; a unique dessert cider and a high quality Champagne method sparkling perry.

The company has chosen the Flavours of Herefordshire Food Festival (held at the Hereford Race Course on 24th - 25th October) to officially launch the Blenheim Orange dessert cider and Ribston Lawn sparkling perry, where they are Finalists in the Small Drinks Producer of the Year award.

Simon Day, cider maker and director of the company, who is also a wine consultant to the UK wine industry says, “I believe our dessert cider to be unique in the UK, no one else has attempted to use techniques borrowed from ice-wine production to make a sweet wine-like cider on a commercial basis. The apple juice is concentrated using a freeze-thaw method and the result is an incredibly intense flavour similar to that of a dessert wine.  It really is something special!”  This Blenheim Orange 2008, single variety, dessert cider (RRP £15.95 per 375ml bottle) is deliciously sweet yet spicy, has a lingering finish and would accompany a dessert or cheeseboard perfectly.

Simon Day has transferred his skills learnt as a professional wine maker and viticulturist to Herefordshire’s finest fruit. He identified an historic perry orchard at Ribston Lawn, Much Marcle, just four miles from Dragon Orchard, which he has used to produce the highest quality perry. In fact, the outstanding quality of the perry pears at Ribston Lawn inspired Simon to strive for a superior perry. He says’ “My ambition is to bring techniques from the wine world to Herefordshire. Ribston Lawn sparkling perry is a fine, elegant drink with a fizz that you would expect from top quality champagne.”  2008 Ribston Lawn Perry (RRP £9.95 per 75cl bottle) has impressive wine-like qualities for a perry and is an inspirational substitute for sparkling wine at any celebration.

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Notes for Editors:

• Once Upon A Tree open their Christmas Shop on 7th November – 20th December for cider, perry and juice tastings & sales, gorgeous hampers full of local produce and local arts.
• Once Upon A Tree were awarded the “Champions Cup” at the International Cider and Perry competition in May 2009
• In the previous year, 2008, Once Upon A Tree were awarded three first prizes at the International Cider and Perry competition; Best Dry Cider, Best Medium Cider and Best Presented Cider,
• Product images and company logo are available – Please contact Simon Day.
• Once Upon A Tree have expanded production on last year. This year they will be crushing approximately 60 tons of apples and pears which will be converted into about 40,000 bottles of cider, perry and juice.
• Further expansion is planned for forthcoming years with the addition of a farm shop.
• The apples are sourced, and the juice and cider made at Dragon Orchard situated in the heart of the traditional apple growing area of Putley near the Marcle Ridge in Herefordshire. With a combination of good orchard management, fantastic soils and perfect meso-climate, the fruit produced is some of the best available anywhere in the UK, with the apples attaining full ripeness yet retaining character and flavour
• Juice and Cider maker, Simon Day is an experienced & professional winemaker who decided to turn his hand to cider making after walking through the local orchards and seeing the potential to use winemaking skills to capture the true characters of the apples in the juice and ciders.

Contact Details:

Simon Day 

Tel 01531 670734

Mob 07796 141390

Email: simon@onceuponatree.co.uk

Web: www.onceuponatree.co.uk