Incider Knowledge at International Festival

Fancy yourself as a cider connoisseur? Think you know your perry from your Pinot Grigio? This year’s International Craft Cider Festival at Llancaiach Fawr near Caerphilly will sort the juice from the pulp with a range of masterclasses and demonstrations from well known faces from the local and international cider scene.

The event is the work of the Welsh Perry and Cider Society. Development Officer Cressida Slater said: “There’s a real thirst for knowledge about all aspects of craft cider making and enjoyment, and we know that our audience at the festival will want to use the festival to learn as much as they can from a broad range of experts from here and abroad, to help them enjoy the ciders and perries they love.”

With the huge rise in popularity in craft ciders in recent years, and a growing demand for knowledge in how they are made, this summer’s festival over the weekend of August 12-14 offers nine masterclasses and demonstrations, kicking off with a back to basics cooking class with local chef Sebastian Vanoni of the Bunch of Grapes, Pontypridd as he cooks up some culinary creations using cider.

On Saturday we take a journey around the world of cider, beginning in Spain with a look at the Asturian Cider Tasting traditions. Why do they hold the bottle above the head to pour? Why the special glass? The traditional pouring technique for ‘sidra’ is to hold the bottle at head height, and the glass at the waist – but of course the skill lies in not spilling a drop!

Continuing our trip around Europe, cider maker Adam Bland of Cidre Les Noyers in Calvados, France will be taking us through the French style ‘cidres’, an opportunity to find out if visitors are more doux than brut!

You can discover why the famous German favourite Hessen drink is called wine, as the directors of the apfelwein company Apfelweinkontor impart their knowledge on how this drink compares to the usual image of cider.  Closer to home our neighbour from Ross-on-Wye, Mike Johnson, of Ross Cider and Perry, awarded Champion Cider Maker at this year’s Big Apple Cider & Perry Trials gives us an insight into what goes into an award-winning cider.

If you have ever fancied turning your hand to making your own cider, The Cider Apple Tree and Orcharding masterclass on Sunday will be right up your tree-lined street.  John Worle ran the orchards for Bulmers for a large part of his career, and now runs his well-established apple tree nurseries in Hereford. John will be there to impart his extensive knowledge of cider apple trees and orchard planting.

In addition to the opportunity to sample some of the best ciders in the world, and to learn about the craft, there’ll be bands with a variety of musical flavours playing throughout the weekend to really get people partying. Whether your tipple is ‘sidra’, ‘cidre’ or the more familiar cider, this year’s International Craft Cider Festival has everything for every type of cider lover.  From drinking to making to learning new facts and traditions, it is all there, wrapped up in a fun-filled and energetic weekend in the beautiful rural valleys of South East Wales.

Tickets are still available. For further information please go to www.internationalciderfestival.com

Ends

Editor’s Notes

The music programme consists of the following:

Friday: Paper Aeroplanes, Jamie Smith’s Mabon, Bleedin’ Noses, Bi Beo, The Misers, 4th Street Traffic & Tragic Generation

Saturday: The Decoy, Peter Bruntnell, Paper Aeroplanes, Plod, Cuba Cuba, Hannah Grace, 10 Foot Small, Bi Beo, Chris Summerill, Futuretown & Innovence

Sunday: Henry’s Funeral Shoe, Alpine Stompers, Rusty Shackle & Tattsyrup

Cider is fermented apple juice and perry is fermented pear juice. Depending on the style, cider can be made from a mixture of dessert apple varieties and cooking apple varieties, or from specialist cider apples. Cider apples are smaller and harder than cookers or eaters, but produce excellent juice for cider making

The festival is one of the many events in the Love The Summer Love The Valleys campaign, part of Valleys Heart and Soul, a three year campaign which aims to raise awareness of the region as a tourist destination and bring long-term economic benefits to the area, with £42million investment to regenerate The Valleys and highlight the vast amount of activities and attractions on offer for its residents and visitors.

For further information: Tim Powell 07939 571553

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