Cider - mini report

Once the preserve of teenagers, street drinkers and ruddy faced farmers, cider's recent renaissance owes much to the success of Magners, which is produced by the Irish company Bulmers. Confusingly this is a different company to HP Bulmers of Hereford, owned by Scottish and Newcastle Plc, which produces the Scrumpy Jack, Wodpeckers and Bulmers brands.

There is a growing availability of quality organic and farm produced ciders. We've included three varieties recommended by CAMRA, which publishes a Good Cider Guide — Thatchers, Biddendens and Gwatkins (which has won CAMRA's national championship twice).

The makers of both Gwatkins and Sheppy's are also farmers who produce meat. Heron Valley, Luscombe and Dunkertons produce only organic products. Luscombe's and Dunkertons products are marketed as vegan. Some other cider varieties may use animal derived products in production.

� www.vintageroots.co.uk (tel: 0800 980 4992) sell Dunkertons Black Fox, Weston's and Sheppy's
� www.vinceremos.co.uk (tel. 0800 107 3086) sell Dunkertons and Weston's
� www.ciderstore.com (tel: 01453 759057) lists over 150 ciders from 28 artisan cider makers.