It’s no myth that cider is a brilliant and versatile match with cheese. What grows together goes together as they say. Cider has the acid required to cut through the fattiness and tannins in cider that may seem a little dry in the drink itself combine with the proteins in cheese to become soft and velvety. Fruit sweetness and those additional spicy, leathery flavours of some West Country ciders are often reflected in the cheeses themselves.
It’s a great world to explore and this three-pack will get you started on an epic journey of flavour!
Kingston Black Dragon Orchard Pet Nat is a spontaneous fermentation of Kingston Black from Annie and Norman at Dragon Orchard in Putley. Vibrant gold with a creamy sparkle, the aromatics are gorgeous - warm apple pie, vanilla, honey and the subtle scent of violets. In the mouth it's velvety plush with noticeable residual sweetness and is mouth-wateringly juicy and fresh. Crunchy yellow apples, caramelised peaches, baking spice and runny honey all framed by apricot fuzz tannins. Try this with with a hunk of salty blue cheese.
Ripple is cider’s answer to a beautiful Chablis. Pale lemon in the glass with a gorgeously fragrant nose of jasmine blossom, honey and sugared almonds, the opulence and purity of the vintage is truly dazzling. Super succulent fruit around a core of fine, ripe acid. White peach, melon rind, anise and crystalised lemon peel with a sweet floral perfume running through it from beginning to end. With cheese, match it with soft but full flavoured cheeses – ripe Brie, Camembert or their equivalents.
Yarlington Mill 2021 Bottle Conditioned This example of Yarlington Mill shows all of the best characteristics of the variety – baking spice, leather, sweet hay, big cuddly tannins and lots and lots of juicy orange and apricot. And it's absolutely the perfect partner for fine, mature cheddars.