Cider Voice 52 – Superb Human Adventure – with Virginie Thomas

Once again we dive into the inspiring international scene, this time learning all about cider in Japan thanks to our guest Lee Reeve, @inciderjapan. We talk through Japan’s cider beginnings in the 1950s, its modern movement that began around 2017 and the different styles, makers, places and inspirations behind modern Japanese cider. From French-style keeves to English bittersweets, from Fuji apples to wild indigenous varieties found in the mountain forests, there’s so much going on here to explore.  Lee also talks us through his journey importing the best of English, French, American, Norwegian and Australian cider to Japan, and how cider is gaining a foothold in a country with such a strong and historic drinks tradition. Shoutouts to producers including @kamoshika_cidre @vinvie.jp @sonofthesmithhardcider and @marukame_farm_cidery Thanks for all the messages you’ve been sending – keep them coming to [email protected]. We love hearing from the 12 of you.

It’s about time we dug into one of the world’s biggest cider cultures – and the only only outside the UK with a large concentration of bittersweet and bittersharp cider apples – France. So who better to catch up with than Virginie Thomas of @bouscule_tes_sens – author, consultant, advocate and trainer? We cover all things French cider, chat through some of the similarities in how the drink’s perceived in the UK and France, then talk about writing a world cider guide during a pandemic, doing tastings with blindfolds on, the mighty crêpe and Brittany’s new cider route. Follow the link in bio to listen, or head to your favourite podcast provider – we're on them all. Something you'd like to hear us discuss? A guest we desperately need to get on? A hot take you'd like to share? We love to hear from our 12 listeners, so give us a shout at [email protected]. We might even read it out if you're very unlucky...

We level up once again this week as we welcome international cider dignitary Darlene Hayes to Cider Voice. One of the most important and influential figures in the American and now global cider revolution, Darlene has played a central role in expanding cider education, especially through the Certified Cider Guide and Certified Pommelier Programmes. We talk through Darlene's introduction to cider, burrow down a rabbit hole of varietal curiosity (with a shoutout to Albert's new Sherrington Norman) and then chat all things Pommelier following the course's worldwide expansion. If you want the inside track on these new cider qualifications; what they are, how they were put together, what's involved in taking them – and how to avoid any obvious slipups, this is the episode for you. Plus a special behind the scenes glimpse at the shape that these cider education programmes might take next.

With Albert on Freya-watch, Adam and Justin decide to celebrate a year of Cider Voice by learning how to actually podcast, and chatting to our secret producer, Neutral Cider Hotel's Martyn Goodwin Sharman, aka @cidershit Cue a wide-ranging chat with someone who's watched the aspirational cider revolution first-hand for almost a decade. Everything from Daniel Craig ice lollies to cider tie-die t-shirts, not really caring about varieties (sorry Albert) and the question of how to get people to care about cider. Turns out all we need to take the next step in podcasting is a celebrity presenter, six-hour recording sessions, a pandemic and a few convincing impressions from Justin. Cheers Martyn! Albert makes cider @rosscider @adamhwells writes about it @cider_review Justin is getting dangerously knowledgeable @justinwellsjustin

It's been a year since we relaunched Cider Voice and to celebrate, Albert's holding a massive festival at the farm and launching 14 special edition ciders. In this episode we run through all the festival releases, from the last of a particular perry pear ever to be grown on the farm to an apple that isn't called Hagloe Lobster. Has Albert been coerced into releasing a perry by Adam? And is Ross-on-Wye just becoming a sea of acid. Have a listen to discover this year's full festival release rundown, and if you haven't booked your festival ticket yet, hie thee to rosscider.com

‘The wobbler’. ‘The shakey shakey’. ‘Ladder method’. ‘Plank method’. ‘Squolch’. What does it all mean? With harvest rapidly incoming, Albert and the Cousins Wells sit down to discuss the vital topic of Toil. The physical business of making cider is, we feel, much underdiscussed. But between Adam’s leather jacket and Justin’s ‘hands more suited to picking up cake’ we feel we’re the people to do it. From trees that are laughing at you, to trailers that won’t tip their apples, splishy-splashy filth water and the squolch bucket, every facet of toil is covered. Plus has it turned out that the route to big sales is dressing in a medieval cowl? In other plugs, Ross Fest is round the corner, Justin’s becoming a regular at the brilliant Joyce and The London Cider House and it’s definitely not too early to buy Adam’s book Perry: A Drinker’s Guide as a Christmas present for everyone you know. Albert toils @rosscider @adamhwells spoils @justinwellsjustin recoils  Bonus cider this week from @evescidery

The team pull a late one for an extra exciting episode with a serious time difference as we catch up with Camilla Humphries (@camillas_crush) cider maker, expert and advocate in Mornington Peninsular, Australia. We see almost none of Australia’s amazing cider scene here in the UK so Camilla gives us the full rundown from climate to apples to the inspirational Cider Australia (@cideraustralia) movement. We also learn about her travels around the cider regions and orchards of the world on a research trip for the Churchill Trust, and how her learnings have been applied by Cider Australia in their advocacy and research.  Read Camilla’s report here: https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/project/to-investigate-orchard-growing-systems-for-improving-australian-cider-production/ Albert pulls all-nighters @rosscider @adamhwells moonlights @cider_review Justin burns the candle @justinwellsjustin

The team welcome a transatlantic cider rock star to the pod for this episode as they're joined by Eleanor Leger, co-founder and owner of Vermont's @edenciders We talk about all things ice cider and how Eden experiment with this magnificent dessert cider style. Plus the economics of fine cider, and how Eden have diversified over the years whilst staying true to their full juice roots. Having experimented with British varieties we talk about the different flavours they produce in American terroirs, which leads us to a discussion of the new frontier of propagating wild American apples for cider. Finally things get extra serious as Eleanor demonstrates the massive impact that climate change has had on not only her orchards, but the very styles of cider she can make. An absolutely brilliant chat with one of the most significant figures in aspirational cider. Albert is lightly chilled @rosscider @adamhwells cools off @cider_review Justin breaks the mill @justinwellsjustin

It's the 44th episode of Cider Voice and in Albert's absence thanks to his exciting new role we have a huge question: do we finally have a 13th listener? To celebrate we're joined by whisky writer and new Cider Review contributor Beatrix Swanson. Bea talks to Justin and Adam about growing up in Germany's apfelwein country and how she joined the cider community. We extol the virtues of the bagnum and ponder whether cider and perry might be the ultimate drinks for Gen Z. Since, like all the best people, Bea's come to cider from whisky, we also turn our attention to the vital question of the perfect whisky and cider pairings, whilst Justin worries that he might need a bigger bottle rack. A really fun episode chatting to one of the most exciting new voices in cider. Albert has a new job @rosscider @adamhwells has a new whisky @cider_review Justin has a new mouthful of pasta @justinwellsjustin