Award-winning brew is apple of Alan's eye

2:12pm Friday 8th June 2007

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FOR eight long weeks every year, Alan and Jo Wordsworth trawl their 110-acre cider orchard and collect around 1.5 million apples by hand.

But all the hard work has proved to be worth it after their Old Barn cider was crowned the champion cider of Wales at a prestigious festival.

The brew was one of four entered by the couple in the Welsh Perry and Cider Championships.

The couple produce around 3,500 litres of cider every year from 25,000 apple trees at their home on Springfield Farm, Llangovan, Monmouthshire.

The apples are hand-picked during September, October and November, before being pressed and stored in large barrels to ferment naturally for at least six months.

The winning dry Old Barn cider, with an alcohol volume of 7.8 per cent, was left to ferment for around one year.

Mr Wordsworth said: "We're very proud to be the first winner of the award where everything is done on site. All those weeks collecting apples were definitely worth it."

The couple also produce and sell apple juice.

They have run Springfield Cider for the last four years.

The 3,500 litres of cider produced is currently sold to friends, wholesalers and some pubs and festivals. They currently do not have a license to sell the cider from Springfield.

This year's championships, held at the Clytha Arms, attracted a record 87 entries from 26 cider makers across Wales.

James Perks, 41, from Monmouthshire, was awarded the prize for best newcomer with his Old Bessie cider and Barn Owl perry.

Mr Perks spent three days collecting thousands of apples, weighing two tonnes, from trees near his home on Tynewydd Farm, Llanarth, Raglan in November.

The fruits were then pressed at Abbey Dore cider Mill before naturally fermenting in barrels at Mr Perks home for three months.

The chartered surveyor's Raglan Cider Mill operation has produced nearly 1,000 litres of cider and perry during the last year.

He is now hoping to step up production after achieving success at the first attempt.

"Hopefully it will encourage others to get involved and produce their own.

"The cider can be enjoyed with some crusty bread and a slice of cheese or on its own. It's a real thirst quencher."

Mike Penney, of Earlswood, Monmouthshire, won the bronze award for the champion perry of Wales.