Minchew's Real Cyder & Perry has been produced commercially since 1993 and they now have the world's largest range of single variety Cyders and Perries. They are committed to producing the highest quality Cyders and Perries through natural methods, without the aid of artificial assistance, additives or chemicals. All fruit is hand-picked, hand-washed, milled in an old-fashioned scratter and pressed on an old stone slab, which has run with the juice of apples and pears for over a century, and then allowed to ferment naturally in oak barrels. Only when fermentation has naturally ceased and is judged to be mature, is it then bottled; which accounts for its unique characteristics and the many awards Minchew's have won.

Minchew's Real Cyder & Perry are situated in the lower Severn valley, between the Cotswolds and the Malvern Hills, and all their fruit is sourced within this fertile area. Several varietal Cyders and Perries are produced, along with some distinctive blends. We only use traditional varieties, including:

• Apples: Dabinett, Foxwelp, Kingston Black, Redstreak, Tremletts Bittersweet, Sheep's Snout, Stoke Red, Rienne Des Hative and Yarlington Mill.
• Pears: Blakeney Red, Butt, Gin, Barnet, Red Horse, Moorcroft / Malvern Hills, Red Longdon, White Longdon, Oldfield, Rock and several varieties of Huffcap.

Minchew's is definitely not a "run-of-the-cider-mill" sort of place! Kevin Minchew and Ric New are constantly experimenting with different ciders and perries, all made to the highest quality by traditional methods, using largely organic unsprayed traditional cider apple and perry pear varieties from local trees. In 1999 Kevin Minchew was awarded the APPLE Pomona award for his work in conserving rare old varieties of perry pears. Many of the fruits used are in very short supply, so only very small quantities of some perries and ciders can be made, but you can be sure that each one will be made to the highest possible quality.

Kevin uses a scratter mill and stone-bed hand-operated twin-screw press, with the cider and perry being matured in oak barrels. Because of their methods, there's no guarantee what will be on offer at any time, but whatever they have for sale, it's certain to be excellent quality and worth every penny! Many products are only available in bottles because of the small quantities available, otherwise Minchew's are happy to refill your containers of provide you with them.

Rose Cottage, Aston Cross, Bredon Road, Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire GL20 8HX

[email your comments about Minchew's Real Cyder and Perry to comments@zider.co.uk]

On my last visit there was some excellent draught Stoke Red, and I tasted some mind-blowingly good Moorcroft perry. [Paul Gunningham]

Kevin Minchew of Minchew's Real Cyder and Perry