The present 10 acre cider apple orchard was originally planted by Stan Lynch in 1970-1 to provide cider apples to the Taunton Cider Company. The apples were sent down to Somerset each autumn and used to make Blackthorn Cider. In 1983 Stan decided to start making his own cider on the farm, and the Upton Cider Company was formed. Now all the cider apples go for their own cider production.

Always keen to promote nature, Stan decided to end the spraying of the trees and the applications of outside fertilizers in 1989. Very much a pioneer idea in those days, since then the orchard has been maintained spray free. All the cider is organic and made in accordance with Soil Association standards.

Since 1999, the Upton Cider Company has been run by Val Fitchett, assisted by her husband Robert. Val served an apprenticeship with Stan in 1998, before taking over the business the following year. Stan sadly died in 2008, aged 86.

All Upton Cider's traditional ciders are still, clear and strong. The cider is made in the orchard, using only their own hand-sorted organic apples. The cider is carefully blended using nine varieties of cider apple ranging from bittersweet to bittersharp. The three principle cider apple varieties being Dabinett, Michelin and Yarlington Mill. In addition, they add Bramley apples to give extra "bite" to the flavour.

Ciders are sold in a range of sweet, medium and dry. Alcoholic content averages around 7.0%, dependent on cider type. Free cider tastings are provided at the Farm Shop. Indeed, they try and insist that customers try before they buy in order to ensure that they purchase exactly the kind of cider that they like. Cider is sold from the shop in two pint (1.1 litre), and 4 pint (2.2. litre) containers. Also on sale: cooking and eating apples and cob nuts in season.

Upton Fruit Farm, Upton, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 9JE

Directions by road: Upton Farm Shop is on the A417, on the edge of Upton, between Wantage and Goring. On the left hand side of the road, immediately after leaving the Upton on the road to Blewbury.

Upton Cider Company logo

Stan Lynch at work at the Upton Cider Company