Llanblethian Orchards
An award-winning artisanal cidermaker based in the Vale of Glamorgan, on the flood plain between Cowbridge and Llanblethian.
Founded in 2006 by Alex Simmens with the aim of producing quality cider and perry from traditional fruit varieties using time honoured methods, an attitude based on the passionate belief that that you can only make quality cider from quality fruit, processed using traditional methods, and without the addition of endless chemicals or industrial processes.
As such, only 100% fresh fruit is used when crafting the ciders and perries, never ‘fruit’ concentrate, nor added water to achieve lower ABV versions which would dilute the wonderful tastes achieved, as well as producing an inferior product. Total transparency when it comes to production means that, even though it’s not a legal requirement, all Llanblethian ciders and perries have full ingredient labelling, including juice content.
The fruit used is sourced from the Llanblethian orchard, as well as from other traditional orchards around Monmouthshire and Brecknockshire. The Llanblethian orchard itself is bordered on one side by the ‘three fields’, and ‘Mount Ida’ on the other, both local landmarks. The orchard consists of 9 acres, with two and a half acres planted, the remainder being left as a wildflower and wildlife meadow to encourage as much biodiversity as possible.
The orchard contains 53 different varieties of apples and pears, consisting of traditional fruit varieties from Wales, the Borders and the South West of England, with the trees planted on raised mounds, a traditional planting technique, to protect the tree roots from the risk of winter flooding.
LLANBLETHIAN ORCHARDS, Crossways, Cowbridge, South Glamorgan CF71 7LJ