The Cider World According To Han Barton of Kniveton Cider

WHERE ARE YOU BASED? WHY HERE? 

Kniveton near Ashbourne, Derbyshire, this is where we live and we use local apples

DESCRIBE YOUR CIDER CO IN 3 WORDS... 

circular, eco-friendly, local

WHAT MAKES YOUR CIDERS STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD? 

Clean, balanced, Eastern Counties

WHAT IS THE KEY TO PRODUCING GOOD CIDER/PERRY? 

Time, patience, passion, don't be afraid of chucking stuff away if its not 100% right. Tasting, tasting, then taste again before blending.

WHAT ARE THE MOST DIFFICULT CHALLENGES YOU FACE AS A CIDER-MAKER? 

Lack of time! Unknowledgeable local EHO insisting we be treated like cheesemakers!

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

The 35% juice quota needs to be raised to 99%/100% in line with other countries such as Spain and France.  Duty needs reforming, we need a sliding scale, not a 7,000 litre cliff edge.

FAVOURITE APPLE/PEAR VARIETY? WHY? 

I don't have a favourite as there are so many wonderful apples out there. I do rather love  love Yarlington Mill however.

HOW IMPORTANT IS CIDER EDUCATION FOR CONSUMERS FOR PRODUCERS LIKE YOURSELVES? 

Education is the key to informed drinkers. We have a duty to educate the public about full juice ciders, terroir, regional styles.

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST EXCITED ABOUT THIS YEAR? 

We are  mentioned in Gabe's book Modern British Cider (somewhere) :) I also am part way though the training to become a Pommelier so I am better equipped to share my passion with people about cider and perry. 

'THE CRAFT CIDER REVOLUTION IS COMING BECAUSE... 

The world needs to be educated about full juice carefully crafted cider in the UK. We have the apples, the climate, the terroir and the knowledge, we just need to educate the public about the world that is cider! 

DO YOU HAVE ANY EVENTS PLANNED THAT PEOPLE CAN COME ALONG TO AND BE PART OF? 

My plans for a cider festival were axed because of Covid, hopefully 2022 we will be able to do that at our pub The Red Lion Kniveton, DE61JH. This is the taphouse of Kniveton cider. I also want to hold cider tasting nights and cider with paired food nights. We have a bottled cider menu of over 60 different  ciders and perries by small/medium UK producers, and we always have 3 draught cider/perry on tap.

Whats it like being a women in the Cider industry? And do you think more could be done to encourage more women in? 

Its good, people are becoming aware of the existence of women within the cider industry, but it needs to be improved. Sadly, casually sexist labels are still a problem, (along with a certain male cider blogger who attacks women bloggers in the industry based upon their clothing choices.) We have a long way to go before full equality is achieved. That's why Cider Women was set up, to redress these imbalances through campaigning, education, networking and peer support for women within the industry whichever area they are in, be that production, wholesaling, retailing, promotion or consumption.