With the fruit-pressing season in full swing, Monmouth MP David Davies has visited a local business to see at first hand the hard work that goes into producing home-grown Welsh cider.
Mr Davies joined brothers Alex and Ben Culpin on the family farm in Newcastle, near Monmouth, where they run their award-winning bottled craft cider company.
Ty Gwyn uses apples grown locally within the Monnow Valley, an area already widely known for the quality of its produce.
“Making cider is a craft, just like making music,” said sales diector Alex Culpin, a bass guitarist who was in a former 1990s indie band.
“Our ciders are cold fermented for a minimum of six months and are made from 100 per cent pure apple juice.
“Monmouthshire is at the heart of cider production in Wales and we at Ty Gwyn are really happy to be a small part of an industry that continues to go from strength to strength.”
The firm sells its products to a number of renowned gastro pubs and fine dining restaurants in England and Wales and can be found at a number of food festivals throughout the year. Anyone is welcome to drop by the farm shop to pick up a few bottles to try or order online for delivery straight to your door.
During his visit, which was organised by the Welsh Perry and Cider Society, Mr Davies was able to sample some of the ciders on offer.
“You can really taste the difference between a well crafted traditionally produced cider like this and the commercial stuff which is mass produced,” he said.
“My only regret about visiting is that I came by car!”
There are currently over 40 cider and perry producers in Wales and 23 per cent of these are in the Monmouthshire area alone.
Much of eastern Monmouthshire has a red sandstone soil, which is favoured by orchardists for growing cider apples.
Cressida Slater, development officer at the Welsh Perry and Cider Society, said: “We are working to involve local MPs in the cider community in order to raise awareness for these artisan products.
“The support we have received so far has been positive and we hope to continue pushing forward to further increase the success of cider in Wales and the UK.”
Further information about Ty Gwyn cider is available at www.tygwyncider.co.uk or telephone 01600 750287.