CIDERCRAFT Magazine, CIDERCRAFT Volume 14 2020
CIDERCRAFTMAG COM 47 PRODUCER TO WATCH Willie Smiths GROVE TASMANIA AUSTRALIA T o produce exceptional cider it helps to start with a 115 acre heritage farm in Tasmania known as the Apple Isle from when it was the Southern Hemispheres largest producer Despite its British roots when it comes to fermented fruit Australia has more in common with America consumers that lump it with beer a need to plant more cider varieties and so on With avid support from Andrew Smith fourth generation orchardist of the aforementioned heritage farm Willie Smiths cidermaker Tim Jones is pressing for progress on several fronts For beer fanciers he offers a core range in cans including one with heirloom apples in the mix that he sees as a gateway to more complex limited releases bottled with Champagne style corks Among the latter are ciders aged in wine and whiskey barrels and single varietals made with Yarlington Mill and Kingston Black Sturmer Pippin prevails in a varietal mix called Sturm Trooper Jones collaborations yield for example a beer that swapped hops for the bitter juice of French cider apple Frequin Rouge to make Frequin Good IPA He also oversees a distillery that turns out Calvados style apple brandy eau devie and a new pommeau Willie Smiths Apple Shed a half hour from the capital city of Hobart is home to a tasting room restaurant museum and regular live music performances Its three day Mid Winter Festival in July Down Under based on Englands wassail tradition outgrew the shed and now draws thousands to banish their gloom at a nearby fairground Beyond that the company is active in Cider Australia whose new trust mark sets apart ciders made with 100 percent Australian fruit Jones is also working with academic government and business entities to boost support for the cider industry and obtain genetic information on Australian apple varieties The country is now growing more good cider apples which will result in better ciders and spirits he enthuses Je Book
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