Sparrow & Vine Heritage “Apfelwein” Cider 2022

We’ve become a little obsessed with cider. We think of it as apple wine (or ‘Apfelwein’, as the Germans call it). Apples have sugar, acid and tannin. And taste delicious. Just like grapes.

This parcel blends the bittersharp variety, Stoke Red with dessert variety, Gala. Both from an orchard in Orange, NSW.

These were crushed, fermented on pulp, basket-pressed and naturally fermented in Marrickville, Sydney.

No filtering or fining or any sulphur additions, we wanted rich colour and texture.

The result is a tangy, fruitful and slightly earthy version of cider, amber and cloudy in appearance. There’s quite the effervescence too, so make sure it is well chilled.

Drink it like a wine, made from apples but only 6.5% alc so you can have two.