'Cider to the power of 10': hot summer results in bumper apple harvest

"If you love cider, this is cider to the power of 10," says Barny Butterfield, speaking about the flavours packed by some of this year's "special" apples.

- Zoe Wood

Indeed Butterfield, the owner of Sandford Orchards, near Exeter, is buying extra tanks to increase cider production after the UK's hottest summer on record resulted in an abundance of fruit.

"I think God's a cider-maker," he joked. To thrive, fruit trees need heat and light and this year "we had lots of both. I've had boughs breaking on trees under the weight of fruit. It's probably going to be the best vintage since 2018."

Butterfield, who has spent more than 20 years in the business, added: "It might even be the best in my cider-making lifetime. We're looking at an incredibly special year."

The National Association of Cider Makers (NACM) said the warm spring and summer had delivered apples "full of rich flavours and natural sweetness", despite the fact that the reduced rainfall meant the fruit was slightly smaller than average.

"I've heard from cider-makers and growers that the sugar and tannin levels are very high, which means the quality of the fruit will be outstanding," said the NACM chair, David Sheppy, who is also the managing director of Sheppy's Cider.