Abel Cider

Abel Methode Cider from Nelson, New Zealand.
Mark and Sophie McGill are on a quest to make cider in a different way to normal. Kind of like making a wine out of an apple.
Abel Methode is a cider for those who love cider but without offending those who love how cider is traditionally made – homegrown and homemade. Abel Methode Cider is the grown-up version: using a combination of cider and winemaking techniques and fermented bone dry, in bottle.
A few years ago, Mark and Sophie bought a piece of land in the rolling hills of the beautiful Moutere Valley in the Nelson-Tasman region. When I spoke to Sophie today to find out what they were up to, they were beginning to plant a relatively small 1 hectare orchard with apples and pears. They’ve chosen to plant more Cox apples, along-with some French and Spanish varieties that make for really...