441: Wilding Cider and the Rural Method | Somerset, UK

441: Wilding Cider and the Rural Method | Somerset, UK

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist January 8, 2025 Duration: 1:08:21

Wilding Cider, founded by Sam and Beccy Leach in 2019, uses Regenerative farming practices and a "rural method" to cider making. Based in Somerset the culinary skills of Sam blend with Beccy's Sommelier palate. Their dedication to traditional orchards and natural fermentations has led to the creation of their standout orchard based ciders and perrys. This process sets Wilding apart, showcasing a commitment to purity, sustainability, and the land.

Cider Chat Ep:441 Wilding Cider Beccy & Same Leach 200x300
Beccy and Same Leach

The Orchard at Wilding

  • Size & Scope: 7.5 acres at the home orchard and additional rented orchards.
  • Varieties: Kingston Black, Stoke Red, Porter's Perfection, and so many more.
  • Regenerative Practices
Cider Chat Ep 441 Sam Leach in the orchard at Wilding Cider 200x300
Sam in the home orchard

The orchards provide the perfect environment for Wilding's cider-making, ensuring low-intervention fermentations that align with the Rural Method philosophy.

What is the Rural Method of Cider Making

Sam credits Skyborry cider in Wales for coining the phrase "rural Method". He explains in this chat that at Wilding Cider Rural Method is an energy-efficient, traditional approach to crafting naturally sweet ciders. It utilizes:

  • Cold Winter Fermentations: Utilizing natural temperatures to slow fermentation.
  • Low Nitrogen Content: Achieved by using unfertilized orchards for balanced fermentations.
  • Minimal Intervention: Avoiding filtration, sulfites, or pasteurization.

This method produces clean, complex ciders that capture the essence of Somerset orchards.

Signature Wilding Ciders and Perry

Wilding Cider showcases the Rural Method through their unique blends and single varietals:

  • Symphony: A bittersweet blend.
  • Comics: Multi-orchard cider built on Browns and Yarlington.
  • Single Varietals: Stoke Red and Kingston Black.
  • Perry Cider: Carefully macerated to achieve depth and balance.

These ciders are celebrated for their balance of tannins, acidity, and natural sweetness, hallmarks of the Rural Method.

Contact and how to find Wilding Cider

  • Website: http://wildingcider.com
  • Open Days: Second Saturday of the month, April through September.
  • UK: Independent shops and restaurants.
  • International: Belgium, Japan, and limited availability in the U.S.

Mentions in this Cider Chat

  • CiderCon2025 Promo Code –  Once you get to the registration form, towards the end of the first page you'll reach a section in the form that says "additional registration information" and there is a question: If you have a coupon, please enter code here (case-sensitive): CiderChat
  • Totally Cider Tour to the UK – send an email to info@ciderchat.com to get on the wait list for this 2025 tour taking place August 25-31, 2025

There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
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