The Newt

Most cider producers do not operate inside one of Britain’s most ambitious country estates. Then again, The Newt rarely seems interested in doing things the ordinary way.

Located in Somerset, the estate combines gardens, orchards, farming, hospitality and cider production on a scale that feels closer to a small village than a drinks project. Apples remain at the centre of the story, with thousands of trees planted across traditional orchards supplying fruit for an increasingly respected range of cyders.

The approach borrows heavily from wine. Orchard sites, apple varieties, tannin levels and vintage variation all play major roles in shaping the final blends. The resulting cyders often show fresh apple character, structure and complexity rather than simple sweetness.

Sparkling styles, single-variety expressions and more experimental releases all feature throughout the range. There is a clear effort to treat cider as a serious agricultural product rather than simply a refreshing drink.

Somerset has always been one of England’s great cider regions. The Newt has helped remind a lot of people exactly why.