Sandford Orchards' Devon Red Cider Wins Best Drink Product at Food Magazine Reader Awards

Sandford Orchards is thrilled to announce its Devon Red Cider was recently voted 'Best Drink Product' by the readers of Food Magazine. 

Said Barny Butterfield, Chief Cidermaker at Sandford Orchards: “We're absolutely thrilled to win this award. We've always thought our Devon Red was a pretty special drink but to win this accolade confirms the food and drink-loving public thinks so too. 

"We were up against some tough competition, as the South West is home to a host of fantastic independent drinks businesses, which makes the win even more prestigious.” 

The Food Magazine Reader Awards have championed the South West's best independent food and drink businesses for almost a decade. The Awards are an opportunity for readers to celebrate their favourite indie venues and products. Over 100,000 votes were cast over two rounds of voting across 13 categories this year. The winners were announced at a ceremony at Cornwall's Nancarrow Farm on May 15. (EDITOR: My birthday!) 

Devon Red is a naturally tasty and utterly delicious, fresh apple cider made from apples grown and pressed in Devon. It's available to purchase from www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, plus other select retailers across the UK.

Founded in 2002, independent, family-owned Sandford Orchards is based in Crediton, which is in Mid Devon in the UKs oldest working cider mill. The area has long been known as one of the most fertile parishes in all of Britain, both for its grazing and ability to grow apples. Crediton sits in the lee of the moors, so receives the right amount of rain and the right units of heat in summer.

Sandford Orchards takes a fresh, natural and low impact approach to producing cider. Combining tradition and innovation, Sandford Orchards produces an award-winning range of core session, traditional, fine and fruit ciders.

For further information on Sandford Orchards please visit www.sandfordorchards.co.uk, follow Sandford Orchards on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Sandford Orchards takes a low impact approach to producing cider. What does this actually mean? How does it work?

Their orchards act as carbon sinks, promote soil health and support biodiversity

Their apples are all grown within a 20 mile radius of the cider works

Their by-products are bio-converted locally into natural green gas and CO2, which is used to carbonate their ciders

They use locally coppiced regenerating woodlands for fuel for heating water and have installed solar panels which produce 25% of their required electricity

They are working towards having all their company vehicles charged by renewable power

They use natural lighting, rainwater harvested from their roofs and insulation to reduce their energy requirements

Their cider is produced using filtration and cold sterilisation and without the need for boiling ingredients.