When Ronald
and Beverley Barter bought Farrants Farm and its cider press at
Dunsford, near Exeter almost twenty years ago, they vowed to
continue making the traditional 'Brimblecombe's' farmhouse cider
which has been made there for centuries.
Mr Barter says, "We used to farm just up the valley from
Farrants and I would regularly buy the cider they made here. When
the place came up for sale, we thought it would be a great idea to
keep the press working." At nearly 400 years old, it is one of the
oldest working presses in the country. As Mr Barter quite rightly
says, it's a working museum!
Each year, around a thousand people from all over the world
visit the press, taking home with them bottles of cider and apple
juice, as well as other local goodies which the Barters sell from
within the barn. "People hear about us at markets, where we sell
much of our cider, and local Tourist Information Centres - but
often, people who just happen to be driving past during the
holidays will pop in" explains Mrs Barter. "We only have a very
small team of helpers, and during the busy summer season, one of us
has to be here to help out every day. When it comes to actually
making the cider throughout the winter months, however, we need at
least four people working each day. Lots of people volunteer to
help us, which is great; last year, six different groups helped us
to produce ten presses. We really appreciate their help,
particularly as it can be bitterly cold working out here in the
barn."
The pressing process usually starts around the first week of
November; slightly later than many other cider-makers, but the
apples at Farrants Farm take longer to ripen than most as they grow
at a higher altitude. Depending on how many apples are harvested,
the press can produce up to 1,500 gallons (7,000 litres) of cider
each winter. Each press takes around one week to complete, starting
with the 'milling' of the apples and finishing with the pressed
juice being left to ferment on wild yeast. The fermentation
process, which takes around six months, converts the apple juice
into cider; the cider is then left to mature in oak casks.
Mr and Mrs Barter have been Cornish Mutual Members for 15 years.
Initially they insured just their farm vehicles on an agricultural
vehicle policy; today they also have farm insurance to cover
the buildings and property at Farrants Farm, and business insurance - which includes
employers liability cover for their volunteers and employees, and
public liability cover which insures them against incidents
involving visitors or customers where it may be proved that they
are negligent.
"A friend recommended Cornish Mutual to us" says Mr Barter, "And
I have to say that so far we have been most impressed with the
service we have received. The company is very easy to deal with and
very understanding when things go wrong.
Several years ago we had to make a claim when one of our
tractors caught fire. The claims process was efficient and
straightforward, and we were very happy with the outcome. That's
the difference between Cornish Mutual and other companies we have
insured with - a quick and easy resolution. In our experience,
other companies have taken far longer to come to a satisfactory
resolution."
Farrants Farm is open to visitors between Easter and November
each year, from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 11am and
6pm. All visitors are given a tour of the cider barn and press, and
are welcome to sample the ciders before they buy. For further
information, please visit www.brimblecombescider.co.uk, or call 01647
252783.
