Small Acres Cider is exactly that—small in scale but rich in intent. Run by the Geoghegan family in Orange, NSW, the business produces artisan craft cider rooted in its cool-climate surroundings between Nashdale and Borenore. The orchard is home to more than 900 varieties of French and English apples, along with pears, cultivated with a strong sense of place.
These are site-specific, traditional beverages of enduring heritage, with a natural place at the table—at home, in restaurants, and as part of everyday life.
2022 Small Acres Cyder Sparkling Perry $32 750mls
Made from 100% fresh pears of the Gin and Green Horse varieties, alongside Beurre Bosch and Packham. This matures for 18 months in bottles on the lees before being riddled and disgorged. It smells as it should of juiced pears intermingled with elderflower and honeysuckle. Aloe nectar, bee pollen and glacial water. The nashi crunch of acidity leads to lemon juice and a trickle of fruit sweetness. The bubbles are fine and dainty, this is utterly thirst quenching and delicate. Filled with natural orchard grown freshness and would happily sit as any blanc de blanc style fizz would, an aperitif, with shellfish or white fleshed fish. I would opt for serving this in tall crystal glasses with a quiche lorraine. Stunning. 95 Points
2023 Small Acres Cyder Sparkling Cider $32 750ml
A blend of bitter and sweet cider apple varieties. Matured on yeast lees for 18 months being riddled and disgorged. If there is a benchmarking lesson in premium NSW cyder, this is it. A glistening golden hue in the glass, the aromas invoke tart tatin apple, alongside cloudy apple juice straight from the press, some dried hay, honeycomb and birch sap. There is a waft of nutmeg, faint but alluring and honey spread along charred toast. This is Small Acres dry style and it shows off the graceful arch of acidity and just a twitch of toffee brittle savourness on the finish. Seductive and morish, this would be incredible with marinated goats cheese swimming in olive oil. 95 Points
2023 Small Acres Cyder The Cats Pyjamas $35.99 750mls
Only made in the very best vintage conditions this is the tip tier of cyder from Small Acres. Made with wild fermentation and 100% estate grown fruit and matured for 18 months in aged oak barrels. Hand riddled, hand disgorged and each bottle is numbered. Talk about complexity in a glass, this is up there with some of the finest French, English and global cyders the world over. You will first notice its peach skin tones, followed by jackfruit flesh, dried apple and lemon myrtle. There are funghi of sorts, pink oyster and Lions Mane mushrooms which unfurl thanks to an underlay of farmhouse brett, this though, for those wine drinkers that get scared off, is dug down into the underlying underbelly of the drink. Fruit is the focus with barley, rye seed and some dusting of cinnamon quill. It’s laden with toasty detail and savoury sourdough meatiness. This will be enjoyed by those that seek umami and edible savourness, sake, beer, chardonnay and character driven beverages. Try this with Epoisse, birds baked in clay or miso glazed toothfish. 96 Points
2021 Small Acres Cyder Pommeau $39 375mls
A traditional apple-mistel, with apple spirit distilled from the estate blended with fresh crushed apple juice and matured in oak barrels. One sip and you’ll wonder why you have been drinking anything else. An orange tinged amber in the glass, this could be drunk from a mason jar, a shoe or a cut crystal liqueur glass and it would still impress you. Heavenly tart tatin apples, are met with Frangipani pollen, toasted almond and creamed honey. There is sweet fig, tangerine citrus and a wisp of pine nut. This is nectar sweet, not cloying with ample acidity to carry flavours long across the palate. Some cold lemon tea and marzipan stay with you for long moments. A golden class of Pommeau and very deserving of its accolades. Perfect for a pork loin with crackling, fried prawn toast or to finish a meal with sugared nuts and crumbly cheddar. Truly special. 96 Points
