Stonewell, Dry Craft Cider, 2024, 50cl

STORY BEHIND THE LABEL

Founded in 2010, Stonewell Cider draws its name from the historic stone well at the Nohoval, Cork, home of founders Daniel and Geraldine Emerson. The cidery’s inaugural batch was crafted using traditional methods, utilising an authentic French press and apple mill gifted by Geraldine’s father, a winemaker from France's Loire Valley.

Today, Stonewell remains a small, adventurous team dedicated to traditional cider-making. Daniel serves as the head cider maker and hands-on lead for daily operations, while Geraldine manages the estate's finances, crafts their signature Nohoval Apple Wines, and represents the brand at various events and festivals. In the cidery, production is led by Alessandro, a fermentation expert who combines scientific precision with a natural instinct for flavour and balance. He works alongside Diarmuid, whose intuitive blending techniques bring a sense of quiet craftsmanship to every batch produced.

Mid-October marks the arrival of the Michelin and Dabinett apple varieties at the cidery. Because these apples are mechanically harvested, the team subjects them to a rigorous wash and vigilant sorting process to ensure only the highest quality fresh juice is secured. A specific champagne yeast is then utilised for fermentation, a technique chosen specifically to draw out and highlight the most refined flavour characteristics of the fruit.