Our family farm adjoining ‘The Somerset Levels’ is where it all happens, from growing the apples in our orchards to pressing the fruit and maturing the cider.

The area lends itself ideally for growing grass, meat and milk production. We also have the ideal warm, damp climate, and soil type for cider apple trees. We are very selective in the cider fruit we use and only pick the best apples.

Our transition from dairy farmers to cider makers was partly due to a policy of moving away from mainstream agricultural products. We were already growing apples for other cidermakers, so we had the raw material at our fingertips.

Depending on the season you may see us harvesting, making cider or distilling. There is also an orchard walk and among the 170 year old vats in the cider house there are drinks to sample. There is no need to book a tour to visit us but guided tours and tastings can be arranged (email orders@somersetciderbrandy.com or call 01460 240782 with suggested dates). A guided tour and tasting takes an hour and you will walk through the whole process from harvesting the apples to distilling and maturing the brandy. The tour and tasting fee is £7 per person.

We're so proud of our award winning cidery and its surroundings that we love to show it off - the farm is open to public everyday of the year, except for Christmas day - (even cider makers need time off now and again).

Soak up the atmosphere of a real working cider mills, grab a cider or a bite to eat in our cafe, before checking out the local foods, drinks, gifts and art in the farm shop, or just stock up on your favourite ciders which can all be tasted before buying.

We also have a small museum on site - housed in the original 16th century thatched cider barn where the company first started from. 

We're a little off the beaten track but we think the cider mills is well worth the visit with something for everyone - nothing beats the orchards in spring, a cold cider in the summer with friends, the smell of pressed apples in the autumn or snuggling up in our cafe in the winter.

We are proud of our vineyard and the wine we produce here and so are pleased to show it to others.  Lead by a knowledgeable guide, all our tours take a stroll through our vineyard, return to the purpose-built winery and then finish with a tasting of a selection of our still and sparkling wines.  

Our Grand Tours (including a tasting of local cheeses and charcuterie) run in the mornings and our Classic Tours run in the afternoons - both on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year and Wednesdays and some Thursdays during the summer.

We are based in an idyllic part of rural South East Somerset. Dowding’s have over 10 acres of organically managed orchards. There is a network of public footpaths crisscrossing the orchards giving a great opportunity to enjoy the peaceful location.

There are over 800 trees, with the majority being eating varieties for our juices. In 2020 we added 25 other fruit trees to the orchard - plums, cherries and pears.

After making a little cider in 2011 we have grown and now make 7,000 litres. We make even more apple juice, blended from our own 25+ and increasing number of apple varieties, plus many from other people from whom we harvest fruit that would otherwise not be utilised. We also make a tempting low-alcohol apple juice.

Some of the cider apples come from our orchards plus from other carefully selected local orchards. There are many varieties, but these include such stalwarts of Somerset ciders as Dabinett, Yarlington Mill, Browns, Kingston Black, Tom Putt, Harry Masters Jersey and Sweet Coppin. We also add in a small percentage of cooking apples which enhances the flavour subtly.