New England Cider Company co-founders Sam Watson and Shaun Cassidy both come from wine-making backgrounds and have high hopes of restoring some of the region’s wild or forgotten orchards to create boutique cider. 

“The process of making cider is extremely similar to the process for making wine – what’s different is the fruit that goes into it,” Mr Watson said. 

“We’ve got some wild orchards that are old or have been let go on people’s properties in Walcha or Glen Innes, but there’s still great fruit.

“We want to build relationships with different local orchards. The response has been really good – it’s an opportunity to reinvigorate their orchard again.  

“For some of those farmers and growers it could be the difference between selling the family farm or staying in business.”

The company was only conceived late last year and has worked quickly to bring out their its line of apple cider, but there are plans for a pear variety as well as a few “experimental” ciders.

 Though the bubbly beverage is best tipped as a summer drink, chilly winter will soon be upon Armidale, so the duo have plans to bring out some flavours that lend themselves to a colder climate. 

The cidery uses 100 per cent apples, rather than adding fake flavours, and has a hand-picked, hand-crafted and hand-bottled mentality. 

“It’s more of a boutique product... these days consumers are wanting almost a story behind their product,” Mr Watson said.