Grazed Knee Cider
Our Apples
Local Apples
Our orchard is planted with a collection of local island apple varieties including Isle of Wight Pippin, Sir John Thorneycroft, the massive Howgate Wonder, Bembridge Beauty and Little Pax.
Classic Cider Apples
Our orchard also includes classic bittersweet and bittersharp cider varieties including Dabinett, Stoke Red, Kingston Black, Foxwhelp and Yarlington Mill.
We Couldn't Resist
Our orchard also includes varieties with names we could not resist, Liberty, Fillabarrel, Slack ma Girdle, Sops in Wine, Helen’s, Katy, Bulmer’s Norman, Gilly, American Mother and Porter’s Perfection.
Finally
We blend together juice from the apples to provide the best mix of acidity and tannins for good fermentation in small batches in the cool conditions of our cave, and let the yeast do the rest, slowly but surely. When the time is right and not before, we bottle the cider.
Our Ciders
Our ciders are made from apples grown, pressed, fermented and bottled on the Isle of Wight. They are matured in tanks kept in our cave at a constant temperature and humidity to get the best flavour possible.
The 2023 Vintage available now
From apples harvested in 2023, pressed, slow fermented and matured in our cave until it is at last ready to be bottled and sold in 2025.
Spell Unker
Our still, dry cider, ABV 5.9%. Lovely clean fresh citrus taste with hints of butterscotch and sunshine.
Under Down
Our still, medium cider, ABV 5.9%. Soft astringency with a splash of dried fruit.
Island Time
Our bottle-conditioned, sparkling cider, ABV 6.50%. The internationally renowned Ciderologist Gabe Cook described it in his book Modern British Cider (2021) “Bloody lush. Great minerality and texture”
Porter's Perfection SV
A single orchard/single variety cider made with Porter’s Perfection apple variety. This small batch cider is bottle-conditioned to produce a lightly sparkling naturally sweet medium cider with soft and gentle tannins. ABV 6.6%. Small batch.
Kingston Black SV
A single variety cider made with the Kingston Black cider. ABV 6.8%. This apple variety is often called the champagne cider apple, producing a perfect balance of tannin and acidity. Small batch.
Coombe Bottom Perry (pear cider)
A single orchard, Tuttons Hill Farm, sparkling dry perry made with proper perry pears. ABV 6.4%. An extremely limited batch which will sell out early.
Our Story
Cave crafted cider made with apples grown on the Isle of Wight
Deeds, not words
Once upon a bike ride, a gravelly puddle became the site of an injured lower leg. Recovering from the grazed knee, over a glass of local cider, we wondered whether we too could produce something so delicious and refreshing. We found ourselves an plot surrounded by the Isle of Wight’s outstanding natural beauty, planted our 250 trees, assembled our cidery in a cave under St Boniface Down, gathered knowledge from the traditional sources of the Three Counties and the West Country and got down to work. Grazed Knee Cider was born.
The Cider
Our orchard is planted with a collection of local island apple varieties including Isle of Wight Pippin, Sir John Thorneycroft, the massive Howgate Wonder, Bembridge Beauty and Little Pax, and classic bittersweet and bittersharp cider varieties including Dabinett, Stoke Red, Kingston Black, Foxwhelp and Yarlington Mill, along with varieties with names we could not resist, Liberty, Fillabarrel, Slack ma Girdle, Sops in Wine, Helen’s, Katy, Bulmer’s Norman, Gilly, American Mother and Porter’s Perfection. We blend together juice from the apples to provide the best mix of acidity and tannins for good fermentation in small batches in the cool conditions of our cave, and let the yeast do the rest, slowly but surely. When the time is right and not before, we bottle the cider.
How to enjoy
Our cider is refreshing, fruity and balanced, with earthy and spicy notes. The sharpness complements food with good fat content such as cheese, pork and fish. The fruitiness enhances fried, grilled and roasted main courses and desserts.
We are part of the Wight Marque Scheme 
Isle of Wight Orchards
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Isle of Wight Apples
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Cave Crafted Cider
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Pairing Our Ciders
Just like you would pair with a wine, you can pair our ciders with delicious foods.
Rich, fatty foods pair well with our dry cider. Think Spanish food like chorizo, pork belly or even roast chicken. Also with fish and shellfish.
Spell Unker
Dry
The medium sweetness mellows a spicy dish. Or try it simply with a nice cheddar cheese.
Under Down
Medium
The slight fizz works perfectly with a creamy dishes like chicken casserole. Or try it with an IOW cheese board.
Island Time
Sparkling Dry
Our ciders are currently available at these locations on the Isle of Wight.
North
- Briddlesford Lodge Farm Shop
- Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes
- Isle of Wight Hampers, Newport
- Quarr Abbey, Ryde
South
- Godshill Cider Barn, Godshill
- The Old Smithy, Godshill
- The Crab Shed, Steephill Cove
- Lesleys Nutshell, Ventnor
- Toni's Tea Room, Ventnor
- Seapot, Wheeler's Bay
East
- Garlic Farm Shop, Newchurch
- Nunwell Home Farm, Nunwell
- Isle of Wight Bus and Coach Museum, Ryde
- Pickle and Dill, Ryde
- Wildhear Animal Sanctuary, Sandown
- Cavanagh & Baker, Shanklin
- Luccombe Hotels, Shanklin
West
- The Needles Landmark Attraction , Alum Bay
- Brighstone Village Shop
- Orchard Bros Shop, Freshwater Bay
- Dimbola Lodge, Freshwater Bay
- Travelling Tavern (draught), Freshwater Bay
- Harveys of Yarmouth
- Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners, Yarmouth
If you are on the Isle of Wight and want to sell our cider, please get in touch with us via the email below.