316: Celebrating New Zealander Alex Peckham | 1962-2022

Alex Peckham New Zealand's Premier Cidermaker With wit and charm and dashing good looks Alex Peckham charmed all who had the pleasure of meeting him. The fact that he produced exemplary ciders was merely a side bonus.

I met Alex for the first and only time in Baltimore Maryland in 2018. We were both attending that American Cider Association's annual trade conference CiderCon. I posted that episode in Season 3 of Cider Chat on episode 139. Since that time, Peckhams has continued to expand its cider offerings in both bottles and cans. It is a must have brand from this beautiful region of the world.

Alex Peckham CiderCon 2018

Alex Peckham passed away due to a malignant brain tumor in April of 2022. He was 59 years old. The tumor had been diagnosed 3 months earlier. He had a a lot of life yet to live and is deeply missed by so many in cider world.

In this Chat with Alex

It is my hope dear listeners of Cider Chat that this episode may encourage you to visit the Southern Hemisphere whose growing season is much different than what we find in the North. I hope it will help you plan a trip to New Zealand and taste the cuisine, meet the people and drink their fine cider. Peckham's was never opened to the public, but that shouldn't deter you to seek out its cider now.

And interesting coincidence

I have reworked a bit of the news in this episode to update from the original airing in 2018. Interestingly at that time I was offering a cider tour to France. Caroline Peckham, Alex's beloved wife, wrote to me at the time of episode 139's airing,

"Wow! We listened to your podcast last night and it was awesome - thank you so much! We loved how you went through the cidermaking year in the Southern Hemisphere - really helps people get a handle on the process and brings it to life.   Only downside was that we are now both so envious of your trip to Normandy!  My mother is French and I spent some time in Brittany when younger, eating galettes and drinking cider, so I know what a treat you are in for." In this episode 316, I am once again offering a tour to both Normandy and Brittany. After two years of pandemic shut downs, it is time to return. Reservations go live next week at the https://ciderchat.com/totallyciderfrance/  We have come full circle.   The highlights in this episode with Alex

• When is New Zealand's Apple Blossom season?
• How long is New Zealand's growing season?
• When do they make cider?

Alex also shares tips on how he makes cider working with both cultured and wild yeast.

Alex is full of cider knowledge and an absolutely delightful man with wit and insight that helps make this chat a must listen.  Who knew that hares could be such a problem in the orchard? Alex and Caroline Peckham

New Zealand's Cidermaking Seasons

January - Summer time in New Zealand

• Thinning, cleaning and clearing of the orchard as the trees are fully laden with apple

February - Picking Cider Apples:

• Knotted Cornell
• Muscadet de Dieppe

March

• Kingston Black
• Kingston Brown

April into June

• Apple harvest continues

June

• Apple pressing begins

July

• Wassail
• Pruning of apple trees

August - September

• Pruning continues

September - October

• The south island of New Zealand experiences a long blossom time that runs through these two months

November

• Baby apples are growing on the trees

December

• The heat is back on as this region of the world is heading full steam into summer

Peckham's Ciders

• Classic range - which have cider with fruit
  • Good fruit, moderate sweetness with balanced acid, tiny bit of bitterness and astringency
• Special Release Ciders - one a month special blends
  • High component of wild fermentation

Contact Peckham's Cider

• Website: https://www.peckhams.co.nz/
• eMail: [email protected]
• No Tasting Room at this site

Mentions in this Chat

• French Cider Tour | Normandy and Brittany September 18th-24th, 2022
  • 2018 Totally Cider Tour at Domaine Dupont

Support these Sponsors of Cider Chat so they can continue to support this podcast and help you make great cider!

• Fermentis - Yeast and Fermentation Solutions for Cidermakers
• Sraml - Food Processing and Cidermaking equipment specialist

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