This is the core of the matter when it comes to cider making good apples make good cider. Hosting a Wine Tasting Party Cocktail Plus Cider making processes The best ciders are the result of careful blending. Opinions differ as to which apples make the best cider. Some experts believe that only certain, special varieties, rich in tannins, make decent cider. Apples used in cider making are more closely related to wild crab apples than ordinary eating apples and have a high tannin content.
Pomologists divide cider apples into two broad categories bittersweet and bittersharp.
Bittersharps have a higher acid content than bittersweets . Both yield juice that is rich in natural sugar that ferments to produce alcohol. After harvesting, the fruit is ready for crushing in the cider mill. First, the fruit is crushed and then the pulp known as the pomace , is wrapped in cloth ready for pressing . For hard cider, the must is transferred directly to fermentation vats or casks.