Our first apples are ready and are being picked this week. Vista Bella is a medium-sized apple, with a light yellow-green skin, flushed deep red where exposed to the sun. The color frequently changes to a solid crimson when ripe or over-ripe in good sunlight.

It's beautiful today so I've been for a walk around the orchard, just look at these gorgeous apples I found. Can you name any of these varieties? #yorkshireorchard #yorkshireapples #ciderapples #artisancider #madebyhand #handmadecider

I could just eat one of those crackers!

On the bar today! Beer Board: bit.ly/2vu8OV3 #StandUpForCask #CaskAleWeek Little Critters Brewing Company Dancing Duck Brewery Tollgate Brewery Welbeck Abbey Brewery Staropramen Bitburger UK AmpleforthDrinks Snailsbank Cider Lilley's Cider Aspall #RealAleFinder

Hope you enjoyed it with your roast dinner.

🍺 DECEMBER BEER OFFER 🍺 Throughout December we are running an amazing offer on Ampleforth Abbey Beer. If you're planning on stocking up for Christmas then keep your eyes peeled on Wednesday for further details.

Now all the apples have been picked we are starting maintenance of our orchard. Digging holes by hand is a great way of getting our steps in for the day. #yorkshireorchard #homegrownorchard #appletrees #newtreeplanting #plantingtreesbyhand #yorkshirecider

Look at these beautiful rows. You can't really get a better view than this after a day of planting. #yorkshireorchard #orchardmaintenance #appleorchard #straightlines #plantedbyhand

Settling down for an evening in front of the telly with a bottle of AmpleforthDrinks. I really hope the Best Before date is the top date on the label, otherwise I'm about 1,980 years too late!

The new apple trees we have been planting this week are Falstaff. This fairly modern dessert variety developed in the 1980s, the child of Golden Delicious and James Grieve. It’s supposed to be a reliable cropper, so we are keeping our fingers crossed for autumn!

To celebrate the end of Dry January we are offering Buy One Get One Free on Ampleforth Abbey Beer. To order yours please visit our website ow.ly/YCMJ50HI0NS

Our beer is great in stew and casseroles. We have a great buy one get one free offer on at the moment so it's a brilliant time to try it!

We are now out of hibernation and back to doing what we do best - making great cider! Lots of orchard maintenance work has been completed and we are starting to do more bottling.

Recently, we have been looking at ways to increase the biodiversity within the orchard. A new mowing regime has led to a reduction of water loss around the trees, the ground being less parched and a wider variety of wildlife in the orchard. #blossomwatch #orchardmaintenance

Our orchard is looking glorious at the moment. The blossom is out and the bees are busy pollinating the flowers. #blossomwatch #blossomwatch2022 #yorkshireorchard #appleblossom

Discover the making of our apple juice and cider on Thursday 13th October at 10:30am Tour the orchard and cider mill, participate in the apple harvest and pressing, sample fresh cider and enjoy complimentary tea and cake round the campfire! Tickets here: ow.ly/3kBv50KSTtu

Love these autumn pics of our apple juice and cider! You can still purchase our selection of drinks on our website: ow.ly/i5u050L2bko

IT'S NATIONAL APPLE DAY Without our incredible variety of apples at the orchard, we would be unable to create our beautiful-tasting produce. Celebrate apple day with a glass of our fresh apple juice or cider: ow.ly/QVOe50LgmfF

Volunteering opportunity Would you like to help with our final apple harvest of the year? Join us and learn about the orchard as you pick apples and maybe even make a few friends. Light lunch and refreshments will be provided. Find out more: ow.ly/q0LB50LI3wg

IMPORTANT NOTICE Due to a very busy year, we are now low on apple juice and currently have no beer or apple liqueur. The first batch of apples will be ready in August (from which we can make the juice), and beer will be available from 12th August.