Hart’s Farm Orchard & Cider
As of 2025 Penny and Graeme stepped away from the business to enjoy retirement with their families and grandchildren.
The primary production and sales of Harts Farm Products are now managed by long term team member Matthew Zerbe.
You can to buy the produce; Cider, Olive and Vinegar directly through Bittern Estate.
Our apple and pear orchard of heritage Cider and Perry varietals was planted in 2010 and had its first crop in 2014. A second major planting was in 2016-17 and took our tree count to 325.
Hart’s Farm Bottle Fermented Apple Cider is produced from both heritage apples from our farm and selected modern varieties from friends’ orchards on the Peninsula. Since 2020, our apples are pressed using our Maurer Gep continuous processing line.
Primary fermentation is commenced immediately after pressing. Ambient Temperatures are generally low teens and primary fermentation proceeds slowly over the next 4 weeks or so. As our Cider matures, the first ferments are racked and stored in air tight stainless steel tanks prior to blending when all the fruit has been harvested and processed. Some cider styles have more prolonged maturation with French Oak.
Final racking and blending precedes bottling with additional apple juice and yeast to establish secondary fermentation for natural carbonation. A natural sediment will form from the secondary yeast.
