At Willy’s, we keep things simple, honest and alive. Our Organic Raw Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is made with the living Mother, using apples from our 300-year-old Herefordshire orchards. We farm regeneratively, ferment traditionally, and bottle sustainably so every drop is packed with natural goodness.
From Orchard to Bottle
- Heritage orchards: We nurture a mosaic of cider apple varieties chosen for flavour, aroma and acidity. Healthy, living soil is our starting point.
- Regenerative methods: Wildflower margins, mixed hedgerows and low-input practices support pollinators and biodiversity while building soil carbon.
- Harvest & press: Apples are picked at peak ripeness and pressed onsite. We never add concentrates, flavourings or caramel. It’s just apples.
How We Ferment
- Primary fermentation: Wild and cultured yeasts convert apple sugars to alcohol.
- Secondary fermentation: Acetobacter transform alcohol to acetic acid, forming the Mother - a web of beneficial bacteria, enzymes and organic acids.
- No shortcuts: We do not pasteurise or over-filter. The vinegar stays raw and unheated to preserve live cultures and nuanced flavour.
Meet the Mother
The Mother is the visible sign your vinegar is alive. It contains acetic-acid bacteria and other friendly microbes plus naturally occurring enzymes and prebiotic compounds. Keeping the Mother intact helps maintain character and vitality in every bottle.
What You’ll Taste
Expect a rounded, appley tang with gentle complexity - bright acidity balanced by orchard sweetness. It’s versatile:
- Drink: 15-25ml diluted in water as a sharp, refreshing pick-me-up.
- Cook: Dressings, marinades, pickles and quick ferments.
- Bake & finish: Lift soups, sauces and vegetables; balance richness in stews.
Tip: Always dilute before drinking. If sipping regularly, consider using a straw and rinsing your mouth with water afterwards.
What We Never Do
- No pasteurisation or heat treatment
- No concentrates, added sugars or sweeteners
- No artificial colours or flavours
- No GM ingredients
Sustainability in Practice
- Closed loop: Apple pomace goes to anaerobic digestion; the resulting bio-fertiliser nourishes our fields.
- Thoughtful packaging: Dark glass helps protect live cultures from light.
- Local first: Orchard-to-bottle production reduces unnecessary transport.
Daily Ways to Use Willy’s ACV
- Morning tonic - dilute 15-25ml in warm or cold water with lemon.
- Salad hero - whisk with extra virgin olive oil, mustard and herbs.
- Pickling base - quick pickles for red onions, cucumbers or radishes.
- Kitchen essential - brighten sauces, balance sweetness, deglaze pans.
Why Choose Willy’s
- Raw & unpasteurised - live cultures preserved
- Orchard grown & British made - Herefordshire from root to bottle
- Regeneratively farmed - biodiversity and soil health at the core
- Transparent craft - controlled in-house from fruit to fill
- Taste, feel and live the difference with Willy’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar - a living expression of our orchards in every bottle.