Jane Peyton named UK’s first ‘pommelier’

Britain’s Beer and Cider Academy has named drinks educator and writer, Jane Peyton, as the UK’s first accredited “pommelier”, the name for a sommelier that specialises in cider.

Jane Peyton, the UK’s first ‘pommelier’

The Pommelier accreditation scheme was devised and taught by cider expert Gabe Cook, also known as The Ciderologist.

It was launched by the Beer & Cider Academy, based in London, in January 2018 and requires candidates to pass three courses before sitting an assessment where a range of different styles of cider are blind tasted and must be correctly described and identified.

Cider advocacy and the ability to match food with cider must also be proven.

The pommelier qualification is the first of its kind in the world and reflects the growing sales demand for cider, which continues to flourish.

“Cider is akin to apple wine – made from the fermented juice of pressed apples,” said Peyton. “The certification programme was, rightly, challenging but now I am an accredited pommelier I can advocate for cider and enlighten people about its diversity, how to match cider and food, and its sheer wonderfulness.”

Jane is the founder of the School of Booze and already an accredited Beer Sommelier who also has a wine tasting accreditation from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

“Anyone who makes, markets and retails cider should send their staff for pommelier training,” added Peyton. “It gives people the ability to understand, describe and advocate what they are selling. Educated staff are more effective staff.”