Winter Wonder apple

USDA identification images for Winter Wonder

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

Sport

This variety is a sport (natural genetic mutation) of: Suntan

Visitor reviews

• 12 Dec 2020  SUSSEX, United Kingdom

  Only just discovered this fabulous apple - really balanced flavour, good texture and juice and just the right sharpness. Where has it been hiding? Why isn’t it more widely grown and sold?
• 20 Nov 2017  United Kingdom

  I endorse all that has been said. An excellent variety with a good old-fashioned appearance, firm flesh, easily eatable skin and and a rich sweet tart aromatic flavour. One of the best best commercially available dessert apple. Cox-like but far better than the over-waxed tasteless pap that passes for Cox these days. Would be very curious to know its provenance.
• 12 Feb 2016  WILTSHIRE, United Kingdom

  We evidently are late arrivals at this apple, as with many of your reviewers, we found them in Waitrose. Labelling as 'traditional' led us to think that they were an old variety, we now realise not. None the worse for that. For such a late Apple (February) good Cox-like colouring, perhaps not quite so crisp and juicy as a good example of such but a very good texture and flavour. Skin is nicely palatable - some of the competition has skin that is almost inedible. Not sure that we found it 'sharp' as described on your site but perhaps that's due to its maturity, good fruity flavour. Very large, need to share between two. Nice to find an apple bred in England, we'll buy again.
• 08 Mar 2014  United Kingdom

  I love this apple and have two trees, I think the flavour almost like sharp sherbert with a lovely texture. If you want to buy a tree google 'Real English Fruit' I believe Dan bred it and that's where I bought my trees
• 16 Nov 2012  UK, United Kingdom

  These are magnificent. In look and taste they are precisely like the apples one of the 100-year old trees in my back garden, and those are the best apples I've ever tasted without exception. It's the first winter in 20 years that I've actually cared about finding other apples because the dreadful weather has given us a zero crop. One thing I would like to find out - if these are 'new', what are their parents?
• 15 Dec 2011  DEVON, United Kingdom

  I too purchased Winter Wonders in Waitrose. British, with a great description, they did not disappoint with looks, flavour, texture and they were very juicy. The apple held it's own against some lovely Cornish Blue local cheese too, a great combination. Grown by J Linsell, Suffolk, I was so pleased with them that I am now looking for a tree to grow our own, that's why I am on this website. jo ;)
• 13 Nov 2009  BOGNOR REGIS, United Kingdom

  In recent years, Coxes (mainly foreign) have been disappointing. These Winter Wonder are superb.
• 19 Feb 2009  NORTH LONDON, United Kingdom

  I bought a bag at Waitrose today - also grown by Jeremy Linsell. I like it very much & agree with the previous comments. Why is it labelled 'wash before use'? Pesticides, or just advice from a lawyer?
• 16 Feb 2009  NORFOLK, United Kingdom

  We bought some yesterday at Waitrose, in Swaffham, grown by J. Linsell. They were still excellent, far better than most Coxes are by mid February. The flavour reminded us of Laxton's Superb, which we have in our garden,but Winter Wonder is much better looking.
• 08 Feb 2009  SUFFOLK, United Kingdom

  I am currently enjoying these apples which I found in waitrose. I was attracted by the traditional look of them which is evocative of some of the fine old English varieties long since vanished from our shelves. Although I havent bought 'supermarket' apples for years as I have always been dissapointed, I thought that these were worth a punt, and was pleasantly surprised as I discovered real flavour and texture, strong punchy acididy well balanced with sweet, juicy flesh and a good depth of flavour. I have been hooked ever since and am happy to crunch my way through winter wonder which help to supplement my stocks of home grown D'arcy spice and Nonpareil. Well done to whoever bred these and thank you to J. Linsell for growing them. All power to your elbows, and may you continue to help but British apples back on the taste buds of the population where they deservedly belong to be!
• 25 Nov 2008  SOMERSET, United Kingdom

  I got some at Waitrose - delicious, rich and tart, better than any Cox I have bought this year
• 20 Nov 2008  RAGLAN MONMOUTHSHIRE, United Kingdom

  i recently bought a pack of winter wonder from waitrose the grower was j.linsell of suffolk . i liked the flavour and texture and thought they were very much like a cox is it a cross? the increase in the availability of uncommon varieties should be encouraged and i have been able to try many different sorts this year mainly from a proper greengrocer.get the british apple known.
• 11 Sep 2008  LEICESTERSHIRE, United Kingdom

  I love this apple which was stocked by my local Sainsbury's a few winters ago. No luck since though. If anybody can point me in the right direction I'd love to find it again or indeed to plant a tree in my garden.
• 18 Dec 2007  SURREY, United Kingdom

  I agree with the comments so far. It softens up when cooked into a tasty puree - sweeter and more interesting than Bramley. My examples were remarkably handsome and blemish free.
• 13 Dec 2007  CARDIFF, United Kingdom

  Bought a bag of these at Morrisons, and was so impressed by the flavour that I looked them up on the internet. I hope they continue to be available, as I would search for this type of apple. Very cox-like, but better texture than some coxes I have bought recently.
• 21 Nov 2007  CHICHESTER,WEST SUSSEX. U.K., United Kingdom

  Discovered this apple in the specialist apple box at Waitrose. Beautiful apple,cox type with a little russetting in places. I want to find out more about this fruit as I wish to include a tree in a small orchard I am planting shortly. Any more info pleas as to availability of young tree.
• 22 Oct 2007  RADCLIFFE ON TRENT, NOTTS, United Kingdom

  I tried this apple at the Lowdham apple day and was very impressed by its texture and flavour. It was grown locally and was a good looking apple medium to large for an eating apple. The texture was very crisp and very juicy. The flavour was sweet, medium acidity and with some complexity, not as much as a cox or ribston pippin perhaps similar to a king of the pippins. An excellent apple which I hope does well in garden and commerce.

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