Hi Chris,
Can't wait for apples trees to grow! Think you need a lot of apples and no press available either. I have used the cheapest Lidl juice for about 8 years with no problems with fermentation, with primary fermentation very vigorous and messy. My first batch was even made with bakers yeast and it worked, couldn't find wine yeast in Greece, they leave barrels open for natural yeast to get in, again can't wait that long! Using a good wine yeast does make a difference though. The only problems I have had were with temperature, when the temperature (daytime air) starts getting above 25c it all goes bad. Started a batch beginning of May all going well, by the end of June I had 50 litres of stuff not even good enough for cider vinegar :( A very old Greek chappie in the village told me it's too hot, go find a cave! Never found a cave but stuck to winter brewing.
I used carton grape juice last year to make wine, worked a treat, so well I didn't get to sample much, step daughter would guzzle it every time she came round, moved house now, further away!
All this brewing talk has got me in the mood for it, so will get all the stuff cleaned up and start a batch.
Better do some work I suppose.
Keith