UK Cider Production Tour
Brighid
Organized by cider makers for cider makers, CINA's UK Cider Production Tour will highlight the variety of production styles, techniques, and scales in The West Country, the traditional heart of British cider. The tour partners with the Bristol Cider Salon where participants will have the opportunity to pour and connect with producers across England and Europe.
Cidery Visits & Activities
This production-focused tour includes exchanges with the following cider makers and additional cider cultural activities:
- Oliver's Cider & Perry. Quite simply, Tom Oliver is one of the world's most celebrated cider makers. His bold, wild fermented ciders are the perfect expression of the terroir of Ocle Pychard and the surrounding landscape.
- Little Pomona Orchard & Cidery. Little Pomona are natural wine influenced cider makers, pushing boundaries and changing perceptions of what cider is and can be in the UK. Wild fermentation, pristine fruit, and lots of barrel aging in action.
- Westons Cider. The 4th largest maker in the UK and still family owned. A great mix of tradition and contemporary, large-scale production.
- Dunkertons Cider Mill. A fully organic cidery on the larger end of small-scale production.
- The Newt. Perhaps the world's most extravagant cidery. Set in the grounds of an exclusive visitor experience, ciders made at The Newt use cool fermentation techniques to produce an entirely unique range of products.
- Rich's Cider Farm. A family owned traditional cider maker being taken on by the next generation and undergoing great modernization.
There will also be a guided tour of the Museum of Cider in Hereford, traditional ploughman's lunches to share, and the best local tips for restaurants and pubs!
Bristol Cider Salon
An exciting and unique feature of this tour is that it is tied into the Bristol Cider Salon on June 29. England’s premier cider event brings together the craft producers from the UK and beyond with a focus on full juice ciders presented that showcase both the traditional and latest innovations. Commercial cider makers will have the opportunity to pour their cider at the event for hundreds of consumers (there will be a separate application to participate).
Tour Cost
The tour cost is USD $3000 per person and includes:
- ground transportation
- 7 nights of hotel accommodations (single occupancy)
- 7 breakfasts
- 3 shared meals
- all cidery tours and activities
- participation in the cider salon
- tour guide service with cider experts
The cost does not include airfare, accommodations in London before June 25 or on/after July 2, or additional meals and beverages.
Cider Guides
The cider tour guide will be Gabe Cook, who will supplement visits to cideries and facilitated exchanges with local stories and tips. Gabe will be joined by Nick Gunn, founder and board member of the Cider Institute of North America who will be on hand to answer any cider production questions that come up along the way.
Gabe Cook is The Ciderologist – an award winning cider expert changing the way people think and drink cider. He has more nearly 20 years’ experience within the global cidery industry, working in the UK, New Zealand, Norway, the US and beyond. Gabe has worked for all sizes and types of cider maker, from traditional farmhouse producers, all the way up to the world’s largest. As well as providing world class consultancy to cider makers and cider sellers alike, Gabe has written two books – 2018’s Ciderology (Octopus) and 2021’s Modern British Cider (CAMRA Publishing) – as well as countless articles for regional, national and trade media. His authority on the fermented apple is confirmed by his role as Chair of Judges for the International Cider Awards, and leads the American Cider Association (ACA) Certified Cider Professional (CCP) programme outside of North America and Japan.
Nick Gunn is a native of Oregon, born and raised in Eugene. In 2000, Nick earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies with minors in Biology and Geology from the University of Oregon. With a passion for sustainable agriculture and fermentation, Nick planted a cider apple orchard with his wife Mimi in 2003. Shortly after in 2004, Wandering Aengus Cider was born with a goal of producing world class european styled ciders as well as breaking ground on new american styles. Nick is a past president of the Northwest Cider Association and has spearheaded projects such as the “Cidermakers Toolkit”, a wiki to help cider professionals get their business off the ground. Currently, Nick is the founding Board Member of the Cider Institute of North America, and continues to offer consulting to startup cider companies through his company BenchGraft Consulting.
Cider Institute of North America (CINA) is non-profit organization that provides production training, resources, and coursework for the global cider industry.