Excellent — a very interesting and informative tour, followed by tasting some superb cider and perry. One not to miss out on!
Fundamentals
Learn how it all works
Orchard
A look at our orchards
Milling
The practical stuff
Important information
Register Interest for our Cider Course
We’re running our 1-day cider-making courses in October of 2024 in Hereford. After successfully hosting over 200 participants in our previous sessions, we’re excited to bring back this unique experience. Here’s an outline of what we offer in our courses:
- After a welcome coffee and introductions, you will be taken through the fundamentals of cider making starting with an explanation of different apple types, varieties, trees, and the production of cider.
- Next, a walk through our two orchards linking up the trees and apple varieties we have with the earlier talks.
- The morning session concludes with the treatment of the juice once it is pressed out of the apples covering the fermentation process through to storage and bottling.
- Lunch is usually homemade soup and apple crumble washed down with cider before you have a practical session of milling and pressing a batch of already harvested apples. You will have up to 25 litres of the pressed juice to take home with you after the course to turn into your own cider.
- The course concludes with a discussion of ancillary topics – perry, equipment, legislative matters, etc.
You will have a Course Manual to take away which will cover everything discussed during the day.
Price
£150
Group Size
up to 6 people
When
October, taking the full day
Lunch included
Everyone gets food provided for
Book now
We are flexible about when we run cider courses and arrange them on mutually convenient dates. Please complete the form below with your party size, available dates, and any other important information in the message field or alternatively call. We will come back to you to finalise the details.
What to expect during cider making
Experience hands-on milling
You'll operate traditional milling equipment to grind the apples into a fine pulp, learning the importance of consistency and texture in preparing the apples for pressing.
Master the pressing process
Utilize our classic apple press to extract juice, observing how layers of apple pulp are skillfully wrapped and stacked before the press is activated, yielding fresh cider.
Bottle and take home
After pressing, you’ll collect up to 25 liters of fresh apple juice, which we’ll help you prepare to transport home, where you can continue the fermentation process to craft your own cider. The course concludes with an informative discussion covering topics like the production of perry (pear cider), the necessary equipment for cider making at home, and an overview of the legal aspects related to cider production and distribution.
For a more detailed guide of how we do it check out our cider making process page.
When will the cider making course be available, and how can I reserve my spot?
The course is available in October next year. While specific dates are yet to be announced, you can reserve your spot by signing up for our wait list. We’ll notify you if you you got onto a course.
What is included in the £150 per day course fee?
The fee covers a comprehensive cider making experience, including detailed explanations, apple sorting, milling, pressing, fermentation, and bottling processes. It also includes a guided tasting session and cider that you can take home. All necessary equipment and materials are provided, and you’ll receive hands-on training from our experienced cider makers.
Do I need any prior experience in cider making to join?
No prior experience is necessary! Our course is designed for both beginners and cider enthusiasts. We provide step-by-step guidance through each stage of the cider making process, making it a fun and informative experience for everyone.
Are there any age restrictions for participating?
Yes, due to the nature of the course, which includes cider tasting, participants must be 18 years or older. We ask that all participants bring a valid ID on the day of the course for age verification.