| The press gang |
| Our in-cider tour takes you around three mills which form the core of this area’s apple industry |
Herefordshire and the part of Worcestershire around Malvern is a haven for the cider lover. The drink can be traced back to Roman times, although the first written reference to it was in the 13th
century, during the time of King John (who, incidentally, is buried in Worcester Cathedral).
Eight cider-makers can be found in the region and the smallest to the largest producers are included in the Cider Route, which runs through Hereford to Leominster, Malvern, and Ross-on-Wye.
Although guided tours are
available throughout the year, the peak time for apple pressing is between September and December. We visited three cider-makers to give you a taste of just what’s on offer.
DUNKERTONS CIDER MILL
Even if it is not the youngest of all the cider-makers in Herefordshire, it must be fairly close, as Dunkertons has been producing cider for only 20 years. To reach this mill, turn off the A44 Leominster-to-Kington road at Pembridge and follow the signs for about a mile.
One of the things that
distinguishes Dunkertons from other cider makers is that it’s a young company housed in some very old buildings. Ancient
buildings they may be, but the
finished product can more than hold its own against the
competition. This is borne out by the fact that the company has won a gold medal for its perry (pear cider) as well as being voted
Best Cider at the first CAMRA Cider Festival.
Dunkertons planted its own orchard in 1988 and uses organic apples. Currently, it is growing bush orchards of some of the rarer
varieties of cider apple such as Bloody Turk, Kington Black and Herefordshire Redstreak. And last year, Dunkertons produced the largest quantity of cider in its
history: a company record of 38,000 gallons. To us, this may sound like a great deal of cider but it’s still ‘small beer’ compared with some of the other producers, notably Bulmer, whose operation in Hereford is probably larger
than all the rest put together.
In addition to the cider mill,
the company has a very good restaurant where you can line
your stomach with a snack or a
hot meal.
THE CIDER MUSEUM AND KING OFFA DISTILLERY
Cider has been produced in Herefordshire since the early 1600s, and by the Bulmers Cider company since the late 19th
century. Today, Bulmers owns the largest apple press in the world as well as the largest alcohol container, capable of storing 1.6 million
gallons of cider. Compare this with the 60,000 gallons of storage at Dunkertons (above) and you get a good idea of the difference in size between the two companies.
Bulmers’ Cider Museum, in Hereford, is an independent
charitable trust which was opened in 1981 on Ryland St by Bertram Bulmer, a past chairman of Bulmers Cider. It portrays the history of cider-making throughout the world.
The museum is housed in part
of the old Bulmers factory, and a particularly interesting part of the museum is the boardroom with its portraits of several generations of the Bulmer family.
The cellars below the museum, which are also open to the public, have a storage capacity of more than three million bottles. The
bottles of cider, with temporary corks inserted, are stored in
pupitres (the same type of racks used to hold Champagne bottles). The bottles are then turned a
quarter turn each day for several weeks, during which time the
sediment falls into the neck.
When all the sediment has
settled, the bottle is taken out
of the rack and the neck frozen. The cork is then withdrawn. The expansion pressure of the frozen liquid forces the frozen section of cider and sediment out of the
bottle. Finally, the bottle is topped up with cider and re-corked, ready for sale.
Elsewhere in the museum, you will see cider presses from throughout the ages, in addition to photographic exhibits and displays of ciders from countries as far afield as China, Argentina, Australia, Belgium and South Africa.
Items of information dotted around the museum include the fact that Herefordshire produces over 63 million gallons of cider per annum; that during the 14th century children were baptised with cider (which was more pure than water); and about two pounds of apples is used to make every 75cl bottle of cider.
After leaving The Cider Museum, drive into the centre of Hereford and visit the cathedral to see
the Mappa Mundi and The Chained Library. The former is a medieval map revealing how 13th-century scholars interpreted the world. In the Chained Library you will see that a chain is attached to the front cover of each book, and the end of the chain is slotted onto a rod running along the bottom of each shelf: the
system allows a book to be removed from the shelf and read at the desk, but not to be taken from the room.
WESTONS CIDER MILL
Westons, at Much Marcle, has been making cider since 1880.
The mill is open from Monday to Friday (9.30am to 4.30pm) and tours take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2pm. There is a charge of £3 per person and the tour lasts for about an hour and 15 minutes.
At the entrance to the mill you will find Westons Scrumpy House Restaurant and here you can take your choice between a light lunch or a full meal. The menu is not particularly extensive, but the food is tasty and well presented.
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Planning Distance 80 miles
Time Nine hours
Start/finish Blackmore CC Site, Blackmore End, Hanley Swan
Suitable for Adults
Tourist Info
Hereford 1 King St, Hereford HR4 9BW. Tel 01432 268430
Ross-on-Wye Edde Cross St,
Ross-on-Wye HR9 7BZ.
Tel 01989 562768.
Website Click Here
Ledbury 3 The Homend, Ledbury HR8 1BN. Tel 01531 636147
Refreshments
The Cider House Restaurant
Dunkertons Cider Mill, Luntley, Pembridge, Leominster HR6 9ED.
Tel 01544 388161
The Scrumpy House Restaurant
Westons Cider, The Bounds, Much Marcle, Ledbury HR8 2NQ.
Tel 01531 660626
Website Click Here
Attractions
Dunkertons Cider Mill Hays Head, Luntley, Pembridge, HR6 9ED.
Tel 01544 388653.
Click Here
The Cider Museum and King Offa Distillery Ryelands St, Hereford. Tel 01432 354207
Website Click Here
Westons Cider Mill The Bounds, Much Marcle, Ledbury.
Tel 01531 660233.
Website Click Here
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