469: Getting Lost, So You Don't | UK Totally Cider Tour 2025 Recap

469: Getting Lost, So You Don't | UK Totally Cider Tour 2025 Recap

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist September 10, 2025 Duration: 1:13:58

UK Cider Tour 2025 Audio Snap Shots

Cider Chat Episode 469 cover – Getting Lost So You Don't, UK Totally Cider Tour 2025 Recap Ria with Wallace of Wallace and Gromit in Bristol
Wallace and Ria in Bristol

In this Episode 469 of Cider Chat, we brings listeners inside the UK Totally Cider Tour 2025 through the voices of the guests who joined. From Somerset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, to Wales guests on this tour discovered not just cider and perry, but also community, history, and inspiration.


First Impressions and Highlights

  • Many guests shared that they signed up to experience places they couldn't access on their own.
    • From the scale of Showering's Cider Mill, the second largest in the country to the intimate welcome at Oliver's, the contrast certainly left a deep impression.
  • The discovery of Perry was a recurring theme. From Ohio travelers Chris and Megan who tasted their very first Perry on the tour, while Rodney from Virginia declared he'd be grafting Perry scions at home.


Personal Connections

Cider Chat Episode 469 UK Cider Tour 2025 Group Selfie with Sam Leach of Wilding Cider
Group Selfie with Sam Leach of Wilding Cider
  • For repeat travelers like Debbie and Bryce from California, the tour reaffirmed how relationships with makers enrich the experience: "
    • They treat us like friends, not tourists."
  • Ancha from Hungary spoke of the joy of hiking the Malvern Hills in the rain and celebrating with fellow cider lovers.
  • Rachel and Mary of Kanga Cider in Texas noted the value of orchard insights for their own plantings back home, while Thomas from Australia praised the tour for covering the full spectrum of producers—from industrial to artisanal.


Learning and Inspiration


Guests emphasized that tasting ciders in their native terroir cannot be replaced by books or certifications. Dan from Spacetime Mead and Cider Works in Dunmore Pennsylvania highlighted how only by being in Herefordshire or Somerset can one grasp the range of English cider styles.

Susan and Tom of Heeman's Cellars in Ontario pointed out how the pacing of the tour allowed real reflection—something missing from busier farm tours.


The Takeaway


Whether first-timers or repeat guests, everyone agreed: the Totally Cider Tour offers access, education, and camaraderie that can't be replicated alone.

As David of Oregon said it best, "It wasn't really about the cider—it was about the people."


Contact info for Totally Cider Tours

Mentions in this Cider Chat Episode 469


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

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