Page 6 - SIP DRINK TOUR HEREFORDSHIRE 2022 DIGITAL

From Branch to Bottle

Hops • grapes • apples • blackcurrants • potatoes

Where else would you find producers turning potatoes into gin and vodka,
blackcurrants into cassis, raspberries into frambroise, hops into beer, grapes
into wine, and of course, most famously, apples into cider all in one county?
Herefordshire of course!
Blackcurrants, Raspberries, Cherries Coffee Liqueur … well, there had to be some
and more alcohol in it somewhere!
Did you know that Herefordshire has its very
own British Cassis and cheeky Frambroise, Hops
made on the Whittern Estate’s blackcurrant Herefordshire has been prime hop growing
and raspberry plantation? Gin and Vodka country for over 300 years and originally
can be made from all sorts of different whole families would move to work and
grains and products, and that remarkably live on the hundreds of acres of hop yards.
includes potatoes. Potatoes are the basis However, in the 1800s, along with the rest
of Chase Distillery’s spirits, grown on the of the country, British hops suffered disease
Herefordshire farm, liquified from the farm’s and competition from cheaper imports and
borehole and then the brews are created in hop growing was scaled back. Now the main
their fascinating on-site distillery. region is to the west around Bromyard and,
And while cider is the local nectar, one clever with the renaissance in micro-breweries, hop
craft producer, Black Mountain Botanicals is yards are enjoying an expansion, though
picking is very much more automated
making vodka and gin out of cider apples
…and a tot of rum! nowadays.
For unique botanicals (those amazing You can buy your own fresh decorative hop
flavour combinations that many spirits have) garlands from The Hop Pocket Shopping
Herefordshire producers use their farmland, Village (see P38).
orchards and even hedgerows to the max.
Cherries, elderflower, strawberries, rosemary, Grape Expectations
other fruits and herbs, and many more sweet The warming climate is making the UK more
and fragrant additions are picked, pressed successful for grape growers. You’ll find
and dried to give their products their own properties with a small number of grape vines
unique flavours. Taste and visit the ones in for their own consumption, but to have a
this guide. profitable business you’ll need at least 5 acres
of plants. Learn about the grape varieties,
The daily grind how to grow them and production tips when
The area even has its own coffee. Ground you visit beautiful and award-winning vintners
and roasted from worldwide beans and Wythall Estate and also lovely Frome Valley
blended to 13 aromatic varieties, Black Vineyards. Perhaps you’ll turn your passion for
Mountain Roasts has also just launched a Pinot into a new hobby.

4 SIP DRINK TOUR Herefordshire