Mar 21, 2024
The international angle, a scion exchange, plus cider and cheese matching are three new elements joining classic sessions like Cider Doctor (pictured above) and the infamous bottle share at CraftCon 2024, the Three Counties Cider & Perry Association’s annual trade conference, taking place at the Royal Agricultural University, 5-6 April 2024.
The fourth edition of the highly anticipated conference will gather the UK’s leading craft cider producers, with 35 speakers presenting on topics covering orcharding, cidermaking and business development. CraftCon is the only industry-facing educational conference for British cidermakers and has helped attendees grow their businesses and raised the product quality of participating cider companies since it was founded in 2019.
“This brilliant event brings together the most ambitious and pioneering craft cidermakers in the country to learn techniques, share knowledge, understand legislation, and to inspire each other”, says Chair of the TCCPA and director of Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company, Albert Johnson. “If we look back to the first CraftCon, the cider industry has taken a giant leap forward, and that is in large part the result of the professional development that happens at this wonderful conference.”
On the Friday evening of CraftCon, presenters and delegates will come together for an evening meal to celebrate the cider community and their products with a bottle share. CraftCon is an invaluable opportunity for small producers to network and discuss their shared challenges and hopes for the future of the industry.
“This year’s CraftCon is more diverse than ever, with talks on every topic from orcharding to sustainability in the cidery, right through to the latest in kegging”, says deputy chair of the TCCPA and co-founder of Artistraw Cider, Lydia Crimp. “The wealth of talent and knowledge that this year’s roster of speakers will be providing us with is simply not to be missed.”
Two notable cider and perry writers will be taking the stage at CraftCon. Adam Wells, co-founder and editor of Cider Review and Author of the forthcoming Perry: A Drinker’s Guide will be giving a keynote speech on Friday. “CraftCon has become simply the most important event in the calendar of aspirational British cider and perry”, says Adam. “The speakers and topics lined up for 2024 promise to make it the most exciting and ambitious edition yet.” James Crowden, renowned poet and author of Cider Country will be giving a keynote speech on Saturday, covering the early history of sparkling bottle fermented cider.
For the first time in person, an international element has been added to CraftCon’s agenda, with Italian pommeliers Andrea Bedini and Marco Manfrini showcasing the rise of cider culture in Italy.
Another new edition to the programme is a scion exchange, with conference attendees encouraged to bring cuttings from their apple and pear trees to share with fellow makers and orchardists. To accompany this, practical advice will be given by Tom Tibbits of Artistraw Cider and Leo Jordan of Blue Barrel Cider on how to use these scions for grafting and top-working in orchards.
CraftCon19-CREDIT-Terry Richards (2)
Further highlights of the conference include:
- A session to help small producers turn their cidermaking hobby into a business with Max Nowell of Steilhead Cider and
James Finch of Chapel Sider.
- Pommelier Cath Potter, That Beer Place’s co-founder Dale Lord, Alex Fitton of Pullo Bottle Shop and landlady of Station House Durham Susannah Mansfield will present a blind tasting of ciders and a discussion on faults, what’s natural and what’s not.
- Young Cheesemonger of the Year, Lily Morris of Morris’ of Usk and Sam Wilkin Cellarman Sam will share with their audience the art of matching cider and cheese as everyone tastes through the three pairings Lily and Sam have chosen.
- Chava Richman of Welsh Mountain Cider and Joey Hughes of Orchard Daughters – Merched Y Berllan will discuss orcharding for the future and the importance of varietal selection.
- A panel on the challenges and opportunities of tannin and bittersweet apples with Adam Wells, James Forbes of Little Pomona, Martin Johnson of Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company, Polly Hilton of Find & Foster, and drinks writer Tamlyn Currin.
CraftCon is being generously supported by lead sponsor, The National Association of Cidermakers, as well as The Licensing Guys, The London Cider House and Pershore Press, with other sponsors to be confirmed.
Tickets and further information about CraftCon 2024 is available on the TCCPA’s dedicated CraftCon website and on instagram and facebook
Mar 7, 2024
Albert Johnson of Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company and Lydia Crimp of Artistraw Cider [Photo: Rebecca Fletcher]
Craft cider and perry producers around the country stand to gain as Albert Johnson of Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company, and Lydia Crimp of Artistraw Cider, are elected to the top two roles at the Three Counties Cider & Perry Association (TCCPA).
“It is a privilege to chair the largest membership association of small cidermakers in the UK,” said fourth generation cidermaker Albert. “My father, Mike, was a founding member of the TCCPA, so to continue the legacy is very special.”
Lydia, co-founder of Artistraw Cider and co-chair of the pan-industry group, Cider Women, joins Albert as his deputy. “I am excited to be given the opportunity to add to the TCCPA’s already rich history,” said Lydia. “It’s an honour to be working with such dedicated and talented people.”
Representing over 100 cider producers located far beyond the association’s original boundaries of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire, the vibrancy and energy of the revitalised sector is symbolised by members’ desire not just to reach out to consumers but also to learn and move forward.
First up will be CraftCon 2024, at the beginning of April. “This will be the fifth anniversary of this landmark event, organised and hosted by the association,” said Albert. “I hope to build on what we have achieved in the last five years to continue to achieve our aims of supporting and promoting the interests of cider and perry producers in our Three Counties region, but also all across the UK.”
“With five weeks to go, I’d urge all fellow cider professionals to join us for what will be an incredible couple of days with many of the world’s leading lights sharing their wisdom,” said Albert.
“As always, the CraftCon programme will cover topics within three main strands of orcharding, cidermaking and business and marketing. This year, with more speakers and more subjects being covered than ever before, there really is something for everyone! In amongst all of the learning CraftCon also offers excellent networking opportunities throughout the conference, culminating in the now famous Friday evening bottle share,” said Lydia.
CraftCon 2024 takes place on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th April 2024 at the Royal Agricultural University, Circencester. Over two days there will be over 20 speakers and panellists presenting interactive workshops and seminars aimed at aspiring and existing cidermakers in the UK and beyond. There will be two keynote speakers: Adam Wells, co-founder of Cider-Review.com and author of forthcoming book, Perry: A Drinkers’ Guide, and James Crowden renowned and award-winning author and poet.
“My predecessor, Dave Sanders brought the membership back together after the disruption of COVID to ensure the successful re-establishment of CraftCon,” said Albert, “The quality this year will be a fitting legacy to all his hard work.”
“We look forward to seeing you there,” said Lydia. “The future of cider looks very bright indeed!”
CraftCon is being generously supported by lead sponsor, The National Association of Cidermakers, as well as The London Cider House and Pershore Press, with other sponsors to be confirmed.
Notes:
- The TCCPA was founded in 1993 by a group of craft scale cider makers who came together at the cider and perry trials run by the The Big Apple in the parish of Putley in Herefordshire. From these early beginnings, membership has now grown significantly. With over 100 members, the TCCPA seeks to represent and support small craft cider and perry producers and enthusiasts via several means, including that of education and training.
- Membership of the TCCPA extends beyond the borders of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire and is open to cidermakers, large and small, aspiring or commercial, hobbyists or advocates, and others with an interest in the cider world. Contact membership secretary, Tom Tibbits, for further details. tom.tibbits@gmail.com
- On Tuesday 30th January 2024, TCCPA held its Annual General Meeting at The Cider Museum in Hereford. At the AGM, Albert, Lydia and the new committee was elected.
- Further information about CraftCon 2024 is available on the TCCPA’s dedicated CraftCon website and on Instagram and Facebook.
![Traditional cider apple harvesting using a hooklug [Photo: Rebecca Fletcher]](https://cideruk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSCF4242-1024x683.jpg)
Traditional cider apple harvesting using a hooklug [Photo: Rebecca Fletcher]
Mar 4, 2020
Following its successful debut in 2019, CraftCon, the only UK conference for aspiring and existing commercial craft cider makers, returns in April with the key theme of sustainability running throughout its programme. This relates not only to the environmental impact of orchards and cider making, but also to equipping businesses with the ability to grow and to build a long term future.
“With 60% of the world’s cider produced in the UK, we are uniquely vulnerable to changes which affect the viability of orchards in the UK, both from a climatic and commercial perspective,” said programme chair Tom Tibbits of Artistraw Cider. “In uncertain times, fostering a resilient and vibrant industry founded on genuine sustainability will ensure future generations also inherit our ancient yet robustly modern cider culture.
Arriving at Pershore College on 24 and 25 April and organised by the Three Counties Cider & Perry Association, renowned cider authority Andrew Lea will provide context in his keynote address, reflecting on the work of Long Ashton Research Station and more recent progress in cider.
“With the ever rising interest in craft cider and perry, this event comes at exactly the right time to support a vibrant and growing industry,” said TCCPA chair, Simon Day of Once Upon A Tree. “Twice as big and twice as good as 2019, this year’s CraftCon has an amazing line-up of speakers and panellists who are ready to enthuse, educate and energise cider and perry producers from across the UK and beyond.”
With three strands covering the Cidery, Orcharding and Business, vital current topics to be covered include responding to the climate emergency, raising finance, and the quest for sustainable business models embracing duty reform.
BBC Food & Farming Drinks Producer of the Year, Ross Cider, appear amongst an impressive roster of talks drawn from all sectors of the independent cider sector, including presentations from Dave Matthews, Bartestree Cider, and Ragged Stone Cider’s Chris Atkins on the future of perry.
Orchard-strand highlights include Professor Paul Hadley, from the University of Reading who will improve our understanding of how future climate scenarios might impact perennial tree fruit crops in Apples in a Warming World while an orcharding expert panel explores Diversity in the Orchard.
The Ciderologist Gabe Cook will lead panels on kegging, while Pilton Cider’s Martin Berkeley joins Simon Day to explore co-ferments and cider hybrids.
SIBA’s head of public affairs, Barry Watts, joins NACM’s Mark Hopper to bring previous experience to assist the campaign for cider duty reform. Caitlin Braam, formerly of Seattle Cider Company and Angry Orchard and now president of Zafa Wines, will lend international inspiration on building a cider business, while Cider Women, the vibrant new pan-industry group, will take the opportunity to update on progress and to chart its future direction.
Cider Doctors, a chance for delegates to share their ciders with the experts, returns, as does the Grafting 101 masterclass led by Tom Tibbits.
The ever popular Cider Share takes place on the evening of the first day, with a new public event, Craft Cider Uprising, destined for The Angel Hotel in Pershore on Saturday 25 April. Sponsored by the National Association of Cider Makers, this will celebrate the remarkably rich gathering of cider talent with local townsfolk and cider fans from further afield. Full programme available here.
![Traditional cider apple harvesting using a hooklug [Photo: Rebecca Fletcher]](https://cideruk.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSCF4242-scaled.jpg)
