A recent visit to White Heron Estate in Herefordshire revealed just how much the English drinks landscape is evolving – and how the lines between wine, tourism, and heritage are beginning to beautifully blur. Set on a fourth-generation family farm, this quietly ambitious estate has long been known for its blackcurrants – destined for Ribena – as well as apples for Bulmers cider. But it’s the estate’s new foray into immersive wine tourism that’s helping redefine its place on the map.
White Heron’s new e-bike tour programme gives visitors the opportunity to explore the estate’s 200 acres of orchards, blackcurrant fields, and vineyards at a relaxed pace. The 4–7 mile loop – taken on newly introduced electric bikes, offers expansive views of the surrounding countryside with glimpses of the Brecon Beacons and the Malverns on clear days. This tour provides insight into how the estate’s apples, blackcurrants, and grapes are cultivated, harvested, and transformed into products including cider, apple juice, British Cassis, and their recently launched English sparkling wine, produced using the Charmat method from Seyval Blanc, Madeleine Angevine, and Reichensteiner.
The ride culminates with charcuterie, local cheeses, and homemade chutneys, all enjoyed with glasses of Cassis and fizz as the sun set over the vines. It was a simple, relaxed experience that spoke to the estate’s wider philosophy: rooted in heritage, but open to innovation.
The estate’s new visitor programme includes regular group e-bike tours running twice monthly until late October, priced from £50 per person. Optional add-ons include a picnic lunch or sit-down dinner, making it ideal for those wanting a fuller experience of the land and the produce. Private tours are also available on request, led by an experienced guide and including tastings and a look at the biodiversity of the surrounding landscape.
Also new this year is the White Heron Meander – a three-night guided cycling holiday that explores North Herefordshire’s quiet backroads and black-and-white villages, with stays at both the estate’s converted Victorian stable block and a nearby organic farm. With luggage portage, meals and guiding included, it’s an all-inclusive introduction to the region’s food, farming and rural rhythms.
White Heron also offers a range of self-catering accommodation, including cottages, a Queen Anne house and the converted stable block known as The Colloquy, with space for groups of up to 23. A pool, jacuzzi and EV chargers offer added comfort, making it a practical yet luxurious countryside base.
The estate also continues to offer year-round walking tours and tastings, including visits to the Cassiserie, where British Cassis is produced. These start from £25 per person for groups of ten or more.
With the addition of e-bike tours and expanded visitor offerings, White Heron Estate is providing a multi-faceted example of how English wine producers can combine farming, hospitality, and sustainability – helping to reshape what rural tourism can look like in Britain.
