Podcasts about ciderville

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Best podcasts about ciderville

Latest podcast episodes about ciderville

Cider Chat
510: From Barrels to the Pub | The People's Cider Co., Michigan

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 59:44 Transcription Available


Most cider makers dream of expanding their barrel program. Jason Lummen did the opposite. In Episode 510, Ria Windcaller visits The People's Cider Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Jason explains why he shifted from barrel-aged ciders to dry, sessionable ciders that keep people coming back for another round. Along the way, they discuss local apples, pub culture, changing American tastes, and what it means to build a cidery around community rather than complexity. Time Stamps   00:00 Craft Palate Lightens   01:04 Meet Jason Lummen   02:06 Welcome to Cider Chat   04:02 GLINTCAP Reunion Story   06:43 Ciderville News Roundup   10:09 Totally Cider Tours   11:27 Sessionable Success Shift   12:21 Cheers with Pommeau   12:45 Fruit Ridge Apple Sourcing   15:13 Old Orchards vs. Trellis Systems   18:29 Cider Maker Origin Story   23:44 The Pressing "Aha!" Moment   25:49 Tiny Pub, Big Vibe   30:10 House Yeast and Wild Ferments   31:04 The Flavored Cider Debate   32:14 A No-Sulfites Philosophy   33:19 The Shift to Sessionable Cider   33:38 Brick Street Nightclub   35:32 Rethinking the Barrel Program   36:57 Why American Palates Are Changing   39:02 A Toast with Pommeau   39:45 The People's Cider Company Origins   42:24 The Raised Fist Logo   46:16 Winning Over New Cider Drinkers   50:44 COVID and the Patio Lifeline   52:28 Life as a Publican   53:28 The Best Part of the Job   56:37 Contact Info for The People's Cider Company   57:23 Closing Reflections

Cider Chat
508: The American Cider Association Responds to Questions About CiderCon 2027

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2026 69:54 Transcription Available


The announcement that CiderCon 2027 will be co-located with the Craft Brewers Conference sparked one of the most active online discussions the cider community has seen in years. In this episode of Cider Chat, ACA Board President Christine Walter joins host Ria Windcaller to discuss why the decision was made, the financial realities facing CiderCon, how the conference will operate alongside the Craft Brewers Conference, and what it means for the future of the American Cider Association. The conversation also explores cider's identity, the role of orchard-based producers and commercial brands, the ACA's current leadership structure, and whether this partnership is intended to become a long-term model. Whether you're planning to attend CiderCon 2027 or simply want to better understand the thinking behind one of the cider industry's biggest announcements, this episode offers an in-depth conversation on where things stand today. Time Stamps 00:00 Why CiderCon Is Co-Locating 00:15 Meet Your Host 01:31 CiderCon 2027 Shakes Up Ciderville 03:29 News Out and About Ciderville 04:51 French Cider Tour Update 08:48 Setting Up the Conversation 10:46 The Future of the American Cider Association 12:41 Why the ACA Chose This Partnership 16:25 Survey Results and Other Options 21:25 Protecting Cider's Identity 21:47 How Co-Location Will Work 28:30 Why Now? Lessons From Providence 32:37 Concerns About Beer Culture 34:46 Safety, Inclusion, and Progress 38:15 Headlines, Keynotes, and Programming 40:36 What Cider Can Learn From Beer 43:42 Big Cider, Small Cider 47:43 Messaging, Tours, and Community 51:46 Leadership and Financial Challenges 56:22 National Conference or Regional Future? 1:01:12 A One-Year Experiment? 1:03:56 An Invitation to Show Up 1:07:08 Host Reflection 1:09:21 Until Next Time in Ciderville

Cider Chat
507: Expand Your Universe | Woodfolk Cider, Ontario Canada

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2026 53:19


Sometimes all it takes is one sip. It happened to the founders of Woodfolk Cider, Martha Lowry and Alistair Whitehead, and it can happen to YOU! What began as a shared love of food, drink, and hospitality eventually led them to plant orchards, build a cidery, and welcome visitors to their 87-acre farm in Ontario, Canada. Today, their orchard-based cidery sits among forests, rivers, rolling hills, and rows of young cider apple trees and the open invitation to expand your universe one glass at a time. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Cider Discovery Moment 00:52 Meet Woodfolk Cider 02:23 French Cider Tour Update 04:49 Secret Tap at Four Phantoms 07:53 eCiderNews Roundup 10:33 Welcome to Woodfolk's Orchard 12:18 The Farm and Family Origins 13:03 From Music and Brewing to Cider 15:09 Distilling, Spirits and Ontario Taxes 17:38 Building the Tasting Room Experience 18:17 The Woodfolk Cider Lineup 19:19 Introducing Tannic Cider to New Drinkers 21:17 The LCBO Challenge for Farm Cideries 24:14 Pressing Apples and Growing Orchards 26:51 Perry Pears, Climate and Terroir 29:22 Harvest-Based Fermentation 29:49 Barrel Aging and Neutral Oak 30:57 Learning From Happy Accidents 32:00 Yeast Choices and Orchard Diversity 33:48 Tasting Meadowland 34:54 Harvest Dates and Labeling Rules 36:23 Cider, Stewardship and Community 40:06 Modern Love Cider 40:39 Copper Moon and the Art of Blending 43:54 Food Pairings and the "Aha" Moment 46:33 Looking Five Years Ahead 48:17 Final Thoughts on Woodfolk Cider 49:55 French Cider Tour Reminder 51:04 Closing Theme Song Contact info for Woodfolk Cider Website: woodfolkcider.com Located near Orillia, Ontario, approximately 90 minutes northwest of Toronto. Mentions in this Cider Chat Totally Cider Tours eCiderNews French Cider Tour 2026 Cider Going Up Patreon Find the full show notes for Episode 507 at CiderChat.com Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/507-woodfolk-cider-ontario/ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
506: Richard Yi on Craft, Family, and the Future of Brooklyn Cider House

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 54:53


Richard Yi of Brooklyn Cider House isn't interested in making cider that appeals to everyone. He's interested in making cider with personality and if you've ever enjoyed hearing a cider maker tell the story behind the glass, you're going to enjoy this conversation. In this epiosde, you'll hear how a young man who once imagined a future in engineering found his way into the family cider business. Richard shares the influence of his father, Peter Yi, the evolution of Brooklyn Cider House, and why embracing the unpredictability of fermentation has become central to his philosophy. Along the way, we discuss: • Growing into a family cider legacy • The transition from engineering to fermentation • Why cider doesn't need to taste the same every year • Orchard expression and vintage variation • The role of trust in fermentation • Brooklyn Cider House's approach to craft and authenticity • Building a cider culture that values difference over uniformity Whether you're a cider maker, orchardist, or simply someone who enjoys discovering what makes a cider unique, Richard offers thoughtful insights into the balance between tradition, experimentation, and family. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Cider With Personality: Richard Yi's Approach to Craft Cider 01:34 Ciderville Standards Update 03:19 French Cider Tour 2026 Preview 04:50 Meet Richard Yi of Brooklyn Cider House 05:44 Family Roots, Wine, and the Path to Cider 07:23 Richard's Food Pairing Philosophy 09:31 Working Inside Brooklyn Cider House 10:43 Succession Planning and Learning the Craft 14:23 Building the New Paltz Farm and Orchard 17:28 Creating a Destination Tasting Room 18:27 Pizza, Barbecue, and Growing Crowds 21:10 Events and Community Building 23:15 Celebrating Korean Culture Through Cider 25:21 Craft Cider Versus Commodity Production 26:05 Native Yeast Fermentation and Cider Making 30:03 Wild Fermentation Versus Cultured Yeast 30:44 Small-Batch Ciders and Limited Releases 31:25 The Story Behind Nomad Cider 33:19 Nomad Cider Tasting Notes 35:24 Apples, Oak, and Barrel Aging 37:37 Sherry Cask-Aged Cider Explained 39:28 Lopez de Heredia and Winemaking Influence 42:15 Dance: A Basque-Inspired Fruit Co-Ferment 43:58 Dance Cider Tasting Notes and Technique 48:31 Innovation, Growth, and Consumer Trends 49:56 The Legacy of Peter Yi 51:17 Tandem Ciders Joins the CiderGoingUP Campaign 53:21 Cider Chat Summer Schedule and What's Next Mentions in this Cider Chat Tandem Cider in Michigan joing the #ciderGoingUp campaign 2026 French Cider Tour Ganzenhof Cider – Belgium eCiderNews Find the full show notes for Episode 506 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/506-richard-yi/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
505: Cider Senseis: Discipline, Craft, and the Cost

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2026 44:25


There is a question that keeps coming up in cider, small business, and independent media: Is this sustainable? In this episode, Ria sits down with Adrian Luna, known as the Hard Cider Guy, for a conversation that goes well beyond cider. What starts as a discussion about content creation quickly turns into something deeper. Two practitioners, each with their own discipline, circling around the same hard truth: if you do not value your work, no one else will. This is not about rejecting collaboration or generosity. It is about understanding the long-term cost of working for free, and what it takes to build something that lasts. From orchard life to media strategy, from martial arts philosophy to the realities of burnout, this episode asks what it really means to take your role seriously, whether you are making cider or telling its story. Timestamps 00:00 Is Cider Work Sustainable 01:28 Episode Theme and What's at Stake 02:12 Orchard Life and Spring Work 03:47 Planting, Grafting, and Growing Trees 07:02 French Cider Tour and Limited Spots 10:22 Meet Adrian Luna The Hard Cider Guy 11:20 The Cider Sensei Mindset 13:42 Finding Cider and Career Shift 15:51 Building the Hard Cider Guy Brand 17:21 From Scholarship to Cider Career 19:13 Too Many Hats Small Business Reality 20:53 Burnout in Cider and Media 24:20 Mission Statement Versus Making Money 26:03 Does Cider Need Independent Media 27:54 Should Creators Be Paid 29:32 Why You Should Not Work for Free 29:59 Martial Arts Discipline and Cider Ethics 30:50 Why Cider Media Needs Support 32:24 Finding Your Lane in Cider 33:16 Education and Audience Building 35:29 Hooks Versus Authentic Content 37:19 Discipline Through Adversity 42:33 Community Responsibility in Cider 48:15 Key Takeaways from the Conversation 49:12 Support Cider Chat and Keep It Going 50:12 Strange Apples Outro Find the full show notes for Episode 505 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/505-cider-senseis-media-value/ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and do not forget to subscribe so you never miss what is coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture. Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

Cider Chat
503: Audio Snapshots from the UK Blossom Time Tour | What Is Proper Cider?

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2026 72:50


Episode 503 takes you through England and Wales with audio snapshots from the UK Blossom Time Totally Cider Tour while exploring one big question: What is a proper cider? Travel orchard roads through Somerset, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wales as tour guests share reflections on traditional cider, perry pears, wild fermentations, farmhouse hospitality, blossom-covered orchards, and the people keeping cider culture alive. From Ross on Wye and Oliver's Cider and Perry to Gwatkin Cider Mill and beyond, this episode captures the feeling of living inside cider country for a little while. Time Stamps 00:00 Proper Cider Defined 01:42 Tour Craft and Group Flow 04:07 Season Updates and UK Teasers 07:22 Pouring Quince and Rolling Clips 08:50 Trevor's Tour Takeaways 13:25 George and Marla's Cidery Story 20:18 France vs UK Cider Culture 24:35 Tom's Cider Journey via Spirits 32:28 Richard and Elizabeth's Mountain Cidery 39:36 Tour Gratitude Recap 40:52 UK Apple Diversity Takeaway 41:39 Cider Kindergartner Graduates 44:19 Cheese Box and Stinking Bishop 45:55 Perry Pear Center Passion 46:43 Usk Castle Cider Picnic 47:27 Blossom Tour with Syracuse Duo 49:11 Far Orchard Mystique and Bees 50:22 Cask Cider Hospitality 53:03 Gwatkins Bag in Box Secrets 55:21 Why Guided Tours Work 59:16 Last Minute Traveler Gene 01:01:08 Farmhouse Cider and Beer Overlap 01:06:33 Proper Cider at Wilkins 01:10:24 Signing Off and Theme Song Find the full show notes for Episode 503 at CiderChat.com Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/503-uk-blossom-time-proper-cider/ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture. Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

Cider Chat
502: Hungary Uncorked / Cider Going UP

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2026 56:39


Travel with Cider Chat to Hungary for audio snapshots from the country's first Cider Salon, featuring makers from across Central and Eastern Europe, orchard visits, and a look at why Hungarian cider is a region to watch. 00:00 Budapest Travel Update 02:24 Cider Salon Plans 04:13 Litke Champagne Caves 06:34 Hungary Surprises and Lessons 09:44 Meet Andrew at St Matthias 11:35 Election Energy at Castle 16:13 Turul Bird and Innovation 18:53 Hungarian Cider Roots 22:23 Salon Maker Zuhatag 26:57 Asturian Sidra Reunion 30:06 Cidery Near Ukraine 31:27 Tom Oliver in Pécs 31:44 Why Hungary Matters 34:15 Cider Salon Worldwide 35:20 Natural Wines at Balaton 36:02 First Palinka Tasting 37:19 Teachers Cider Table 38:13 Czech Cidérka Spotlight 40:24 Dark Cider Origins 43:24 Bosnia Bohorina Ciders 45:43 Serbian Cider Shop 47:52 Cider Has No Borders 48:51 Orchard Visit and Paprika 50:36 Quince and Wild Ferments 52:47 Next Hungary Salon and UK Tour 54:12 Strange Apples Outro Song Find the full show notes for Episode 502 at CiderChat.com Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/502-hungary-uncorked/ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
501: How to Taste Cider

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 26:35


Welcome to Season 11 of Cider Chat. After 500 episodes exploring how cider is made, Episode 501 brings it back to the glass—how to taste cider in a way that actually feels natural. No jargon. No pressure. Just a simple, sensory approach: What do you smell? What do you see? What do you feel? Do you want another sip? Includes a quick mention of Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition and why judging is very different from everyday drinking. 00:00 Pommeau Snowy Epiphany 01:26 Stop Overexplaining Cider 02:59 Taste With Feelings 04:05 Season 11 Kickoff 04:34 Tours And Community News 05:52 Glintcap And Judging 09:38 Pour A Glass Together 10:13 Aroma First Impressions 11:58 Look And Notice 13:34 First Sip Reaction 14:07 Structure And Mouthfeel 15:59 Memories Around The World 18:49 Finish And Another Sip 20:30 Buy A Second Bottle 22:32 Final Sip And Wrap 24:03 Strange Apples Outro Find the full show notes for Episode 501 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/501-how-to-taste-cider/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
How Cider Is Made | Lessons from 500 Episodes of Cider Chat

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2026 30:31


In this milestone Episode 500, we return to a simple question that has come up again and again over the past ten seasons of Cider Chat: How is cider made? After hundreds of conversations with cider makers, orchardists, historians, and fermentation experts around the world, this episode brings together the core lessons shared across 500 episodes - from orchard to bottle. This episode walks through the cider making process step by step, including: Apples and cider apple varieties Milling and pressing Fermentation and yeast Malolactic fermentation Barrel aging and lees aging Blending Bottling and conditioning The science behind cider making Throughout the episode, listeners are directed to past Cider Chat episodes where these topics are explored in depth with cider makers and experts from around the world. Episode 500 also reflects on the growth of Cider Chat, the global cider community, and the people who make up Ciderville. Thank you for listening, supporting, and being part of the journey to 500 episodes. 00:00 Welcome Episode 500 00:36 Season Voices Montage 01:51 Why Cider Chat 06:12 Cider Back To Basics 08:07 Orchard And Apples 11:10 Apple Stories And Resources 13:11 Milling And Pressing 16:57 Fermentation Essentials 18:27 Barrels And Oak Choices 19:30 Blending Art And Science 24:58 Time Bottling And Patience 25:43 Episode 500 Reflections 28:15 Thanks And Season Eleven 29:14 Outro And Bonus Banter Find the full show notes for Episode 500 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/500-how-cider-is-made/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
499: The Omnia Era of Cider | Pommes in Art Revisited

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2026 27:40


Episode 499 of Cider Chat looks at the "Omnia Era of Cider" - a time when everything is happening at once in modern cider, from traditional methods to new styles and experimentation. Using art history and the Pommes in Art story as a guide, this episode explores how we often don't realize we are living in an important era until years later. This episode serves as a pause before Episode 500, where we return to the beginning and talk about how cider is made. 00:00 Episode 499 Prelude 01:00 Chaos Then and Now 03:31 Omnia Era Explained 05:46 Art as Cider Lens 06:13 Michelangelo David 08:45 Renaissance to Cider 11:13 Arcimboldo Fruit Portraits 13:35 Pomona and Vertumnus 16:35 Sack of Rome Shift 18:29 Mannerism and Omnia 23:17 Talking Pommes Banter 25:53 Looking to Episode 500 Find the full show notes and photos for Episode 499 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/499-the-omnia-era-of-cider/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
498: Heeman's Cellar | Somewhere Cider from Ontario

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2026 72:05


In this episode of Cider Chat, we visit Heeman Cellars in Ontario, where a multi-generational strawberry farm expanded into cider and mead production focused on heritage apples, terroir, and experimentation. We taste blends, single varietals, and rare apples including Wayne, Swayzie – Pomme Grise, Yarlington Mill, and crab apples while discussing Ontario cider history, barrel aging, Pet Nat cider, and what it means to make cider that comes from somewhere. 00:00 Somewhere Cider Idea 02:17 Episode Setup Tom Heeman 03:44 Cider Travel Updates 06:16 Road To Episode 500 10:19 Heeman Farm Origins 11:18 Orchard Plans Partnerships 12:04 London Ontario Location 14:13 Apples Bees Cider Bug 15:28 Cider Mead Beginnings 17:18 Launching During Covid 19:58 Style Shift Toward Dry 23:26 Ontario Terroir Apples 25:48 Family Buy In 27:51 Tasting Flight Begins 30:10 Magic Apple Story 34:52 New Traditions Pet Nat 36:14 Somerset Blend Deep Dive 37:55 Ontario Blend Origins 38:23 Aging Takes Time 39:04 Yarlington Mill Pour 40:28 Terroir and Acid Balance 41:51 Somewhere Cider Philosophy 42:12 Happy Space Mission 45:16 Wayne Apple Discovery 47:13 Old World Notes Explained 51:32 Swayze Pomme Grise 55:15 Ontario Apple Golden Age 58:59 Sweet Crab Apple Shock 01:04:21 Clamping and Carbonic Trials 01:08:27 Wrap Up and Credits Find the full show notes for Episode 498 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at:https://ciderchat.com/podcast/498-heeman-cellars/  Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
497:Beginner Cider Makers Q&A | Advice from Professional Cider Makers (Archive)

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2026 62:16


This archival episode of Cider Chat brings together five experienced cider makers answering real-world questions from beginners at CiderCon 2019. Originally released as Episodes 174 and 175, this combined feature presents a comprehensive Q&A covering everything from fermentation and stabilization to business strategy, equipment, and scaling a cidery. The discussion bridges the gap between hobby cider making and commercial production, offering practical insights grounded in real experience. Panelists Marcus Robert – Tieton Cider Works, Washington Tim Godfrey – Golden State Cider, California Eleanor Leger – Eden Specialty Cider, Vermont Brent Myles – Sly Clyde Cider, Virginia Ben Calvi – Vermont Cider Co, Vermont Moderated by Cider Chat MC Ria Windcaller 00:00 Cider Choices Matter 01:27 Episode Setup 03:02 Ciderville Event News 05:41 Support The Podcast 06:31 Patron Shoutouts 10:34 Panel Introductions 14:34 Defining Cider 15:32 Lessons Learned 18:55 Residual Sugar Safety 23:51 Contract Vs Taproom 27:13 Ice Cider Deep Dive 33:11 Settling Juice Tips 34:40 Solids and Enzymes 35:06 Plastic Fermenters Tips 36:41 Profitability and Distribution 40:54 Learn on Someone Else 41:27 Core Ciders Strategy 45:43 Tasting Room Location 49:43 Funding and Crowdfunding 52:07 Essential Lab Gear 53:54 Filtration and Hopbacks 58:05 Fermentation Temperature Control 01:01:03 Wrap Up and Sign Off Find the full show notes for Episode 497 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at:https://ciderchat.com/podcast/497-beginner-cider-makers-qa/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
496: Liberty Ciderworks | Spokane, WA

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2026 56:28


Liberty Ciderworks in Spokane, Washington is an urban cidery focused on traditional methods. While located in the city, their cider reflects deep agricultural roots. Cider maker and founder Rick Hastings ferments with wild yeast, ages cider for 3 to 12 months, and source fruit from nearby orchards. This approach creates cider with structure, balance, and regional identity. This interview is with Jamie, who is a certified pommelier, and her husband Ben Pratt who both partnered with Rick in 2019. This interview was recorded at CiderCon in 2026. 00:00 Cider Eyes Open 00:40 Meet Liberty Cider 01:58 Ciderville News Kanga 04:46 Western Mass Cider Stop 07:51 Tour Prep And Pacing 12:53 Spokane Urban Cidery 15:09 Orchards And Sourcing 17:20 How They Joined Liberty 21:54 Tasting Room Third Place 23:29 Cider Series And Flights 29:33 Educating New Drinkers 31:07 American Apples Lineup 32:01 On The Table Golden Russet 32:22 Golden Russet Terroir 33:22 Tasting Notes Compared 35:31 Wild Yeast Unfiltered 38:43 Reserve Versus Core 39:19 Cider Club Shipping 41:59 Future Growth Strategy 44:14 Visit Spokane Taproom 46:38 Events Puzzle Festival 49:21 Barrel Program 55 Chain 52:39 Wrap Up Ciderchat 54:13 Closing Orchard Song   Find the full show notes for Episode 496 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/496-liberty-ciderworks/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

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Cider Chat
495: Cider Barrels Speak | Bâtonnage & Barrel Aging

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2026 58:24


In this archive episode of Cider Chat, we go in a barrel cellar in Prince Edward County, Ontario, with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider and Lee Baker of Keint-He Winery. Listening to Fermentation What Is Bâtonnage in Cider? Find Key Takeaways for Home Cider Makers Barrel Room Glossary SO₂ Calculator 00:00 Barrels as Dance Partners 00:29 Episode 495 Replay Setup 01:40 Ryan Monkman Spotlight 04:06 Ciderville News and Cider Salons 06:21 UK Blossom Time Tour Plans 08:18 Entering the Barrel Cave 10:38 Cellar Terroir and Humidity 13:33 Malolactic Fermentation Explained 15:32 Listening to Fermentation 17:51 Comparing Barrels With and Without Malo 21:50 Yeast Trials and Complexity 23:48 Lees Contact and Benefits 26:24 Bâtonnage Tools and Routine 30:47 Bâtonnage Demo in Action 33:49 Hands On Stirring and Smelling 34:17 Stirring The Lees 35:26 Blending For Complexity 36:47 Aging Timeline And Autolysis 38:47 Barrel Faults And Oxygen 41:58 Managing Flor And SO2 44:09 Measuring pH And Sulfur 49:56 Cleaning And Storing Barrels 53:03 Citric Sulfur Storage Method 57:04 Closing Notes And Farewell Find the full show notes for Episode 495 at CiderChat.com Direct Link at: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/495-barrel-aged-cider-tips/ Listen to wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
494: Humboldt Cider and the Historic Orchard of Albert Etter

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2026 60:53


In this episode of Cider Chat, we hear from Tom Hart of Humboldt Cider Company, located in Eureka, California along the rugged Pacific coastline behind what locals call the Redwood Curtain. We also discusses preserving the original Albert Etter orchard in Humboldt County and continuing the legacy of these historic cider apples. 00:00 Welcome to Cider Chat 00:38 Wickson Crab and Albert Etter 03:06 News Cider Salons Ahead 05:08 Hungary Salon and Champagne Cellars 09:08 Blossom Time and UK Tour 10:59 Support and Show Notes 12:04 Meet Tom Hart 12:30 Humboldt Cider Origin Story 14:36 Taproom and Local Crowd 16:17 Emerald Triangle Economy Shift 22:08 Apples Supply and Production 25:02 Brand Name and Partnership 26:35 Growth Plans and Cider Board Work 30:44 Juice Tankers and Redwood Roads 33:12 Humboldt Outdoors and Fishing 34:47 Where to Stay in Humboldt 35:02 Farmers Market in Arcata 35:59 Cider Batch Sizes and Varietals 37:02 Meet Albert Etter and Ettersburg 38:44 Etter Apple Legacy Varieties 42:12 Stewarding the Historic Orchard 44:47 Orchard Layout and Perry Pear 46:48 Rare Trees and Homestead Grafting 48:32 DNA Testing and Replanting Plan 58:08 Wildlife Challenges and Wrap-Up 59:54 Show Notes and Support the Podcast Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com Episode 494: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/494-humboldt-cider-albert-etter/ Listen to Episode 494 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
493: Cider as a Sport | Sidra in Asturias (Archive Edition)

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2026 55:28


What is Asturian cider? Asturian cider (sidra natural) is a traditionally fermented apple cider from Asturias, Spain, served through a high pour (escanciado) and shared socially in small servings called culines. This episode is part of the Cider Chat archive documenting global cider traditions and producers since 2015. In this epic replay from Season 2 of Cider Chat, Ria Windcaller traveled to Asturias, Spain, and sat down with Anzu Fernández, international delegate for La Sidra magazine and a lifelong ambassador of traditional Asturian cider culture.   Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com Episode 493: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/493-cider-as-a-sport-sidra-in-asturias/ Listen to Episode 493 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

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Cider Chat
492: Absolem Cider Company | Maine Cider Energy

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2026 52:23


This episode of Cider Chat explores the growing Maine cider scene through Absolem Cider Company in Winthrop, a farm-based cidery helping shape New England's evolving cider identity. Located on a 60-acre farm in Winthrop, Maine, Absolem Cider Company is a cidery that expresses place, heritage apples, and hospitality. In this episode, Ria sits down with cider maker Zach Kaiser to explore how Absolem blends traditional inspiration with modern experimentation. From wild-foraged apples and native fermentations to wine-inspired co-ferments and Basque-style pours, Zach shares how Maine's apple history is shaping a new generation of New England cider. 00:00 Intro Cask Cider 00:06 Meet the Guest 01:27 How Cask Service Works 03:08 Why Absolem Uses It 04:07 Episode Roadmap 04:48 Ciderville News MOFGA Workshops 07:19 Listener Shoutout Chalkys Cider 08:29 Featured Chat Begins 09:23 Absolem Farm and Tasting Room 10:31 Where Winthrop Fits in Maine 12:42 Zachs Cider Origin Story 14:24 Founding Absolem Through COVID 16:34 Coferments and Wine Blends 18:13 Wend Wild Apple Cider 22:32 Fermentation Yeast and Malo 24:57 Beer Hybrids and Collabs 25:39 Flagship Ciders to Try 27:18 Sidra Style Foeder Program 28:40 Taproom Vibe and Winter Maine 29:21 Year Round Tasting Room 29:31 Local Bar Vibe 30:41 Lake Town Tourism 31:41 Cider As Experience 32:22 Ice Cider And Mistelle 32:47 Brandy Barrel Aging 34:36 Lodging And Visits 35:14 Signature Events Calendar 35:30 Bembel Fest Details 37:57 Anniversary And Collabs 39:30 Pressing And Production 41:36 Heating And Expansion 42:58 Five Year Vision 44:30 New England Cider Association 50:12 Wrap Up And Links Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com Episode 492: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/492-absolem-cider-company/ Listen to Episode 492 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
491: Revisiting Randall Grahm | Cider Exploration Without Hesitation

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2026 53:35


An early conversation that explored possibilities cider was only beginning to consider. As Cider Chat moves toward its 500th episode, we revisit conversations from the earliest seasons, taking a long view of the moments that quietly shaped where cider and this podcast would go. This episode, originally recorded in Season One, features legendary winemaker Randall Grahm, founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard and a James Beard Award winner. At the time, inviting a winemaker onto a cider podcast felt like stepping outside the expected boundaries of the category. Looking back now, it marked a turning point. Long before many of these topics became common discussion in cider, this conversation explores: indigenous and wild yeast fermentation the use of pied de cuve to build healthy native fermentations beginning fermentations de novo each vintage blending philosophy borrowed from wine quince used as structure and aroma rather than juice perry through a winemaker's lens antique fruits like medlars cider as an expression of curiosity and place Randall Grahm Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com Episode 491: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/491-randall-grahm-cider-history/ Listen to Episode 491 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

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Cider Chat
490: Let Cider Lead

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2026 22:32


An editorial on leadership, scarcity, and why cider no longer needs to borrow authority from beer or wine. In Let Cider Lead, host Ria Windcaller steps back from interviews to offer a clear-eyed reflection on the state of the cider industry, drawing on more than three decades in cider and nearly eleven years documenting the modern cider movement through Cider Chat. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 01:02 Upcoming Cider Events 03:10 Totally Cider Tours 06:37 Cider Chat Schedule Update 08:00 Reflections on Cider Industry Leadership 10:53 Cider Industry Norms and Challenges 18:44 Call to Action: Let Cider Lead 19:50 Conclusion and Sign Off 20:25 Outro Song: Strange Apples   Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com Episode 490: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/490-let-cider-lead/ Listen to Episode 490 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
489: Natural Cider Production Seminar | CiderCon 2025

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2026 70:53


Natural cider is often misunderstood as funky, volatile, or flawed. Recorded live at CiderCon 2025, this seminar reframes natural cider as a philosophy of low intervention, balance, and intentional care, not a free pass for faults. Moderator Haritz is joined by Richard of Brooklyn Cider House and Jasper Smith of Son of Man (Oregon) to explore how Basque cider traditions influence modern natural cider production in the U.S. The panel dives into fermentation choices, malolactic fermentation, volatile acidity, sensory evaluation, and why great natural cider is defined by quality, not dogma. This conversation also examines how natural cider is judged in Spain, what tasting panels consider true faults, and why these ciders are designed first and foremost to be enjoyed with food. Ciders featured: Zapiain (Basque Country), Son of Man (Oregon), and Solstice (Brooklyn Cider House) Episode 489 Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Basque Cider 00:25 Meet the Host: Ria Windcaller 00:42 The Magic of Sidra Natural 01:41 Exploring Natural Cider Production 02:32 Cider FOMO and CiderCon 03:34 Cider Chat Milestones and YouTube Channel 05:21 Thanking the Cider Chat Patrons 08:44 Featured Presentation: Natural Cider Panel 09:23 Defining Natural Cider 11:32 Production Techniques and Philosophies 27:05 Harvest Strategies and Apple Varieties 36:21 Exploring the Price Range of Ciders 37:01 The Science Behind Well-Integrated Volatile Acidity 38:31 The Role of Malolactic Fermentation in Cider 39:55 Tasting Panels and Quality Control in Basque Cider 42:44 Cider Pairing with Food: A Gastronomic Experience 44:31 The Cultural Significance of Cider in Spain 51:31 The Importance of Apple Varieties in Cider Making 55:43 Challenges and Rewards of Natural Cider Production 01:01:48 Final Thoughts and Future of Cider 01:06:55 Conclusion and Farewell Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com Episode 489: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/489-natural-cider-production/ Listen to Episode 489 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

Cider Chat
488: Vintage Cider Label Lawsuit

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2026 43:10


A pending lawsuit spearheaded by Ron Extract of Garden Path Fermentation could change how cider makers label harvest year and "vintage" on cider over 7% ABV. Ron explains why the current TTB rules block truthful harvest-year labeling, how this impacts both producers and consumers, and what success would look like for the cider community. 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:43 Cider Labeling Controversy 02:46 News and Events in the Cider World 04:56 Upcoming Cider Tours 09:16 Featured Presentation: Ron Extract on Cider Labeling Lawsuit 42:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts   Find the full show notes to this episode at CiderChat.com Episode 488 https://ciderchat.com/podcast/488-vintage-cider-label-lawsuit/ Listen to Episode 488 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Cider Chat
487: Further Tales of Chocolate Pears

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 64:00


In This Episode, We Cover Why Sorbus domestica is often nicknamed "the chocolate pear" (and why that name actually helps people get it) What bletting means, and why sorbs can be delicious before they turn fully brown (depending on the fruit) The "custard stage" vs. fully bletted "medlar-like" stage (and how this relates to cider pressing windows) Ben's sorb travel finds across: Croatia (including fruit for sale at the market + trees growing in yards) Moravia (Czech Republic) — including the Sorbus museum and harvest festival France (sorb hunting with Arnold and tasting cormé/cormé-style ferments) Somerset, UK (a surprise roadside discovery!) Growth habits that can make Sorbus domestica look like an oak Why sorbs may matter in a changing climate: deep root systems drought resistance long lifespan later bloom time (less frost risk) Seed-grown vs grafted sorbs — and why Ben prefers genetic diversity (for now) The surprising reality: sorbs have already been distributed widely in the U.S. through seedlings What's being made with sorbs in Europe: brandy co-ferments with grapes wine experiments Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction to Sorbus Domestica 00:18 Meet the Podcast Host: Ria Windcaller 00:52 Exploring Sorbus Domestica: History and Uses 01:25 Cider Chat Episodes Featuring Sorbus Domestica 02:39 Sorbus Domestica in France and the US 04:05 Cider News and Upcoming Events 07:53 Interview with Ben Kunesh: Chocolate Pears 08:33 The Unique Characteristics of Sorbus Domestica 17:25 Sorbus Domestica Around the World 21:03 The Versatility and Adaptability of Sorbus Domestica 24:20 The Future of Sorbus Domestica in Orchards 25:49 Sorbus Domestica: A Historical Perspective 27:34 Ben's Travels and Discoveries 34:25 Exploring Sorbus Domestica Variations 35:30 Propagation Techniques and Genetic Diversity 37:29 Historical Context and Distribution 39:50 Nursery and Distribution Efforts 41:09 European Adventures and Discoveries 45:30 Tasting Sorbus Domestica Products 54:23 Future Prospects and Cultivation Tips 01:00:58 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Cider Chat
483: The Talking Pomme's Grand Winter Party

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2025 14:23


Enjoy this annual winter tale from Cider Chat Central! In this special holiday episode, Cider Chat invites you to step into the enchanting world of the Talking Pommes. The Talking Pommes Grand Winter Party is more than just a story - it's a celebration of all things pome, community, tradition, and the joy that comes with every glass of cider. The cider house hums with anticipation as Ria, Perry Pear, Mr. Quince, and the Medlars prepare the night before their annual pressing. But as every year before there is always magic in the air for Ciderville. With the Talking Pommes truly anything can happen and so it does! With snow blanketed orchards, and just the right amount of "Believe" a sleigh pulled by apples glides through the starry sky. Raise a glass and join us on this festive adventure—because in Ciderville, the magic is always just a sip away. Meet the Stars of the Cider House This holiday episode of Cider Chat brings together some of Ciderville's most delightful characters: Apple: The vibrant leader with a twinkle in their eye. The Medlars: Sweet, quirky, and always ready with a witty remark. Mr. Quince: The taskmaster who wants to be a comic Perry Pear: Full of charm and flair, a natural performer. A Wide Assortment of Pommes: From Dabinett to Kingston Black, they bring their unique personalities to the mix. The Gift of Holiday Cider Magic This story is for anyone who cherishes the magic of the season. As Apple says, "Every glass of cider holds a story, and this one's for you." From Cider Chat to all of Ciderville, we hope this episode brings joy to your holiday season. Raise a glass, gather 'round, and join the Talking Pommes and Ria in Ciderville!

apple stars raise gift ria quince pomme winter party medlars cider chat ciderville
Cider Chat
445: Unspoken Creed | Stories in Ciderville /Denmark

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2025 28:06


An Unspoken Creed By Sune Kroghansen Enjoy this special Story in Ciderville from Denmark! “Roedding The restart of the cider adventure in Rødding. In the mid-00s, the villagers of Rødding had begun making cider. It faded due to the focus on grafting, planting and nursing the thousands of apple trees in the apple village. In the fall of 2018, focus was about to change again, apple trees was maturing and a decrease nursing left time for something else.  Organized by the association: “Æblets by” — “The Apple Village” a congregation was held, 2 score of interested participants met in the community house of the small village of Rødding in Salling. Amongst was participants living close by in the parish, living in the municipality, the region, and a scarce few from far away. The desire to use the apples for more than just planting. Apple juice production was already a major activity in the village, inspiring the entreprenant townsfolks to move further. Creating activity, community and jobs from the apples grown. Those present discussed opportunities of diversifying activities, moving into cider production along with vinegar, jam, jelly. During the fall of 2018 and winter of 2019, the first cider was fermented. Apples from the gene bank Pometet Nursery part of, University of Copenhagen. Was used I these ferments. Inspired by, among others: Andrew Lea, Cider Chat, Cold Hand Winery, University of Copenhagen Department of Plant Sciences. Fermentation and experimentation started with a steep learning curve: Oe, capsules, corks, aglets, disgorging, remuage, tirage, liquere de expedition, brownhat, so2, eggysmell, ester, alcohol taxes, VAT, tankcleaning, oak, food safety control, acid. We tasted, laughed, spit, drank, smelled with a focus on the experience and excitement of the taste experience. We try to greet a new taste or flavour: “I don't know you, what can you do? What makes you shine?” Of course, everyone has a favorite taste. But experience has taught us. That there is great variation, and “good taste” depends on what the cider is to be used for. The Cider Club meets regularly. Both with a focus on cozy togetherness but also with a focus on technical details, training cider crafting techniques and in taste and sensory. Promoting spreading the joy of fermented apples. I don't know if the word “Creed” or “credo” was discussed, I don't think so! however a “spirit” has been underlying everything though unspoken: The unspoken creed It should taste good. It should be as local as possible. It should preferably be in unmanipulated. Although “natural” is a well-worn word. It is the idea/spirit/dream that we should strive to find: The apple or apple cultivars that make good cider. The cultivar should also be able to: Grow on a healthy, unpruned, untended tree, where we live. They should be easy to press into apple juice. The juice should ferment alone without adding anything other than time. It should be able to keep without any other preservation than a lid. It may be construde as a naive dream that does not abide into modern production society, nor does it fit efficient agriculture. And probably not even practically possible. So there have been deviations from the idea along the way. Mostly to follow the first part of the unspoken creed: “it must taste good” Like a vanilla bean, that tastes fantastic but is not particularly widespread growing in the Danish landscape. So if kakifruits, sulfur, sugar, oak, pineapple, oranges, erythritol, lactose, pasteurization, elderflowers. Are necessary to achieve “good cider” then so be it. The Cider Club is a spirit, and a loose part of an international movement of cider from pure apple juice. We strive to include everyone, and avoid selfishness, selfsufficientness. We are not signers of the “New Nordic Food Manifesto of 2004” but looking back it has influenced us tremendously. With a mixture of epicurean joy of life and the joys of the table. Sustainable thinking and naive optimism. The best we can do, each thing in its own time. BUT we originate from the village of apples so the foundation is the diversity of the old apple cultivars. The hope is to, create something people will choose to enjoy. And It should be fun along the way. Without ruining anything for the world of tomorrow. Wasalling!” Have a story to tell for the “Stories in Ciderville” segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to info@ciderchat.com Mentions in this Cider Chat Totally Cider Tour to the UK – send an email to info@ciderchat.com to get on the wait list for this 2025 tour taking place August 25-31, 2025 Chicago Cider Week Chicago Cider Summit CiderCon2025

Cider Chat
439: The Night Before the Holiday Pressing

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 24, 2024 21:20


The magic of Ciderville awaits you. In this special holiday episode, Cider Chat invites you to step into the enchanting world of the Talking Pommes. The Night Before the Holiday Pressing is more than just a story—it's a celebration of all things pome, community, tradition, and the joy that comes with every glass of cider. The cider house hums with anticipation as Ria, Perry Pear, Mr. Quince, and the Medlars prepare the night before their annual pressing. But as every year before there is always magic in the air for Ciderville. With the Talking Pommes truly anything can happen and so it does! With snow blanketed orchards, and just the right amount of “Believe” a sleigh pulled by apples glides through the starry sky. Raise a glass and join us on this festive adventure—because in Ciderville, the magic is always just a sip away. Meet the Stars of the Cider House This holiday episode of Cider Chat brings together some of Ciderville's most delightful characters: Apple: The vibrant leader with a twinkle in their eye. The Medlars: Sweet, quirky, and always ready with a witty remark. Mr. Quince: The wise and slightly stern elder who keeps everyone on track. Perry Pear: Full of charm and flair, a natural performer. A Wide Assortment of Pommes: From Dabinett to Kingston Black, they bring their unique personalities to the mix. The Gift of Holiday Cider Magic This story is for anyone who cherishes the magic of the season. As Apple says, “Every glass of cider holds a story, and this one's for you.” From Cider Chat to all of Ciderville, we hope this episode brings joy to your holiday season. Raise a glass, gather ‘round, and join the Talking Pommes and Ria in Ciderville! Mentions in this Cider Chat CiderCon2025 Promo Code –  Once you get to the registration form, towards the end of the first page you'll reach a section in the form that says “additional registration information” and there is a question: If you have a coupon, please enter code here (case-sensitive): CiderChat Totally Cider Tour to the UK - send an email to info@ciderchat.com to get on the wait list for this 2025 tour taking place August 25-31, 2025  

Cider Chat
429: Cider Tour Recap France 2024

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 56:32


Find Highlights & Tips in This French Cider Tour Recap! The 2024 cider tour to Paris, Normandy, Brittany and Domfrontais was an absolute success! With guest from the United States, Canada and Hungary the makers in France did a knock out job introducing everyone to the tastes, sights, sounds and people in the region. This tour is curated and led by Ria Windcaller, the producer and host of Cider Chat Hear from the guests on the tour and they share their personal highlights, insights and experiences along the cider trail. Blending Cider with Epic Experiences! This seven night tour began in Paris, with a meet up at a cider bar and then out to Normandy on the Route du Cidre. The cider tour table has a place for you! Evening meals where paired with cider and there was both a Michelin Star Dinner with special guest Etienne Dupont and Mathieu Chevrier  of Domaine Dupont. Later this same week, a cider dinner with special guest Eric Bordelet end the week perfectly! Agathe Letellier of Manoir d”Apreval joined the tour group this night and treated us all to a late night talk in the living room of the hotel! Epic Sights for This Cider Tour Recap Cider plays the lead role in this journey, but for this cider tour recap UNESCO World Heritage sights also played a big role. Hear from the guest as they mention some of their favorite tour sight seeing stops on this cider tour. Be Part of the Next Cider Tour Recap We certainly hope that you too will want to join us on the next Totally Cider Tour! Get on the Wait List to be the first to know when the next cider tour is rolling out and about to Ciderville! Send an email to info@ciderchat.com and put in the subject heading Cider Tour and we will you add you to eCiderNews list to receive early-to-know-notifications! Mentions in this Cider Chat Totally Cider Tours How to say Cheers in Hungary “Egészségére” A Hungarian Apple variety called Kanizsai

Cider Chat
412: Cider Dispatch | Big Fish, VA

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 42:28


Find the latest Cider Dispatch from Highland County Virginia Cider Bon Vivant Reporter Al Sax provide a cider dispatch report from Monterey Virginia. This area of Virginia is known as Highland County and it is here that Big Fish Cider is located. One of the cool extras (beside cider) when visiting this region, is that it is a Dark Sky area. This means good star grazing due to the lack of night lights drowning out the night sky. Al interviews Big Fish Cider Maker and Owner Kirk Billingsley. Kirk was last on Cider Chat in Episode 124. That recording took place in 2018 at CiderCon the annual trade conference for the American Cider Association Ria with Big Fish pulled chilled from the stream Changes at Big Fish from 2018 -2024 400 apple trees planted Can order Big Fish online Tasting room open Friday -Sunday Contact for Big Fish Cider Co. Website: https://www.bigfishcider.com/about-us/ eMail: info@bigfishcider.com Telephone: (540) 468-2322 Address 59 Spruce Street, Monterey, VA  24465 Work with Cider Chat – Provide Cider Dispatches Too! If you enjoy sharing your love of cider and also have a knack for conversation? Why not share some of your local cider hot spots and interview a favored maker. Cider Chat is looking for 20-25 minute cider dispatches. No prior podcasting experience required. Check out the page “Work with Cider Chat“, fill out the form and get published on the world's #1 cider podcast as a Cider Reporter @ Cider Chat! Mentioned in this Cider Chat Hear from Cider Chat's newest patron Josh from Australia Who's been cross promoting cider #xpromotecider Abaliget Garden Projects – Cider, Perry and Fruit wines Megan Faschoway – Junction Orchard and Ciderhouse Rakkerpak Cider – Denmark Thy Cider – Denmark Big Fish Cider posted the Cider Chat info flyer in their tasting room √ Only one seat left on the French Cider Tour 2024 Work with Cider Chat – Record audio snap shots from your special spot in Ciderville @joshcreates Tom Oliver of Oliver's Cider and Perry Ltd audio clip! Thy Cider in Denmark Cross Promotes Cider Chat

Cider Chat
400: To Ciderville With Love

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 44:05


A Special Valentine to Ciderville with Love This episode is a special valentine to Ciderville with a little bit of help from the Talking Pommes and an eventful appearance by The Nose!  We are in the Cider House reviewing the last year and have written a special card to everyone out there in your special spot in Ciderville. In this episode we say good bye to Season 8 while reviewing the uniques of cider, what we all need to do to keep relationships in Ciderville healthy, and how to help keep cider going up a.k.a #ciderGoingUP. Mentions in This Cider Chat Find all past episode from Season 8 of Cider Chat @cidersoms - follow along on Instagram Work with Cider Chat French Cider Tour September 24 - 28, 2024 Send Cider to Cider Chat Support Cider Chat Cider Chat Swag Store - get your cider t-shirt today!

Flyover Folk Podcast
EP 2.18 | Ciderville Saturday Night | Scott Miller | Small Towns

Flyover Folk Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 2:29


Matt and Drew discuss  Ciderville Saturday Night by Scott MillerTo listen to the full show, visit ForgottenCountryRadioShow.com.

Cider Chat
326: Orchards & People | Stories in Ciderville

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2022 26:00


Orchards can be as small as 2, 5 or 10 trees. Get tips on how to manage a small scale orchard at CiderDays 2.0 with John Bunker on November 5th at 9am. Get updates and ticket information by following Cider Chat and signing up for the eCiderNews. Orchards in Winter with Alan Suprenant Alan was last on Cider Chat in Episode 312: Some Angels Dress Like Bears a tribute to Orchardist and Author Michael Phillips who passed away suddenly in his own orchard this year 2022. In this week's episode, we hear what is called Stories in Ciderville, a recording that Alan sent my way this Spring. Listeners are welcome to send recorded stories that they wrote which reflect upon cider, apples, orchards, pears, basically anything pome related. In this episode we hear a recording from Alan that he wrote to share with his fellow parishioners in a congregation in Ashfield, Massachusetts that he attends. Orchards Lessons In this Stories from Ciderville, Alan shares his continuing grief over the loss of his dear friend Michael, but that is only one part of the story. The bigger picture is his encouragement to reflect upon our own personal caretaking and nurturing of relationships that feed us well, much like a well tended orchard. And conversely to prune that which no longer serves us. Most timely, is Alan's perspective of seeing the best in people, something that I can wholeheartedly embrace at a time when there is so much angst in the world. Enjoy this mini Cider Chat and special edition of Stories in Ciderville. Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to info@ciderchat.com Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Cider Chat
308: Virginia's First Lady of Cider | Diane Flynt

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2022 54:45


Flynt could have grown pot, but it was apples that really caught her eye Flynt casually joked during this interview that perhaps she could have chosen to become a pot (cannabis) grower as a career before becoming an apple farmer.  I think I can speak for the whole of Ciderville in saying, "we are sure glad she went for the apple" Diane Flynt For Virginia and the rest of the cider industry we all gained when she went full into apple growing in 1997 and became the first licensed cidery in the south. Foggy Ridge Cider began selling cider in 2004 and became a top national brand model for astute drinkers who were looking for a true representation of what a blend of apples could do in a bottle of cider. In 2018, she made and sold her last cider called "Final Call". Having been nominated for the James Beard Award in 2015 and 2016, and becoming a finalist for this award in 2017 and 2018, as Flynt puts it, "It was the right choice to stop selling cider and focus on the orchard." Today Foggy Ridge Cider continues on as a premier supplier of apples to regional cidermakers. Topics in this Chat Diane Flynt's early mentors and the role models of today Flynt's long view on cider and the cider market What she would do differently if she knew back then what she knows now plant different apples varieties that she has learned will grow better Flynt's advice for new growers Flynt's take on working around climate change and choosing apple varieties accordingly Her favorite eating apples Her future plans for the orchards at Foggy Ridge What the future holds for Diane Flynt Working on a book called Windfall on the back story of Diane Flynt and southern apples Contact Foggy Ridge Website: https://foggyridgecider.com/ Mentions in this Chat Terry Maloney - West County Cider Tim Wright - Wise Bird, Kentucky Blue Bee Cider, Virginia - upcoming episode 310 with Courtney Mailey Steve Wood- Farnum Hill Cider Autumn Stoscheck - Eve's Cider Nick Gunn James Creek CiderHouse Greg Peck PhD Cornell   Support these Sponsors of Cider Chat so they can continue to support this podcast and help you make great cider! Fermentis - Yeast and Fermentation Solutions for Cidermakers Sraml - Food Processing and Cidermaking equipment specialist Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Cider Chat
285: Cider Chat | Cider's Media Part 4

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 58:38


Who is Cider Chat? In Part 4 of this series on Cider's Media it is time to talk about Cider Chat - the podcast that is hosting this series! As you listen to this episode you will hear Ria discussing and reading from her interview for RealBrew a magazine that features Cider in one issue per year. Note RealBrew publishes their hard copy magazine 6 times per year. The heading of the interview is: Cider Chat - A Touch of Experience The story about one of the most famous talk projects dedicated to cider. I am a fan of quality libations and come from a family that upholds the tradition to starting each holiday gathering with a raised glass and toast. As a child I was taught that it was an honor to drink with my grandfathers and not one that they nor I abused or took for granted. These same grandfathers were at one time known as Bootleggers during Prohibition and my paternal grandfather always had a barrel of cider at his farm. The apple tree in his backyard had 5 different varieties grafted onto that one tree and the children were taught not to climb its majestic branches. We knew at an early age that it provided food and drink to our family and as such was revered. My own parents also did a bit of fermenting. I first learned how to make beer and then began to ferment grapes and apples. My novice background in fermenting was just enough to land me a fun side gig as a craft beer writer in 2003. I have been writing a bimonthly column and an occasional feature all these years later for that same craft beer newspaper called Yankee Brew News (YBN). For many years, I was one of the few women beer writers in the US, who was also actively making cider, teaching cidermaking courses, and had a platform to write about both beer and cider. At first the editors at YBN were reluctant to publish news on cider, but eventually they let me plug in articles during each apple harvest season. In 2013, I knew cider was finally getting a wider audience. That same year, while judging at the annual Great International Beer Competition in Rhode Island, we had an uptick in the number of ciders being entered into the competition. The next year, the number of entries tripled and even more notable a commercial cidermaker flew across the country from California to represent his brand. Cider sales in the US was growing exponentially during this time. Also in 2014, while at that same competition that highlighted beer, everyone wanted to talk to me about cider. They knew, via my writings, that I was regularly teaching a “how-to make cider” course at a local cider festival. That festival called “CiderDays” is now the longest running and most celebrated cider event in the US and takes place on the first weekend of November. Being part of CiderDays when it first started back in 1994, allowed me to meet the early cider pioneers in the US before the current modern day cider movement we see today. Pictured left to Right: Chuck Shelton of Albemarle Ciderworks, VA | Bartosz Gałka/ Poland Anzu Fernandes of La Sidra and Randall Graham Professionally, during all this time I was quite busy working as the CEO and Founder of an international consulting firm focused on conflict management. During my travels I would always set aside time to visit a cidermaker, orchard, and breweries. Blame it on fate that at the same time the cider market was growing, I was looking at scaling back my consulting work. I already had a weekly podcast on my specialty in managing violent situations, so I decided why not create a second podcast solely on cider. The decision was easy to make due to the growing interest of cider in the US and the uncanny number of “cider experts” popping up on the internet. I launched the first episode of Cider Chat in the fall of 2015 and it is now in its sixth season with nearly 300 episodes. All the episodes are archived and free to download via the Cider Chat website and all the podcast App directories such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify. I post an episode each Wednesday and feature interviews with makers, cider enthusiasts, and people in the cider industry worldwide. Episodes are between 30 minutes to one hour in length and usually begin with “News from Out and About in Ciderville”. The listeners of Cider Chat are a very engaged audience, so often I am reading letters sent to me. For each episode, I select a specific theme to discuss and also have series on topics such as the 2020 four-part series with Russian cidermakers. There are currently 5 episodes featuring Russian makers, which is quite exciting as this is such a new category for the country and the cider, I have tasted thus far is quite impressive! Alexander Ionov of Rebel Apple based in Moscow is show casing the apple variety known as Antonovka in his cider called Bride. It is a wonderful aromatic cider that is very fruit forward with a touch of tannin. I had Alex on Episode 216. 2018 Totally Cider Tour with Etienne Dupont, Eric Bordelet,  Ann Marie Thornton of James Creek Cider In February 2020, I was set to meet Russian cidermaker Maxim Brecht. He along with a group of Russian cidermakers were attending Cidrexpo in Normandy France, so we set up an interview. I was honestly expecting a group of men, but when Maxim walked through the door with three women who were all making cider I was floored! Their passion and joy for cider was contagious. I titled Part 1 of the four-part series “The Russian Cider Party Starts Now!” It featured Alina Lotkeva who via her I Love Cider brand is helping to boost Russian cider. Olga Efremov and her cidermaking husband Micheal Efremov are both sommeliers and their brand OMG shows their level of skill honed from the wine world. I love following Olga's Instagram posts because her ability to describe cider is heavenly! RealBrew's own editor Elena V. Tyukina made me do a mental double take, when I realized that not only is she Owner and Head Brewmeister at Knightberg Brewery in Saint Petersburg, but she is also already winning awards with her barrel aged cider, the 2017 Force of Gravity! Maxim's own bottle conditioned cider is exquisite. I can't wait to see what all these and the many more Russian makers have to offer moving forward. People listen to Cider Chat via the website, podcast directory Apps and at the Cider Chat YouTube channel. The goal for this podcast is to “be everywhere” thus I also have social media accounts on Twitter @ciderchat, Instagram @ciderchatciderville, a Cider Chat Facebook page and even a TikTok page @ciderchat. In 2018, I launched Totally Cider Tours and have since led cider tours both in Europe and in the US. I started this side business because so many listeners wanted to visit the cidermakers that I have interviewed. Tour guiding comes naturally to me due to my organizational and facilitation skills and my extensive work as a wilderness guide. Early on and for some time, I have paid out of pocket to produce the podcast. It is still a one person show with me both Producing and Hosting, but I am slowly extending my reach and looking at hiring a virtual assistant as the podcast's audience continues to grow. Cider Chat is partly supported by patrons and sponsors. I do take FAM trips which are paid press tours to help promote cider in a particular region of the world. My goal is to show case the local terroir and to celebrate the people, local foods, and sights. I have interviews featuring the following areas in the world, Asturias, Australia, Canada, The Canary Islands, Catalonia, Chile, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Luxembourg, Nederlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Tasmania, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and the United States (nearly every state). Jenifer Dean of County Cider Carol B. Hillman of New Salem Cider Alex Ionov - Rebell Cider Mike Johnson, Ria and Albert Johnson of Ross Cider and Perry Company I don't expect guests to reveal their “secret recipe” for making cider. There is no secret. It is pretty straightforward and is more a matter of skill, which takes time, and the right kind of apples. What I do look for from each guest, is their own story and what inspires them to make cider. This often leads us to a much broader history that entails family, food, and local cultures and customs. Here are just a few of the people I have interviewed on Cider Chat and their simple quotes that have stood out for me and have inspired listeners around the world. Let's start in a region well known to have the oldest recorded references to cider and head to Asturias and its coastal city of Gijon. It is estimated that the average yearly intake of “Sidra” here is 65 liters per every man, woman, and child. This region of Spain has a cider celebration nearly every weekend of the year. And also hosts the International Hall of Gala Apples in the Fall which I attended in 2017. There are 2500 “Asturian only” varieties of cider apples with 200 varieties considered endemic to only Asturias. Every brand of Natural Sidra, has at the minimum 6 varieties of apples in the blend. Asturias makers produce 100,000,000 liters of Sidra per year. And there are even Cider pourer competitions! The long pour or the “Colene”, where the cider is poured from at least a meter from bottle to glass is done to release the carbonic gases in the sidra. The glass is held on a slight angle to catch the pour with only about an 1/8 of a cup or 29 milliliters poured into each glass. The result is a frothy amount of cider which is meant to be drunk right away, much like a shot of vodka. One does not sniff and swill sidra. While in Gijon to attend a cider competition, I interviewed Anzu Fernández for La Sidra magazine. Anzu it should be noted speaks 15 languages and is a medical doctor. He is also what I call “Cider Bold” with his unapologetic views of his region's quality of cider saying, “Asturians are quite expert in cider. You won't fool anyone with a low-quality cider.” Anzu's interview can be heard in episode 062. Skipping back to the US, in 2015 I was able to meet and interview Randall Grahm, while visiting my own family in Santa Cruz California. I have since posted two episodes with him, the first in 2016 in episode 012 and the second in 2019, in episode 188. Randall is the recipient of multiple James Beard Awards and is a prolific writer with a whimsical touch. He is known in the wine world as the “Rhone Ranger” and turned the category upside down when he introduced screw caps to high end bottles of wine. Recently he sold his label “Bonny Doon Vineyards” in California to work on his new estate vineyard Popelochum which is south of where he started his innovative winemaking 36 years ago. His 2013 “Querry”, a blend of quince, apples and pears is part of the reason why I first sought him out for an interview. He approaches cidermaking from a winemaker's view and says, “What I am doing with grapes one might want to consider doing with apples.” Coming from one of the premier winemakers in the US today, I view this simple statement as a call to action. John Bunker resides on the east coast of the US in the state of Maine and is a renowned apple detective. He just published his newest book “Apples and The Art of Detection” in 2019. John is often asked to identify trees abandoned at old homesteads and as such has been able to elevate awareness around lost apple varieties. John says, "With the work that I do around heritage apples. What I'm looking for is a variety that maybe someone introduced a 100 years ago, or 200 years ago, or even 300 years ago." John Bunker is looking at the long run that cider has had and the long future ahead. He has also inspired a new generation of apple detectives. You can find John featured on episodes, 016: Super Chilly Farm, 028: Apple Identification, 264: Grandma's Perfect Orchard. Tom Oliver is a celebrated maker from Herefordshire who is well known for both his ciders and perry and many collaborations with other cidermakers and brewers. Tom has been featured on episodes 029 when he talks about his coveted hopped cider and episode 105 on making perry. Says Tom, “I'm a big fan of the concept of a family of cidermakers. We may all be making cider in different ways, different business models, but what we do need to do is get on with each other.” Considering that cider is still a small niche in a huge world of drinks, this advice is spot on for cidermakers worldwide. In episode 035 Danielle von Scheiner of New York City shares how she donates a portion of her ciders to charitable causes in NYC and says, “We give a little part of the "Big Apple" to anyone who drinks it [our cider].” She is putting the "BIG" back into New York City's apple love with so much of her charitable contributions and as such is an inspiration to all. I recorded episode 044 with Sebastian Lousada who lives on a mountain top in the state of Vermont. He is both licensed to make cider and to distill. I am a big fan of his "Pomme-de-Vie" an organic apple brandy. The cidery is named Flag Hill Farm and is operated fully off the grid being supported by solar panels. It is here that he has been producing cider for nearly 30 years making Flag Hill Farm one of the oldest cideries in the US.  As such he has the long view of cider over time and says, “Back then people had no idea what cider was or that it even had alcohol in it. Because of the confusion over Sweet Cider which is fresh pressed apple juice, we decided to spell our product with a “Y” and so it is spelled as “Cyder” to differentiate it from other products. On a good year we make 4000 gallons of cider. Because we only want to use apples that we have grown.” Further to the south in the state of Virginia the Shelton family run Albemarle Ciderworks & Vintage Virginia Apples. I've featured Chuck Shelton who is the Head Cidermaker on episodes 056 and 254. At most every cider event you will see Chuck with a bag of bottles and if you are lucky, he will slip one out and pour you a sip. The cidery makes some of the finest single varietal ciders and blends in the US. I love how Chuck sums cidermaking up by saying, “Cider happens. If you squeeze juice out of an apple and put it in a jar. As long you manage the vinegar bacteria, you're gonna make cider and its gonna make itself.” My journey in cider has taken me to France on a number of occasions. When I reached out to the French interprofessional association of cider-based controlled appellations (I.D.A.C.) for recommendations they immediately directed me to Agathe Letellier. I was headed to Normandy to interview cider producers and to plan a cider tour. When I arrived to her seaside orchard, I saw giant photos of happy cows posted out in her orchard. I knew I was in the right place! Agathe has done a wonderful job making her cidery tourist friendly. She and I shared a very long belly laugh that you can hear on episode 049, when I told her that American cidermakers sometimes add coffee to their cider. Her label is Manoir d'Apreval and is located by the scenic harbor town of Honfleur. She is the current spokesperson for Calvados in Normandy. Agathe sums up what takes place in the barrel of Calvados by saying, “We have an evolution in the bottle.” I am forever thankful that I had the opportunity to interview Jérôme Dupont (1970-2018) of Domain Dupont for episode 098 at the Normandy estate. He was an innovative cidermaker and helped to move Norman ciders out into the world market. Without a doubt he was the leading figure in promoting Calvados. He is the great grandson of Jules Dupont who bought Domaine Dupont in Pays d'Auge with Calvados in 1887 helping to move his cattle raising family into the spirits industry. Today his father Étienne Dupont runs the estate. Jérôme said, “You don't master wild yeast. You get to know them and get to anticipate a little bit of what they will do. But you need certainly time and attention. It is much simpler to pitch selected yeast. But the complexity of the cider is due to the apple varieties and the wild yeast.” In 2020 I recorded a Calvados tasting with Jérôme's father, Étienne, which is the featured in episode 265. Being able to taste cider with such a master crafter was undoubtedly a highlight of my career. He describes the act tasting of Calvados by saying, “You put it in your mouth, you keep it [Calvados] in your mouth and the aroma's go up.” Thanks to an introduction by Randall Grahm, I was able to meet French maker Eric Bordelet. He is considered an elusive maker whose cider and perry is often touted as some of the best in the world. He had worked many years as one of the top Sommeliers in Paris before heading back to his family's Domaine in Normandy. He was encouraged by his late friend Didier Daganeau, who was a winemaker and well known for his Sauvignon Blanc, to become a cidermaker. That advice was spot on and today over 75% of Eric's product is exported to sites outside of France. On episode 057 he says, “The only school for me is taste, taste, taste” which shows how he views cidermaking to being like a chef in a kitchen. In 058 he discusses why he prefers to blend apple before pressing and does not do single varietal ciders, “It is my opinion of cider to have more balance [to blend].” The cidermaking tradition in Poland dates back to the 16th century, but is only recently gearing up once again. My guest Bartosz Gałka of Poland in episode 064 says “The main point is to try, to learn, and enjoy!” Considering that the country grows a lot of apples but is now only just beginning to celebrate the fermented juice in the glass, makes this country one to put on the cider watch list! Canadian cidermaking like the US was thrown out of whack due to Prohibition. One of the key influencers of cider is County Cider based in Prince Edward County in the Canadian Province of Ontario that began selling cider in 1996. This cidery was launched by Grant Howes a formidable man considered the Grandfather of Cider in Ontario. In 2000 Jenifer Dean who had studied winemaking joined up with County Cider. Sadly, her husband Grant unexpectedly passed away in January 2017. Their tasting room has a lovely view out onto Lake Ontario and you can see the trees close by that they keep the fruit on deep into the winter so to make Ice Cider. Growing their own fruit for cider is key, with Jenifer saying, "It is a shame that cideries are not growing their own apples. You need to have a sense of what you are growing in order to make good cider." Listen to Jenifer's interview in episode 137 Prince Edward County in Ontario has seen an uptick of cidermakers and one person in particular has been a regular guest on Cider Chat with over 10 episodes. His name is Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider. He has extensive experience in the wine industry and brings this talent to his cidermaking. Ryan specializes in barrel aging cider. He has taught many listeners of Cider Chat via episode 132 the technique known as Bâtonnage, which is stirring in the lees rather than racking them off the cider. Ryan encourages us all to “Use all your senses in the cellar”. In 2020 and then again, this year 2021, I published two separate Ask Ryan Series. The first was called the Quarantine Quad series and covered topics sent in by listeners on subjects such as American vs French oak for barrels and Maderisation, which is when barrels are intentionally left out to be ‘cooked by the heat and sun. The result is a high alcohol cider that is considered “Maderised”. In Part 4 of this series on episode 224 Ryan explained how to manage Flor or what is also commonly called “film yeast”, which can look like an oil slick on top of cider during conditioning. Though quite common it can be scary the first time you see Flor and it happens to both wine and cider. Ryan says, “Film yeast will consume oxygen which can be a good thing. But if it goes on for more than a couple of weeks you will lose aromatics. Do look out for acetobacter that is a form of film yeast and is more bubbly than other Flor, because it will eventually form vinegar.” Back in the southern state of North Carolina, cidermaking husband and wife team David and Ann Marie Thornton are showcasing a blend of their apples and local fruit in their Stargazer Series. The Prowling Peach is part of this series and is a barrel aged cider with peach juice. And the James Creek Heritage Ciders showcase their regional apples and are bottled in 750ML glass presentations! The terroir of southern apple varieties is uniquely their own. Says David, “In the South we are just starting to rediscover our cider heritage.” Listen to the Thorntons share their passion for cider in episode 179 titled South Apples. The Ross Cider Fest is a three-day festival that takes place to the west of London and has been hosted by the Johnson family for 25 years. Mike Johnson's son Martin manages the magnificent Yew Tree Pub and son Albert works alongside Mike and cidermaker John Edwards producing upwards to 90 ciders, many of which have one or two choice apples and some very fine single varietal ciders and perries. I was able to camp out in the orchard in 2019 along with a many other people who attended the cider fest. I interviewed Mike and Albert in episode 194. I admire all these men for their love of cider, their quality product and their honest and no-nonsense view on cider. Says Mike, “It depends why are you into cidermaking - if you just want to make something sweet and fizzy and sell as much as possible that's a different argument. Maybe… But if you are really interested in the apples you have to get to know them. And it is fun”. John Edwards whose full name is John Michael Leslie Edwards is also known as John the Cidermaker. In addition to helping the Johnson family he also has his own cider label called “Fly Be Night”. He says, “The most important thing is to eliminate hurry. With cidermaking you have to be patient.” Eliminating hurry is likely one of the most poetic ways to describe cider that I have heard of to date. Besides excellent cider his labels are also poetic and to the point reading, “Look close into the label and you will see, words of wisdom, fun and mischievous glee! …There are no surprises, just a straight up fact – this cider contains – 0% Shit”. You can hear John's story in episode 192. In episode 198 I had the honor of interviewing Cornell University Pomologist Gregory M. Peck PhD. He has been a Professor of Pomology at Cornell, since 2015 and is helping to usher in the pomologist of the future. Needless to say, he has a wide view on cider both in the US and internationally which is why when he says, “The cider industry is going to grow very rapidly.” I listen. There are a number of cideries in what is known as the Finger Lakes region of New York state. I did a FAM tour of this area and was impressed by the people and their products. When I interviewed Garrett Miller of the Finger Lakes Ciderhouse and asked why he became a farmer and then cidermaker his reply was straightforward and familiar. He said, “It looked like a really enjoyable way to spend a life.” After spending the afternoon at this booming cider house that is complete with an onsite restaurant, and a large farm called the Good Life Farm there is no doubt that Garrett's words ring true. I interview him in episode 203. Back in my home state of Massachusetts is what many call an “Orchard Museum”. This orchard is located at New Salem Cider and has been cared for by the same pruner for the past 30 years. The orchard has a bonsai sensibility with the apple tree's water sprouts turned into “Apple Pretzels” and many 100-year-old trees everywhere. The gentle woman farmer who brought this colonial era farm back to life nearly 50 years ago is Carol B. Hillman. She is ninety+ years young and has hosted a harvest fest for the past 20 years at her Cider Mill. I interviewed Carol in episode 192 titled “Cider Revitalizes a 1750 Colonial Orchard”. In this episode Carol told the story of how she chased a hunter out of her apple tree and brought back this old colonial homestead. Her original sights were on the house, but then she turned her sights on the abandoned orchard to bring it back to full glory saying, “Without apple trees we are nothing.” And thanks to the apple trees we have something that is essentially a time capsule of a fall harvest season. Cider may be bubbly or still and sometime a mix of apples or one specific variety. Some makers add other fruit or spices to their cider, but one thing is certain, “We All Love Cider”! Mentions in this Chat Northwest Cider Club - cider from the Pacific Northwest shipped directly to YOU! Try the elevated box of cider, give cider as a gift that keeps giving! Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube    

Cider Chat
281: Cider Fueled Road Trip to NY and PA

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2021 65:23


Cider Fueled Road Trip Day 1 We begin the road trip in New York state on the west side of the Hudson River at Stone Ridge Orchards one of the three farms that is under the umbrella of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider. The other two orchards are Breezy Hill, on the east side of the Hudson River and Drumlin located in Milton, NY, on the west side of the Hudson River. I first meet Ted Knight at the Stone Ridge farm shop, who shows me a beautiful view of Stone Ridge Orchards and then I am off with Elizabeth Ryan, a Cornell trained Pomologist and a champion of orchards and farms in the region along with being a cidermaker and so much more via her business Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider. Ria in the Cider Mobile[/caption] Road Trip Day 2 On ward to Pennsylvania with a stop at Spacetime Mead and Cider Works located in Dunmore. I was so happy to finally have a chat, taste some cheese and tour his front storefront and the backroom cidery with Dan Schreffler That evening I camped in my  Cider Mobile and was able to enjoy the fireflies that danced around the campground. Road Trip Day 3 It was a 2+ hour drive to Big Hill Ciderworks in Gardener's Pennsylvannia in Adams County the premier apple growing region for the state. I first met with Ben Kishbaugh who along with Troy Lehman fun Big Hill. Both own their own farms, with Ben's housing the production room for Big Hill and Troy having the new Tasting Room complete with outdoor and indoor seating. Ben took me for a ride around the two farm orchards and then I had a sit down recording with both he and Troy. Later that evening more cider friends showed up for a special event spearheaded by cider enthusiast Erica Jeter. She had set us all up, with a tasting for 5 UK ciders from 5 different producers all working with the same juice. It was magnificent. Road Trip Day 4 From Big Hill I woke up and took off for a 2+ hour drive to Tattiebolge CiderWorks in Acme to meet up with Curt Henry. Curt is cidermaker and works with his two brothers and the rest of his family at this spectacularly situated cidery overlooking the lower land region of Latrobe in the distance. Road Trip Day 5 From Tattiebolge I returned back to Adams County that night and camped at Pine Hill Grove Furnace State Park. On the morning of Day 5 I took the back roads through the state park to Ploughman Cider. Ben Wenk who along with cidermaker Edwin Winzeler are the backbone of Ploughman, but as Edwin was away and Ben was a bit late due to a farmer's market run, I was thrilled to have a sit down with Ben's father and get teh history of the Wenk's family farm. Notably,  the Wenks have been in this area for over 100 years making the Three Spring Farms where Ploughman is located is a designated Centennial Farm of America. From Ploughman, I headed back to New York for my last stop on this trip to Westwind Orchard to meet cidermaker Fabio Chizzola. Before getting fully bit by the cidermaking bug, Fabio had turned the abandoned orchard into a U-Pick business and also a foodie destination complete with a full Italian menu and espresso bar. There is ample outdoor seating in a beautiful setting just waiting for you to stop by! Stay tuned for stand alone episodes with each of these makers that I met on this amazing cider road trip, my first since the world closed back in March 2020. I hope this snippet of my road trip, encourages you to take one too even if it is only around your own special spot of Ciderville. Mentions in the Chat: Northwest Cider Club - cider from the Pacific Northwest shipped directly to YOU! Try the elevated box with cider from Art + Science and more! Save Orchards Drink Perry at Teepublic Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Cider Chat
273: The Mountain & Tub | Stories in Ciderville

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2021 37:59


Climb Every Mountain Wendy LeBlanc and Patrick Mann met in Washington State before moving to Germany to settle into the 1785 homestead owned by Patrick's parents. One would think that living near the 14,000 foot (4267.2 meter) mountains of the Pacific Northwest made this cidermaking couple inured to big mountains. They on the other hand blame the mountainous route over the highest peak in the Black Forest on Google maps, which considering so many other similar GPS gone wrong stories makes the most sense. In this edition of Stories in Ciderville, we get a behind the scene  tale of life as a cidermaking couple, beginning with an adventure in a VW Golf that has a trailer attached and loaded up with barrels. Hey when a good barrel deal comes your way you can't turn it down, even if the biggest snowstorm of the year is waiting for you on the return home. But wait it gets better, as these two makers of 1785 Cider (named after the year the home was built) share a second story of living in a multi generational household. And yes, that story involves a bathtub! Contact Info for 1785 Cider website: https://1785-cider.de/ Instagram @1785cider Location is near the Black Forest by the German and Swiss border Mentions in this Chat Totally Cider Tours - Reserve your seat for 2022 tour contact mailto:info@ciderchat.com Cockrell Cider.  Puyallup, Washington Find these books mentioned by @nonfictionbooklovers at the Cider Chat Book page Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Cider Chat
233: "OMG" Russian Cider | Part 2

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2020 42:08


OMG and the story of two sommeliers! Meet Olga and Micheal Efremov are Russian Sommeliers with two cider brands, OMG and Incider. Michael and Olga Efremov They are based outside of Moscow in a small town, but close enough to work with restaurants in the city. Micheal is the cidermaker and Olga, the educator, leading tasting workshops. During this chat recorded in February of 2020 at Cidrexpo, Olga discussed the apple variety known as "Antonovka". She says it is difficult to make a single varietal cider from this apple because of the lack of aromas. Antonovka is used widely in the US as a rootstock for growing other apple varieties because Antonovka is so vigorous. Labels from OMG and Incider. Note the first label features a painting from Giuseppe Arcimboldo. Listen to a special episode on Cider Chat featuring the era of the Mannerist painters and the current Omni Era of Cider. Get on Cider Chat! Audio Snapshots from Ciderville - are you in the cider trade? Please send along an audio snap shot (2mins or less) with news from your special spot in Ciderville. Cider soon to be released, orchard news, Tasting Room hours - let us hear your good news! Send your snap shot to ria@ciderchat.com Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to ria@ciderchat.com Mentioned on this Chat Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company Audio Snapshot Little Pomona - in last week's episode 232 shared an Audio Snapshot. Here is an update on the varieties of quince they have planted! Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Cider Chat
232: Russia's Cider Party Starts Now | Pt1

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2020 30:39


Russia is having a party and cider is invited! The first ever Cider Party was held in Moscow this July and over 200 people attended dancing into the night and drinking cider! This episode 232 is Part 1 of a 4 part series featuring 4 makers whom I had a chance to sit down and have a chat with while I was attending Cidrexpo in February of 2020. This episode introduces Alina Lotkeva, whom helped produce the first ever Cider Party. She calls herself a cider enthusiast, but she also has high hopes for producing a cider and picked the brand name "Ugly Cake Cider". Alina Lotkeva Follow Alina and her cider adventures on Instagram: I love Cider Cider Party photos! Get on Cider Chat! Audio Snap Shots from Ciderville - are you in the cider trade? Please send along an audio snap shot (2mins or less) with news from your special spot in Ciderville. Cider soon to be released, orchard news, Tasting Room hours - let us hear your good news! Send your snap shot to ria@ciderchat.com Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to ria@ciderchat.com Mentioned on this Chat 216: Alex Ionov | Rebel Cider, Moscow Patron Robert Tinnell - Movie short for Hawk and Knob Mead and Cider Little Pomona - sent in an Audio Snap Shot Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube  

Cider Chat
231: The Big Book of Cidermaking

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2020 43:02


The Big Book of Cidermaking authors Christopher Shockey and Kristen K. Shockey are this episode's featured guest! The book will be released on September 1, 2020. Go to http://ferment.works/ to pre-order you copy today! Moved to Applegate, Oregon in 1998 and found apple trees on their property and began fermenting cider. They also began fermenting vegetables. Soon they were writing about the skill of fermenting and writing books! Fermented Vegetables Fiery Ferments Miso, Tempeh, Natto & Other Tasty Ferments: A Step-by-Step Guide to Fermenting Grains and Beans In 2020, their newest book, The Big Book of Cidermaking was published . In this chat we discuss, What the Shockey's home smell like with so many ferments. How a married couple co-write a book Choosing your adventure in cidermaking Making Cider Equipment needed from the basic set up to advance cidermaking Wild Cider Cultivated Ciders The Shockey's wrote this book to encourage makers to find their adventure in cidermaking. Christopher and Kristen Shockey Get on Cider Chat! Audio Snap Shots from Ciderville - are you in the cider trade? Please send along an audio snap shot (2mins or less) with news from your special spot in Ciderville. Cider soon to be released, orchard news, Tasting Room hours - let us hear your good news! Send your snap shot to ria@ciderchat.com Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to ria@ciderchat.com Mentioned on this Chat Cider Con 2021 February 2-5, 2021 in Chicago Cidrexpo 2021 February 6-8, 2021 Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube  

Cider Chat
230: Ciderville Updates & Coming Attractions

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2020 21:22


Ciderville Updates & Coming Attractions is a mini episode beginning with info on the England Cider Tour scheduled for September 1-6, 2020. I also discuss Totally Cider Tours that I will be look forwarding to once we get by coronavirus. Next up is an Audio Snap Shop from Denmark listener, Sune! Find out about the October 10, 2020 cider fest for this country. Coming Attractions features a reading by author Christopher Shockey. He and Kristen Shockey co-wrote the Big Book of Cidermaking which will be released on September 1, 2020. Subscribe to this podcast today, to listen to the full chat on episode 231, which will be released on July 22nd. Get on Cider Chat! Audio Snap Shots from Ciderville - are you in the cider trade? Please send along an audio snap shot (2mins or less) with news from your special spot in Ciderville. Cider soon to be released, orchard news, Tasting Room hours - let us hear your good news! Send your snap shot to ria@ciderchat.com Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to ria@ciderchat.com Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube  

Cider Chat
229: Orchard Mystery Series

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2020 28:28


The Orchard Mystery Series is written by author Sheila Connolly who passed away in April of 2020. This episode 229 is dedicated to her for taking readers on a journey into the orchards of western Massachusetts, where this series takes place. The first book in the Orchard Series is titled One Bad Apple (2008). There are a total of 12 books with the last one Nipped in the Bud being published in 2018. The main character is Meg Corey, who moves from Boston to western Mass to a town that she makes up, but I think it might be Granby or Belchertown. As she takes on a project of renovating an old house, she keeps finding bodies on her land which also has an old orchard! Locals to this region and even visitors to Franklin County CiderDays will find lots of references to beloved spots in the Pioneer Vally. A few years back, she bought a cottage in County Cork, Ireland. There are 8 books in the County Cork Mystery Series. Which leads up to one of the two Audio Snap Shots on this episode. The first snap shot is from Lee Reeve of InCiderJapan who shares updates on the cider in Japan. Plus the new on the Summer edition of this bilingual (English and Japanese) magazine. This issue features James Forbes of Little Pomona's visit to Japan. Back to Ireland, we hear from Barry Walsh with an update on Killahora Orchards Cider. This award winning cidery was featured on episode 157 Barry not only makes cider with his cousin and family in Cork, but also is a fine singer. He first shared a tune with us on that episode 157 and so I asked if he would do so again for this episode 229. Barry obliged by playing a tune called the Rocky Road To Dublin. What continues to amaze me is the small world happenstances that keep taking place around orchards and cider. Sheila Connolly's book is based in West Cork and I just happened to find out about her when I found a copy of One Bad Apple. Wanting to share the good news about this read was a given for this episode, but I didn't know at the time that I would also be posting an Audio Snap Shot from a Cork maker. Cider Synchronicity strikes again! Audio Snap Shots from Ciderville - are you in the cider trade? Please send along an audio snap shot (2mins or less) with news from your special spot in Ciderville. Cider soon to be released, orchard news, Tasting Room hours - let us hear your good news! Send your snap shot to ria@ciderchat.com Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to ria@ciderchat.com Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Cider Chat
228: Philadelphia Orchard Project

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2020 26:46


The Philadelphia Orchard Project (POP) was founded in 2007 and serves Philadelphia and it surrounding area. This nonprofit organization both plants and supports community orchards in the city of Philadelphia. 2019 Harvest Festival at Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden This chat features a chat with Kim Jordan who has been with POP since its founding. In 2019, she became a full time employee of POP. And is most currently the Co-Executive Director. About POP Community orchards are set up in vacant lots to help build green spaces. POP works with any groups regardless of need All the fund raising requires POP to plan, Plant and help organize the maintenance of the orchard. In the fall when the harvest is in there are harvest festivals, Like “Juneberry Joy” that take place in October. POP Harvest Festivals take place in October POP also offers curriculum for teachers and farm educators. Go to the POP resource page to see the full list of offerings. POPHarvest event on the University of Pennsylvania campus from October 2018 Mentions in this Chat Audio Snap Shots from Ciderville - are you in the cider trade? Please send along an audio snap shot (2mins or less) with news from your special spot in Ciderville. Cider soon to be released, orchard news, Tasting Room hours - let us hear your good news! Send your snap shot to ria@ciderchat.com Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to ria@ciderchat.com Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Cider Chat
226: Northern Spy and the Underground Railroad

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2020 11:14


Northern Spy is a short story that weaves the tale of the early grafting of the apple known as the Northern Spy, Quaker values, and the Underground Railroad. Read and written by Ryan Monkman, for the new Cider Chat segment titled "Stories in Ciderville". For additional reading and inspiration look to the children's book An Apple for Harriet Tubman.   Northern Spy by Ryan Monkman About 200 years ago, somewhere in Upstate New York, a boy ran through the woods. He hid in a bush under a tree. Then, when no one found him, he stood up and grabbed an apple above him. He bit the apple then spat it out. It was horribly acidic. The boy ran back to town and convinced a friend to take a bite of the “wonderful” apple. Soon it was a game: try the apple, spit it out. But the boy’s father liked the acid. The two of them walked back to the forest and picked the tree clean. They put the apples in bins then put those bins in their root cellar. Everyday the father would have an apple with breakfast. Everyday the son would try to sucker a new friend. After a few weeks in storage, the apples grew sweet. The father didn’t like them anymore and the son’s game grew boring. So the crates sat, untouched and unloved, next to the potatoes. The boy’s mother found the apples in mid Spring. Somehow they still looked and tasted like apples after months underground. She took them to a church picnic. There’s a tradition in Quaker communities; speak boldly when the Spirit calls you to. A neighbor spoke and the town listened. That summer they propagated the wild apple. If you plant an apple seed, you’ll get an apple tree but the fruit will be different. With each generation the seeds morph and mutate. The apple changes. If you want to preserve the beauty of a varietal, you have to take a cutting of the original tree and plant the cutting. That’s what the town did. They sent a team into the woods to collect small clippings of the wild tree. Each cut was only two inches long. Those cuttings were then slipped into a piece of root from another tree then the two were planted together. The bottom half rooted in the ground, the top half bearing identical fruit to the wild tree. The grafted trees were divided throughout the town. Each family grew a handful of trees and the church planted an orchard. Eight years past. Then one day in May the town awoke to a bursting of pink flowers. That Summer they saw their first fruit. That Fall they picked their first apples. The boy, now a man, loaded up a wagon and headed South. Then another wagon followed. And another. That Winter the town was empty. The wagons would pull into a new town. The driver asked for the Station Master, dropped off a whack of apples, then left without another word. In each town the pattern repeated. When the wagon was empty the driver returned home, refilled, then hit the road again. By February the town was out of apples. Traffic on the Underground Railroad surged that Spring. One of the first tastes of freedom was a piece of fruit that never seemed to rot. Cloaked in secrecy, the apple earned a nickname; the Northern Spy. by Ryan Monkman Ryan lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario making and selling cider with his family and cider team at FieldBird Cider. ___________ Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment? Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to ria@ciderchat.com    

Cider Chat
223: Ask Ryan | Quarantine Quad Series, Part 3

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2020 41:21


Discover two cidermaking techniques that are also used in winemaking, called Maderisation and Bâtonnage. We delve into both of these topics in Part 3 of the Quarantine Quad Series called "Ask Ryan" with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider, Ontario Canada answering questions from Cider Chat listeners. Maderisation: What is this technique and can it be used with cider? Bâtonnage: are there any short term benefits from bâtonnage or does one need to "stir up the barrel" for a long period (1 year at the least) to benefit from this technique? Listen Part 1 and Part 2 of the Quarantine Quad Series. Maderisation - The barrels are cooked - sometimes for years. Developing flavors called "maderised". If done well it can be delicious. High alcohol cider is best for maderisation - slower  bacterial growth. Cider that is has a low alcohol by volume  - likely to get organism spikes. FieldBird is planning to do a maderized cider from the 2020 harvest Northern Spy, fermented half way and fortified with apple brandy and let the barrel sit in a hot place. 17 Brix on the Spys (9%) ferment down half way and then add brandy. Getting 8% sugar. Sugar helps - creates the caramel flavor and provides an appearance of freshness. No MLF in the presence of sugar. Leave in cellar over the winter. Then leave the barrel outside all summer. 30 Celsius - 86 Farenheit. This will cause the maderisation The risk of maderisation is cooking a barrel to much The final product will be around 17-18%  Battonage: Is it worth it if you don’t have a full year to do Bâtonnage on a barrel? Nano proteins are the biggest benefit of Bâtonnage They release into the cider providing a perception of sweetness and body with out the sugar Need at least 9 months to a year to get the nano proteins There are short term benefits. Yeast produces less carbon dioxide and bubbles. They slow down after the first primary ferment. Fermentation may have stopped but there is still sugar left. Lees absorb off aromas, except for H2S rotting egg smell. Bâtonnage helps to maintain a reductive state. Full reduction - rotting smell is a type of reduction. Which helps protect the cider from oxidization and protect the flavor components. In wine, a Sauvignon Blanc, has rich tropical flavors which come from a rich reductive state, At FieldBird, they save lees in the freezer. Cracking - the freeze helps the lees cells break down. Using frozen lees that have cracked - means it will takes only 4-5 months versus 8-9 months in the barrel to get the benefits from Bâtonnage Contact for Ryan Monkman at FieldBird Cider website: https://www.fieldbird.ca/ Instagram  FieldBird https://www.instagram.com/fieldbird.cider/ Ryan Monkman https://www.instagram.com/rgmonkman/ Mentions in this chat Stories in Ciderville - send in fiction and nonfiction essays to read out loud on Cider Chat to ria@ciderchat.com September 1-6, 20202 England Cider Tour  Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube

Cider Chat
222: Ask Ryan | Quarantine Quad Series | Part 2

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2020 37:53


Part 2 of the Quarantine Quad Series called "Ask Ryan" continues with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider, Ontario Canada answering questions from Cider Chat listeners on working with oak barrels. Listen Part 1 of the Quarantine Quad Series Ryan addresses: Stacking Oak Barrels At FieldBird they call climbing up stacked barrels: Monkey climbing, where they uses e barrels as a ladder. Managing Head space in a barrel Using a solid bung for a full seal and not a bung with airlock How to sanitize a barrel that’s been sitting for 6 months untreated. First smell barrel - if not funky you likely are ok Find out if it will hold water. Can take 2-3 days for water to absorb into the staves. Avoid chlorinated water or find a way to dechlorinate the water (Do reverses osmosis to remover the chlorine) TCA  - is formed when oak is mixed with Chlorine Also known as cork taint The Gold Standard for cleaning an empty barrel is steam. A winery may have a gamajet that is used to clean the barrels via steam. Turn on for 15 minutes Burning sulfur sticks or barrel disks in empty barrels to protect barrel from oxygen which deters spoilage from occurring. Light on the sulfur on fire and seal the barrel Hang the sulfur and avoid drop the disk of sulfur into the barrel Lighting sulfur disks to put into barrels More caustic ways to clean oak barrels In the US - Scotts Labs has oak restorer that can be used to clean barrels. A caustic cleaner to mix with water Citric acid and 300 ppm sulfur (Potassium metabisulfite - KMS) KMS is water soluble. - should taste like lemon water hold unpleasant aroma out of wood and knock back the population of spoilage Ryan has had to do this up to 3x to clean out the barrel If using KMS - use 600 ppm - because 1/2 of KMS is sulfur Avoid used Sodium Metabisulfite because is can cause instability in the cider and the sodium sticks around. A Cooper can re-cooper a barrel, but this might cost more than a new barrel and should be a last resort Contact for Ryan Monkman at FieldBird Cider website: https://www.fieldbird.ca/ Instagram  FieldBird https://www.instagram.com/fieldbird.cider/ Ryan Monkman https://www.instagram.com/rgmonkman/ Mentions in this chat Stories in Ciderville - send in fiction and nonfiction essays to read out loud on Cider Chat to ria@ciderchat.com Full Juice Magazine Spring Edition September 1-6, 20202 England Cider Tour  Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube  

Cider Chat
193: Cider's Museum, Mythology, and Fans | England

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2019 49:42


A Museum for Cider, Cider Mythology of May Hill and Cider Loving Fans are all featured in this episode. This is the third episode of Cider Chat featuring my trip to the United Kingdom. Go to episode 192: London Got Cider and 193: Barrel Smoker, Cheese & Cider for a wide angle view on a one week whirl wind tour to England. Like all episodes I like to begin with “News Out and About in Ciderville” reminding you to sign up now for the 2nd Annual New England Cider Tour rolling out of Greenfield Massachusetts on October 31, 2019. This cider tour helps kick off the 25th Annual Franklin County CiderDays on November 1-3, 2019. Then two emails from Patrons of Cider Chat. Travis from Wisconsin and Jamie from Washington. Featured in 193 Elizabeth Pimblett is the Cider Director at the Cider Museum in Herefordshire The museum was started in 1972 by Burchon Bulmer and Henry Weston of Weston, and Professor Hudson from the Long Ashton Research Station. The goal to capture the story of ciders at the time. Elizabeth Pimblett of the Herefordshire Cider Museum The museum opened in 1982. Elizabeth is from Herefordshire so taking on this job was a perfect fit for her. But what really inspired her was the art history already at the museum. What is a cider flute? A glass used to drink cider. Think a fluted glass classically used to drink champagne. The early flutes were very large. Next up is a chat with Dick Witcombe of Manchester, England. He and wife Cath Potter are cider enthusiasts who twitter accounts I have been following for a while, for both inspiration and good cheer! It was a pleasure  to finally meet them both. If only Alfie the dog didn’t howl so much during the chat, we could have heard more from Cath who just became a Pommelier! :) "] Dick and Cath and Alfie the dog Listen next to Gabe Cook, who authored a book in 2018 titled The Ciderologist as he tells the story and mythology behind May Hill.   The final feature is with two cider enthusiasts from Wales, Ed and Beck. They discovered Broome Farm where Ross Cider is located 10 years ago. Listen as they share a fun story of the Brockhampton Perry blend.  

Cider Chat
183: Normandy Cider Trail Tips

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2019 62:02


Normandy Cider Trail Tips Annie Sargent is the Producer and Host of a fantastic and informative podcast for anyone thinking about traveling to France called "Join Us in France Travel Podcast". In this episode, Annie and I do duel recordings to share with both of our podcast audiences. I get to share my passion for French Cider [cidre] and Perry [poiré] and provide both Ciderville, Annie, and the Join Us in France audience a taste of the Normandy Cider Trail with tons of tips! Topics covered in this chat What is cidre? What is Poiré? Why make this a destination in France? Tips for preparing for a cider tour to Normandy Key towns and Routes in Normandy Route du Cidre - Pays d’Auge - renown cider apples 9non eating apples0. This region requires 100% cider apples in the cidre to be distilled into Calvados for the Pays d'Auge Appellation Route du Poiré - Domfrontais - renown Perry Pears, specific pear varieties used for fermenting into Poiré and Calvados. This region must have at the minimum 35% Poiré distilled into Calvodos for the Domfront Appellation Key sights to see White cliffs of Etretat WWII cemeteries Mont Saint Michel Museé du Poiré Join Ria and cider fans September 22-28, 209 for a Totally Cider Tour to Normandy. This special curated cider tour is fill with sight seeing trips, time to go solo and wander about and a bounty of cider. Winner Winner of The Cider Insider: 100 Craft Ciders to Drink Now is Ironbark Cider in Claremont California! I happened to also record an episode with Cat Fleming at Ironbark! Check it out 142: SoCal Irreverence at Ironbark | Claremont, CA Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube  

Cider Chat
161: Best of Show | Cider Judging

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2019 55:16


Best of Show | Cider Judging at Franklin County CiderDays 2018 is featured in this episode 161. Franklin County CiderDays takes place on the first weekend of November in “Franklin County” Massachusetts. This year 2019 will be the 25th annual CiderDays. Events take place on both sides of the Connecticut River and many are free to attend. Go to https://ciderdays.org/ and start planning to attend the 25th Annual. And make sure you take enough time off before the events begin on Friday, as I ,Ria, will be leading another Totally Cider Tour : New England the day before. About the CiderDays Judging For the past six years the CiderDays Amateur Cider Competition solicts entries during CiderDays and at locations through out New England. The actual judging takes place one month after CiderDays. Thus the 2018 judging took place on December 1st, 2018 at the White Church in Deerfield Massachusetts. Many of the judges have been involved with CiderDays since if first started back in 1993. Judges can also be commercial makers, cider writers and fermenters from as far as Virginia and Pennsylvania. This episode records the Best of Show judging of the final 11 ciders that all placed first in their category. Scroll to minute 13:48 to listen straight away to the Best of Show Recording. Otherwise enjoy the news beforehand and after from out and about Ciderville. Mentions in this Chat Cousin Jay brings us into this week’s chat Mentions in this chat February 4th-8th, 2019 CiderCon The United States Association of Cider Makers annual Trade Conference will be held in Chicago. Find out more and reserve today. Volunteer for CiderCon and have your registration fee waivered! Contact : Woodley email - pickcider@ciderassociation.org February 10th - New York International Cider Competition The NYCC has a different philosophy from other competitions in that all of judges are trade buyers judging by category and price This competition uses the USACM categories Submit your cider to the New Jersey and Canadian locations and NYCC will ship your additional entries for free to the www.berlininternationalbeercompetition.com    Here below are the links for more info https://berlininternationalbeercompetition.com/announcing-free-shipping-from-canada-to-the-2019-berlin-international-beer-competition/ https://berlininternationalbeercompetition.com/announcing-free-shipping-from-the-usa-to-the-2019-berlin-international-beer-competition/ Totally Cider Tours April 12th & 13th 2018 Monterey Bay California - Reservations can be made in January September 2019 - Normandy France - Reservation will begin in January Interested in these tours? Sign up for the eCiderNews and receive updates on tours. Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube Ask for the following ciders - By supporting these cidermakers, you in turn help Cider Chat Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14 Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35 Oliver’s Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29 Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60 The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56 Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg. Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103 Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK Process and Analytical NMR Services - John Edwards provides analytics of cider - stay tuned for his Chemical Fingerprints workshop coming up on Cider Chat Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California Join the #ciderGoingUP Campaign today!   

Cider Chat
59: Ciderville Tales | Monterey Bay, CA

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2018 52:59


The farmers of Monterey Bay California have been growing apples since the state constitution was first ratified in1849. The primary apple of the region is Newtown Pippin due partly to the demand for this apple by Martinelli’s, a 4th generation family run cider and apple juice producer. If you speak to any orchardist in the area, there is a undeniable agreement that if not for Martinelli’s there would likely be no orchards in the area today. This episode takes the listener along on my travels to the region to meet makers and plan for an up coming Totally Cider Tour” Monterey Bay. If you would like to get on the list for this tour now - do send an email to ria@ciderchat.com. We begin with a song by Robbie Robertson of The Band “Christmas Must Be Tonight”, sung by my cousin Jay. Then we head out on the road to meet with makers for an evening of cider and chat surrounding the upcoming cider tour. Makers at the Cider Dinner hosted by Santa Cruz Cider Company Robby Honda, Tanuki Cider Company - Santa Cruz Erin Serventi, Serventi Ranch Cider - Watsonville Laura Everett, Soquel Cider - Sequel Katie Rider, Rider Ranch Ciderworks, Los Gatos Jake Mann, Five Mile Orchard, Corralitos After the meet up on the next day, I met with John Martinelli of S. Martinelli’s Cider Co. in Watsonville Mentions in this chat CiderCon2019 - February 4-8, 2019 - register to go today Cider Competition February 10th - 2019 New York International Cider Competition The 1st Annual New York International Cider Competition is Cider focused competition that is held in conjunction with the 6th Annual New York International Beer Competition. Top Trade Buyers from the New York Metro Area including Cider Bars, Retail Stores, Distributors and Importers will be judging the cider by its category and actual price. It is open to all commercially made cider from around the world. Your cider does not have to be sold and or imported into New York to be in the competition. Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.

Cider Chat
Hallelujah! 150 Episodes of Cider Chat!

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2018 49:55


In this episode 150 The Nose visits the Cider House Recording studio and helps Ria look at “What is possible” in the coming year. With now a 150 episodes there is a lot to review and reminiscence after meeting so many wonderful people all around Ciderville. Please share a big tip of the glass to commercial makers and businesses that support the Cider Chat #ciderGoingUP Campaign. If not for their support, this podcast would not be able to keep it going forward. Here are the current members of the ciderGoingUP Campaign! Kurant Cider, Pennsylvania Ironbark Cider, California Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK Ramborn Cider Company, Luxembourg Find out what goals Ria is setting for the coming year with the Totally Cider Tours and The Talking Pommes. Mentions in this Chat New England Cider Tour : November 1st Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube Ask for the following ciders - By supporting these cidermakers, you in turn help Cider Chat Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14 Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35 Oliver’s Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29 Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60 The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56 Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg. Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103 Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK Process and Analytical NMR Services - John Edwards provides analytics of cider - stay tuned for his Chemical Fingerprints workshop coming up on Cider Chat Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California Join the #ciderGoingUP Campaign today! 

Cider Chat
141: Cider Lunch at Heartwood Farm & Cidery | Ontario

Cider Chat

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2018 70:43


Val Steinmann and Brent Klassen moved from the city to the 42 acre farm that is now called Heartwood Farm and Cidery in 2004. In the past 14 years, they created pasture and now have a herd of 20 cows each summer. They have planted an orchard and raised pigs, chickens and have two work horses. Val inspired the family to worked towards a “regenerative farm” and in short order Brent got into orchard care with nut trees and maple trees and of course soon enough apples and cider making. Kat Scott came on board in 2017 and is also on this chat. This recording was made while I was touring Ontario cideries with Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider. We recorded this conversation during lunch at the farmhouse - and it is an absolute pleasure to share a piece of that day on the farm with you Ciderville. Apples Trees at Heartwood’s Orchard Bulmers Normand Kingston Black Michelin Dabinet Harry Masters Jersey Chisel Jersey Heartwood Cider Production Currently producing 15,000 liters (3,963 gallons) Cidery 600 Square feet There are 4 large tanks that are each 6000 liters (1585 gallons) Tasting Room was built in the Summer of 2018. It is a well appointed room about 23’ X 14’  with custom wood tables and walls, and an outdoor sitting area. Contact Heartwood Farm & Cidery Website: http://heartwoodfarm.ca/ Telephone: +1 416 527 4352 Address:  5438 Second Line Acton, ON L7J 2L9, Canada Mentions in this Chat Totally Cider Tour to Normandy France September 23-29 Mid Atlantic Amateur Cider Championship Listen to 124: No Input Apples at Big Fish Cider Co. | Virginia Judges from Big Fish, Castle Hill & Albemarle Ciderworks Listen to episode 11 Castle Hill Cider - on how they bury clay vessels called "Keveri" for making cider Listen to episode 56 with Albemarle Ciderworks - maker Chuck Shelton. Ryan Monkman, FieldBird Cider Listen to his chat  Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Chat's blog, social media and podcast Twitter @ciderchat Instagram: @ciderchatciderville Cider Chat FaceBook Page Cider Chat YouTube Ask for the following ciders - By supporting these cidermakers, you in turn help Cider Chat Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14 Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35 Oliver’s Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29 Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60 The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56 Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg. Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103 Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK Process and Analytical NMR Services - John Edwards provides analytics of cider - stay tuned for his Chemical Fingerprints workshop coming up on Cider Chat Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California Join the #ciderGoingUP Campaign today! 

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Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2018 1:56


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