138: Chairman Richard Liu | Ontario Craft Cider Association

Richard Liu is the Chair of the Ontario Craft Cider Association and owner of Ironwood Cider and Sunnybrook Winery. This chat was recorded while I was on tour with Ryan Monkman of Fieldbird Cider (Prince Edward County) who sponsored my cider tour of Ontario's craft cidermakers.

Richard's Background

Richard was born in Taiwan and his family moved to Canada when he was ten. Before buying Sunnybrook/Ironwood he worked in Asia in what he described as the corporate world. He and his wife decided to move back to Canada and start a business to provide their children with a countryside setting.

Richard took over the fruit winery Sunnybrook in 2013 and began making cider under the brand Ironwood, which was also part of the original winery.

The current facility at Sunnybrook/Ironwood is around 1600 square feet. During the summer of 2018 they are building a 10,000 square foot building for both the winery and cidermaking operations. Behind the tasting room is an orchard of peach trees. The plan is to replant the orchard with pears.

Richard and 5 other "guys" started the Ontario Craft Cider Association in 2012. The first chairman of this association was Nick Sutcliffe of Pommies Cider Company in Caledon, Ontario.  The Association current membership is around 40 makers. It is the only craft cider association in Ontario

Terminology used in this chat and info on Canada for cider drinkers

• OCCA - Ontario Craft Cider Association
• VQA - Vintner's Quality Alliance
• LCBO - Liquor Control Board of Ontario
• Drinking age begins at 19 in Canada.

Key players that the Association has to work with in Canada

• Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Finance
• LCBO - is a government run liquor store where you can find craft cider, beer, wine and spirits

Contact Ironwood Hard Cider

• Website: https://ironwoodcider.ca/home
• eMail: info@ironwoodcider.ca
• Address:
  • 1425 Lakeshore RoadNiagara-on-The-Lake, OntarioL0S 1J0
• Telephone: +1  905-468-1122

Visit Ironwood Store Hours:

• May 1st through October 31st:Daily 10am – 6pm
• November 1st through April 30th:Daily 11am – 5pm

Mentions in this chat

• August 24 & 25 Toronto Cider Fest, Ontario | Canada
• August 31 & September 2 - 2018 Ross Cider Festival - Herefordshire | UK
• 137: Ontario’s County Cider Story | Jenifer Dean
• 135 Viejo High Pours Fishtown | Philadelphia
• Nick Sutcliffe  of Pommies Cider Company
• Ernest Cider - Michelle Faris

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5. The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California
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8. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg.
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10. Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103
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13. Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California

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