Cider Chat

Audio snap shots of the cider region of Cayuga Lake, a 38 mile long lake located in the Finger Lakes region of New York state. CiderweekFLX took place September 27- October 6, 2019. This region has: 10 cider producer surrounding the 43 mile lake Go to https://ciderweekflx.com/flx/locations/ to find the cidermakers by location. Two colleges - Ithaca and Cornell Over 150 waterfalls within 10 miles of Ithaca. Look for Cascadilla Falls (20’) within walking distance of downtown Ithaca In this chat we begin with the origins of the Finger Lakes from Kendall Blizzard the Agriculinary Tourism Marketing Coordinator at Ithaca/Tompkins County Convention & Visitor's Bureaus . Kendall and I rode about all week long taking in this magnificent cider region and I thank her for her steady driving and good cheer. Then we meet Beth Duff, Visitor Experience Specialist at Taughannock Falls (215’ tall - taller than Niagara Falls). Taghannock Falls Beth Duff - Ithaca got Cider After our overview with Betty, we next chat with Susanne Messmer of Lively Run Goat Dairy. Her son Pete is making award winning cheeses. Susanne Messmer - Lively Run Goat Dairy  Our final chat is with Deborah Cooper a Digital and Special Collections Librarian Coordinator of Library Services to Cornell AgriTech, Geneva NY at the Albert R. Mann Library, Cornell University Here are some essential URLS for cider at Mann Library: Biodiversity Heritage Library collection: Pomology: Apples and Cider https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/collection/apples  Link to the Vavilov Paintings https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/249788#page/1/mode/1up  Link to the Herefordshire Pomona, 1876 https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/248646#page/7/mode/1up  CHLA Core Historical Literature of Agriculture https://digital.library.cornell.edu/collections/chla  Hive and the Honeybee https://digital.library.cornell.edu/collections/bees  Mann Library digital exhibit: Apples to Cider https://exhibits.library.cornell.edu/cider  Mann Library Tumblr https://mannlibrary.tumblr.com/  The Pomona Herefordiensis https://mannlibrary.tumblr.com/search/pomona Thank you to the following producers for helping to sponsor Cider Chat’s tour of the Finger Lakes CiderWeek! Bellweather Cider and Wine Black Diamond Cider South Hill Cider Finger Lakes Ciderhouse Redbyrd Cider  Mentions in this Chat October 31st 2nd Annual New England Cider Tour November 1-3 - Franklin County Cider Days 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 [app_audio src="https://ciderchat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/196-Goat-Zen-to-Cornell-_-FLX-NY.output.mp3"]

Look close into the label and you will see, words of wisdom, fun and glee! ...There are no surprises, just a straight up fact - this cider contains - 0% Shit Episode 195 features a chat with John Michael Leslie Edwards,  the maker/owner at Fly Be Night Cider, in the United Kingdom. John is also the cidermaker at Ross Cider and Perry Company also in the UK and has been working at their Broome Farm orchard based in Ross on Wye in Herefordshire for the past 20 years. John the cider maker In this chat we discuss John’s early introduction to fermentation via a Mrs. Wheeler. Having a brand within a brand - which is kind of a secret branding thing and I like it. What’s next for for Fly Be Night How to find Fly Be Night John makes 5 barrels of his cider and it sell out every year.     All of John's cider is bottle conditioned Say’s John, “The most important thing is to eliminate hurry. With cider making you have to be patient.” John gifted me this tea cloth - Thank You John!  Mentions in this chat Finger Lakes Cider Week 2019 - September 27-October 6 2nd Annual New England Cider Tour October 31, 2019 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  

Episode 194: The Reason for Being | Ross on Wye Cider & Perry, UK Mike Johnson grew up on Broome Farm picking up apples with his grandmother, in the rural country known as Herefordshire in the United Kingdom. Thirty Five years ago cider began being made and sold commercially at the farm. More recently Mike and son Albert, who came back to the farm after finishing university to help with their brand Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company, began working together to continue to build the family's cider profile up with a huge volume of dry ciders and perrys. Mike seeing a smiling Talking Pomme looking back up at him.  And it should be mentioned that, Albert’s younger brother, Martin is in hospitality and it looks like there is a very good possibility that he also will become a full on member of the Ross Cider Team. Herefordshire (a county) is one of the most sparsely populated regions in England. It is about 3 hours to the west of London. It also has the largest concentration of cider apples. A good many orchards were planted to supply cider giant Bulmers at one time, something that Mike feels benefited the whole region. The Johnson’s are no longer selling their apples to Bulmers which is now owned by Heineken. Instead, they are full on making cider for their own brand. I first had a bottle of their cider in 2015 and fell madly in love with the quality of that single bottle. It has since been my mission to drink more Ross Cider :) and meet the team, which brings us to this recording which took place in August of 2019.   Thanks to the help and encouragement of Duckchicken Cider in London and Ross Cider, I was able to spontaneously make plans to attend the 2019 Ross Cider Fest held on August 30th to September 1st. I camped in the orchard for 3 nights at this cider and music fest. The Ross Cider Fest was originally a one day event, starting over 20 years ago. At the time Albert was a young boy. Now 24 years of age, he is full on in the management of this widely popular fest. Cider Chat Meeting the Makers at Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company  A couple years back, Mike bought the Yew Tree Pub which is located on the main road, next to Broome Farm. This venue is now selling more cider that beer! Which is unbelievably still a unique fact in the United Kingdom for most pubs. In this chat we discuss: The Ross Cider Fest - Mike likens the good feelings at the festival due to the serving of natural drinks, without all the chemicals. The Bulmers Impact The first orchards at Broome Farm were planted for Bulmers in 1978 Between now and 2001 there are 45 acres of bush orchards 10 acres of standard trees and perry pears. Says Mike, “The great thing about Bulmers - they are responsible for so many trees [in the region] and research.” Cider Styles being made by Ross Cider Bottle condition Still Carbonated Kegged I particularly liked how Mike described the cider styles at Ross. Typically, makers separate their styles as sweet, semi sweet and dry. At Ross Cider they don't like sweet or sugary cider. They make their cider and perry dry. At any given time they might have 87 different kinds of cider to try. Some are blends, but most are single or two varieties of apples. While I was there Albert said they had 18 single variety ciders. He says, “It might be less complex [a single variety cider] but, it takes you on a journey to discover what a cider apple can do. Mike adds, “Grab a bunch of single varieties and open them all at once, with friends, and then start blending.” Says Albert, “We’d be bored if we had to drink the same cider all year.” This is the unique quality of these makers that makes this cidery so special. Each single variety cider allows you to truly discover the essence of that apple. It does take you on a journey and it is one that many cider drinkers have yet to discover. If you can, do attend the Ross Cider Fest held every year at the end of the summer. And by the way, these makers won were awarded the BBC Food and Farming for 2019! Contact Info for Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company Website: https://rosscider.com/ For general and cider enquiries: info@rosscider.com For Yew Tree related enquiries: yewtree@rosscider.com For Yew Tree adult only caravan & motorhome enquiries: camping@rosscider.com For Broome Farm family friendly & group camping enquiries:info@rosscider.com Telephone: 01989 562 815 Address: The Yew Tree Inn, Peterstow, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 6JZ 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    

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.  

Kate and Toby Lovell are raising Shropshire Sheep and Friesian Sheep at Handcocks Meadow Farm The Shropshire Sheep don’t debark trees which make them excellent for use in orchards. They also have a flock of Friesian Sheep for cheese making. This chat was recorded at the Ross Cider Fest, based in Ross on Wye, in Herefordshire in the United Kingdom. The fest took place August 30- September 1, 2019 and has been an annual fest for the past 20 years. I was quite taken by all the volunteers who helped set up the festival and the vendors such as Handcocks Meadow Farms. The first conversation in this episode was at the covered sheep trailer that was set up for serving Hancocks Meadow Farm smoked lamb. Meet Harriet, David, and Sullivan who were serving up smoked lamb. Then we talk with Toby Lovell, who was manning the oak barrel smoker. Toby Lovell with barrel While the barrel is closed, it is perfect for holding glasses and bottles of cider...of course Ross Cider ;) The set up is basic and yet the outcome is exotic - leaving me hungry for the next time I come across the Lovell’s and their perfectly smoked lamb. Pauline, Kate’s mum, makes cheese from the milk of the herd of Friesains on the farm. Pauline and Kate using a Dutch cheese knife Cheese scale The final mini chat is with Albert Johnson of Ross Cider with a little help from his border collie, Norman. And, I read a mini letter from John the cider maker at Ross Cider, who also happens to have a very long name, but for now we will call him John Edwards.  Mentions in this Chat 2nd Annual New England Cider Tour Oct 31, 2019

Here is the first dispatch from the United Kingdom, specifically London where my journey began. “The Talking Pommes” (The Medlars, Mr. Quince, Perry Pear) and I arrived at Heathrow and went our separate ways. The Pommes headed off to Buckingham Castle to meet the Queen and I headed east to London to meet with Felix Nash. Felix is the owner of Fine Cider based in London. This business is called "cider merchant" in the UK or what would be called a distributor in the US. He has just finished a book called “Fine Cider” and it will be released in October of this year. Later that same day I met up with Colleen O’Sullivan and James Mann of Duckchicken Cider. They were the catalyst for this trip to the UK and offered to host me at their home in South London. Stay tuned for a full episode with this dynamic couple who are making cider commercially in their home! James Mann & Colleen O'Sullivan - Duckchicken Cider One of the highlights with Colleen and James was enjoying a “Train Beer” is a popular term used in the UK when one imbibes on the train. For me I was more interested in a “Train Cider” which we did have while making our way to the Royal Oak Pub in London. My final day in London I met up with Roberto Basilico the Head Cidermaker at The Hawkes Cidery and Taproom. He presents two styles of cider being made at this both modern and traditional cidery. Roberto Basilico - Hawkes Cidery and Taproom Mentioned on this chat 2nd Annual New England Cider Tour October 31, 2019  

In 1968, Carol B. Hillman bought a colonial era estate that overlooked the Quabbin Reservoir, Boston's water source, in New Salem, Massachusetts.   Originally attracted to the home onsite which is a classic colonial style home with a fire place in every room and a large hearth for cooking, she and her husband set to task to renovating the home to its full glory. At the same time, she also began bringing the 2 orchards back. Carol B. Hillman serving cider The two orchards named "Lawerence and Clara" after Carol's first grandchildren are all standard trees. Many of the trees are over 150 years old. Many of the same people that Carol originally worked with are still with her today, like Steve Wiseman who helps with the orchard and New Hampshire pruner Brad Maloney. Brad considers the orchard his museum piece.  Over the past 30 years he has added his own special touch by using the water sprouts and bending them into what he calls Apple Pretzels, as seen in photo below. Apple Pretzels   During Franklin County CiderDays this orchard is open on both Sunday and Saturday to family and friends with workshops on all things apple and cider. This is always an outdoor fire, food and crafts. Carol has always called her fresh pressed apple juice "Cider" or "Sweet Cider" She destains the term apple juice, which to Carol means canned juice that is over pasteurizes and stripped of all the rich flavors that can only be found in orchard pressed juice. In 2019, the orchard became licensed to ferment cider into "hard cider". William Grote, an award winning cidermaker from Boston, travels out to New Salem each week to make cider. William Grote outside the CiderMill at New Salem Preserves and Heritage Cider  In short order, an outdoor space was made for visitors to sit in called the Cider Garden. Today, you can order a glass and take a seat or walk about with glass in hand into the orchard. Current Ciders on Tap or take in a crowler (32 ounce) to go. Redfield, Reine de Pomme, and Macintosh (6.0%) Macintosh, Northern Spy, Empire Blend (6.0%) More Apple Products at New Salem Preserves Gift box of 18 apples and a jar of strawberry jam - dried in the solar cooker attached to the bar, Apple Cider Vinegar Cider Donuts Apple Butter Sweet Cider - unfermented apple juice Hard Cider Contact for New Salem Preserves and Heritage Cider Website: http://www.newsalempreserves.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newsalemcider/?ref=br_rs Address: 67 S Main St New Salem, Massachusetts 01355   Telephone: (978) 544-3437 Mentions in this Chat 003 Robert Colnes : Building a Ciderhouse 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

Put Cider in the Penny was recorded at SILO Distillery in Windsor, Vermont in August of 2019. I had been wanting to catch up with Nicole LeGrande Leibon, every since she moved on from making cider at Farnum Hill Cider in Lebanon, New Hampshire.  She arrived at SILO to make cider in late 2018. She quickly got SILO set up with a Semi dry cider (sold in cans) and a Bourbon Barrel Aged cider (sold in 750ml bottles). In additon to her role as cidermaker, she has also stepped into the role of assistant distiller under Erin Bell. Erin Bell began working at SILO working the marketing end of things, but found herself distilling in 2015. Erin Bell and Nicole LeGrande Leibon | SILO Distillery   SILO was founded in 2012 and is situated in the Artisan Park, that is also home to a number of craft producers, like Harpoon Brewery (which also has City Roots Cider) and Blake Hill Preserves and Vermont Cheese Company. The location is right off of Interstate 91 and there is a Tasting Room that is open year round. In this chat we learn a bit about Erin’s background and approach to distilling along with how Nicole has integrate the copper still into helping her with reductive cider. Reductive cider will often smell eggy and though there is nothing wrong with the cider, the eggy off smells must be removed. One solution to removing the off odor is to add a copper penny to one’s cup. For a cider maker like Nicole who is managing a whole lot of cider, the SILO copper still came in very handy for removing the off odor. But she tell it best so go to 40 minutes in this recording and find out how she put the "Cider in the Penny". SILO’s still Carl Still from Germany 350 gallon hybrid pot and column still 4 plate finishing plate 21 plate vodka column Extended helmet gin run for flavorings Says Erin, “The harder you make the spirit work, the cleaner it gets. We collect the heart of the run - throwing away the rest.” Barrel Program at SILO using 10 - 15 gallon barrels 30 gallons for the bourbon All the barrels are from Green Mountain Grain and Barrel based in Richmond vermont SILO bourbon is aged for 20 months #ciderGoingUp at SILO SILO is planning on increasing cider production 50% this Fall 2019!   Contact For SILO Distillery Website: https://www.carl.info/en/distillation-facilities/ Address: 3 Artisans Way Windsor, Vermont 05089 SILO SUMMER HOURS Sunday – Thursday 11am – 6pm Friday – Saturday 11am – 7pm +1 (802) 674 4220 Info@SILODistillery.com UP COMING Cider Tours 2nd Annual New England Cider Tour - October 31, 2019 Sign up by sending an email to ria@ciderchat.com SILO is our finally stop of the day on this one-day tour Tour and Tasting at Farnum Hill Lunch, Tour and Tasting at Fable Farm Fermentory Tin Hat Cider will be at Fable Farm Mentions in the Chat Get Ready for Cidermaking - don't forget your yeast - order it now! Bear Swamp Cider - is making Apple Brandy New Salem Preserves, in New Salem Massachusetts is making cider! Artifact Cider is now open in Florence, Massachusetts Eden Specialty Ciders now has a 4pack of Harvest Cider - yum yum definitely get these cans!   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 Haven't downloaded this episode yet? Here it is again for your listening pleasure. [app_audio src="https://ciderchat.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/188-Put-the-Cider-in-the-Penny.mp3"]

Ciderville News kicks off this episode 188 Two New Cider Zines We begin with an overview of Graftwood and Full Juice, two new cider zines out of UK. Graftwood is a subscription based quarterly whereas Full Juice is a free grab and gone available only in the UK. Both are worthy reads and a great sign of #ciderGoingUP. New England Cider Tour October 31, 2019 One day cider tour launches from Greenfield, Massachusetts and heads north to Vermont and New Hampshire before returning back to Greenfield, Send an email to ria@ciderchat.com to get on the list for this tour. New Cider Chat Patron A big tip of the glass to Ambrosia who just became the newest patron of Cider Chat at the Cider Chat Patreon page. Ambrosia is the General Manager of The Northman, a Chicago based cider bar. Ambrosia will be presenting a presentation and tasting on Calvados on November 1 at the 25h Annual Franklin County CiderDays. This is a ticketed event so make sure to subscribe to the eCiderNews to get the most up to date info on this event. Featured Chat - Cider & Wine Safari w/Randall Grahm at Popelouchum Randall Grahm Popelouchum, the Bonny Doon Vineyard estate is located just outside of downtown San Juan Bautista, California. There are 280 acres or is it 400 acres? I’m not sure, nor do I think that it matters, at least not to this story. And there have been lots of stories about Popelouchum since Randall Grahm purchased this swath of land that rises from a low lying plain, bordered on one end by the San Andreas Fault, to a high mountain top back in 2011. This chat isn't so much about Popelouchum, though it provides a magnificent backdrop. This chat is an intimate conversation that covers at least 4 bottles drunk during this recording and the highs and lows of being in the business of both wine and cider. Perry Pears at Popelouchum I had asked to tour Popelouchum, because who wouldn't want to see Randall's vision for terroir based wine, and to share with him a bottle of 2017 Cormé made by French cidermaker, Eric Bordelet. This chat opens with us discussing Cormé which is also known as Sorbus Domestic a.k.a. Service Tree. Then we move onto discussing Bordelet’s cidermaking technique. Perhaps it was the Cormé that inspired Randall to announce that he thinks he may have cracked the secret to Bordelet’s technique for making such fine ciders. You won’t know if it is truly an unveiling of Bordelet's technique unless you try your hand at what Randall offers as a possibility of uncovering Bordelet's secrets. And that will take a whole lot of practice or as Eric says, “It took me 15 years to discover how to make cider and I am still learning.” Get this bottle now at the Bonny Doon Vineyard Tasting Room or via online store   After the Cormé Randall opened three very special bottles of small batch wines. 2017 bottle of 1/2 Grenache Blanche and 1/2 Grenche Gris (only 30 gallons were made) 2014 Bien Nacido Sangria Reserve, made in 5 gallon glass carboys, on the lees and bottled without filtration. The conversation then moved onto branding and sustaining one's brand. This is an intimate and often humorous discussion with one of America’s premier winemakers and wine personalities, who also happens to like pommes and I hope will continue to work with both. Driving up and down Popelouchum   Find Bonny Doon Vineyard products All the wines tasted during this recording can be purchased at the Tasting Room located in Davenport, CA or be bought via the online store. Address: 450 Highway 1, Davenport, CA 950 Telephone: (831) 471-8031 eMail: tastingroom@bonnydoonvineyard.com Website: https://www.bonnydoonvineyard.com/ Listen to my first interview with Randall Episode 12 Randall Grahm | Bonnydoon Vineyard, California  

“We Want More Cider” was clearly the take away heard from cider enthusiasts attending the annual Hard Core Cider Tour held in Santa Cruz, California June 27, 2019. Sipping Syndicate’s Albert Martinez spearheaded the Hard Core Cider Tour five years ago in 2014, offering a tasting event with local makers regionally in California. Fest goers get a cup and as open taps throughout the 3 hour event. On the way out The Core Store offers an opportunity for exiting patrons to buy bottles to go from the producers attending....thus completing their dream of getting More Cider! Albert Martinez, Founder of Hard Core Cider Tour  The Santa Cruz Hard Core Cider Tour will be followed by one in Santa Barbara in September, San Diego in early October and San Luis Obispo in late October. Want More Cider? These yearly fest provide the perfect opportunity to try More Cider! Albert Martinez is featured in this chat along with the following cider producers: Indigeny Reserve Angela of Indigeny Reserve  Tin City Cider Co. Blindwood Cider Drew | Blindwood Cider Ten Five One Cider Company South City Ciderworks Hemly Cider ] Sara Hemley | Hemley Cider Check out the annual Pear Fair held the last Sunday of July in Courtland, California. This year the Pear Fair is held on July 28, 2019. Cider Enthusiasts who Want MORE CIDER at the Hard Core Cider Tour Anna Hummer Becky Kayla Jay Samantha Fall - CIDER TOUR Signup Now New England Cider Tour October 31st - rolls out of Greenfield, Massachusetts for a one day tour of regional makers. This is the 2nd annual cider tour. If you would like to go, send an email to ria@ciderchat.com - put New England Cider Tour in the subject heading. 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