Cider Chat

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

"Just Fucking Fermented Juice" is splayed out in big white letter across the back of Krista Scruggs' black hoodie. The slogan both amuses and taunts gawkers. Krista wore the hoodie with slogan while attending the annual United States Association of Cider Makers conference in Chicago in January of 2018, called CiderCon. I don't know if she wore it in the airport on her way to the conference - I am hoping that she did. Don't get me wrong, there is no win in upsetting the delicate minds of society who know nothing about cider. There is however, big gains in making people think or as my cider friends in the UK would say #rethinkcider. She presented on two panels while at the conference, one for Still Cider and another on Cultural Diversity. In this episode 186, she was welcomed as a special guest at the Pomme Boots Society meeting. Krista Scruggs of Zaffa Wine Krista Scruggs is turning heads, but it's not about the hoodie. It is her wines that is catapulting her out into the media spotlight. She has been featured as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Taste Makers 2018 in Wine Enthusiast and Krista Scruggs is Making the Most Exciting, Most Delicious Natural Wines Right Now | Bon Appêtit (Jan 2019). Now living in Vermont, having worked with Dierdre Heekin of La Garista she is making wine and cider fermented with grape skin/pomace under her own label ZAFA Wine. Listen to episode 185: Who are the Pomme Boots? Episode 185 provides an overview of the Pomme Boots and is the first half of the same meeting that hosted Krista Scruggs. Caitlin Brahm, Brand Specialist for Angry Orchard, interviews Krista during this recording. Krista's interview snap shots: Tidbits of her family's history and her path to becoming a winemaker Hiring women The meeting then moves onto a Q&A with Pomme Boots Founders Jana Daisy-Ensign and Jennie Dorsey Mentions in this Chat Deirdre Heekin - La Garagista, Vermont Shacksbury, Vermont 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

Who are the Pomme Boots? The Pomme Boots Society was founded in 2015 an organization for women working in the cider industry. The first meet up of Pommes Boots was at CiderCon2016 held in Portland, Oregon. This episode was recorded at the Pomme Boots meeting held at CiderCon2019, an annual cider conference hosted by the United States Association of Cider Makers Pomme Boots meeting at CiderCon2016 Pomme Boots Founders Gemma Schmit - Taphouse Manager at Alter Ego Cider Jennie Dorsey - Chief Cider Curator at Schilling Cider in Portland Jana Daisy-Ensign - formally brand ambassador at Finn River Pomme Boots Team Members (ltor) Jennie, Gemma, Caitlin, Jana In this Chat, Caitlin Brahm, begins introductions, while Gemma in watching virtually. Then Jennie and Jana speak. What is Pomme Boots working on and asking you for help with? A call for volunteers Creating a crowd source pages for sharing resources linkable via the Facebook page Job opportunities Video conferencing Become a nonprofit Building a new website Education Member directory/Travel Directory Mentorship Building local chapters Posting boards for more in-depth conversations Contact for Pomme Boots Pomme Boots Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pommeboots/ Mentions in this Chat Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company wins BBC Best Drinks Producer for 2019 at the BBC Food and Farming Awards held in June 2019. Subscribe to InCiderJapan - the Summer edition is now out from this bilingual cider magazine (Japanese and English). Totally Cider Tour | Normandy September 22-28, 2019 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

The feature on cider judging in this week's episode begins at 9:43 minutes. The 7th annual BigE Cider and Perry competition took place on June 8, 2019. There were 6 cider judges and this episode features the judging of the Best in Show. Cider Panel A Ria Windcaller Mike Shay Tim Post Cider Panel B Ben Watson Mark Gryska Michelle Pagano Write up on Judges https://www.thebige.com/p/competitions/food--beverage/cider/cider-and-perry-competition-judges Ria's Cider Judging Summary Decide beforehand "The protocol?" is everyone in agreement to that protocol? Judging is not about what you like as a judge, but "Is the cider made well?" Leave your ego at the door. What can be Best in Show? If the competition is open to all styles, then every style is a viable competitor to be a Best in Show for that competition. Judges at BigE2019 Mentions in this Chat July 19-20, 2019 Streatham Cider Shack more info at @cidershacksw16 or email streathamcidershack@duckchickencider.co.uk Totally Cider Tour | Normandy September 22-28, 2019 Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. 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

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

Straw pressing Cider at Sandford Orchards with Barny Butterfield in Devon. This chat was prerecorded at CiderCon2019. Barney shared his cidermaking history and how farm hands, were paid with the means to make cider as part of their wages. He said that they weren't necessarily paid with cider, but instead given the supplies and tools needed to make their own cider. This was true for him when he began working at his future father-in-laws farm. He credited that experience with helping him get his start in making cider, being paid with the tools needed to make his own. His cider brand, Sandford Orchards began selling commercially in 2009. The ciders made by this brand are available throughout the UK. They have both a modern line up and a traditional offering of ciders. In this chat we discussed the traditional method of making cider using straw for the pressing, that is still used at Sandford Orchard for a specific group of locals, that Barny called 'the old guys", who like their "cider dry and from the oak" Straw pressing notes: The press is made up with a combination of thatching reeds. If you are familiar with a classic rack and cloth press used today in cider making, the straw press is set up using: The Reed as the rack and Barely straw is the cloth At Sandford Orchards they can press up to 2 tons of crushed apples on one press As Barny says, "We do it in the Devon way." with a press that has only one center screw on the press. In the other region of the UK known as Somerset, they use a press with 2 screws. It takes 3 parts of a day to build up the crushed apple with the straw on this press. Barny says, that it looks much like a pyramid, all set up, with a strong wide base that taper up to the top. This set up has quite a bit of weight bearing down, and sooner than later without any downward pressure from the screw, the juice will begin to flow. The juice will pour out slightly clear They get 350 gallons on the first press 50 gallons with the second press - which he called the "Muck" They usually leave the press set up for 3 days, Barny says, "What is really special is tasting that cider in the barn. We try not to make any blending decision in the barn, because we love everything we taste in the barn" The ciderworks of Sandford Orchards was built in 1935 and is the is the oldest ciderworks in the country Contact for Sandford Orchards Website: https://www.sandfordorchards.co.uk/ Address: The Cider Works, Commonmarsh Lane, Crediton, Devon, EX17 1HJ email: cider@sandfordorchards.co.uk Mentions in this chat: Totally Cider Tour | Normandy September 22-28, 2019 Get the book: The Cider Insider; 100 Craft Ciders to Drink Now, by Susanna Forbes 181: Cider Insider podcast episode 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

The Cider Insider | 100 Craft Ciders to Drink Now This chat with Susanna and James Forbes was recorded at CiderCon2019, the annual trade conference hosted by the American Cider Association known at that time as the United States Association of Cider Makers. Susanna & James Forbes It was at CiderCon2018 when I first had the opportunity to sit down for a chat with Susanna and James. Listen to that chat on episode 126 Little Pomona's Big Ciders | Hereford, UK They started selling cider under their brand name Little Pomona in 2015. James has been involved in the wine trade for quite a while and is now the Chairperson of the Three Counties Cider and Perry Association. Susanna has been writing about craft libations since 2000. She writes for Imbibe magazine and sill uses the Twitter handle @drinkbritain. Her recent book The Cider Insider is what prompted this sit down chat and the fact that I adore the Forbes and always love hearing about and tasting their newest cider. Little Pomona Cider Tasted during this chat Hazy Ways Part 1 7.4% alcohol by volume Apples used: 91% Dabinet and some Elias Bitter 750 ML cider – bottle conditioned Like all the ciders that I have had with the Forbes, James did a "Shake to Wake" of this bottle, which allows the sediment on the bottom of the bottle to come into solution before pouring, much like one would do with a Hefeweizen beer. You can also pour the cider without Shaking to Wake. But why, when tipping the bottle carefully back and forth is so much fun?!? What's up at Little Pomona? They are expanding the cidery and building a Tasting Room next to the orchard! Contact info for Little Pomona Website: http://www.littlepomona.com/ Mentions in this Cider Chat International Cider and Perry Competition – Herefordshire, UK Totally Cider Tour | Normandy September 22-28, 2019 Follow @ahston1848 on Twitter a UK cider enthusiast – and his website https://www.ciderbuzz.co.uk/

180: Cider Is Wine | Simon Day of Once Upon a Tree, UK This chat was recorded at CiderCon2019 in Chicago. Simon Day and I did not speak directly on the topic of the "Cider is Wine" debate, but I do suspect that his early upbringing which was intrenched in the wine culture certainly informs him today. When Simon was 2 his father got a job working at a vineyard, and that vineyard also had apple and pears growing there too. On May 20th - 22nd of 2019 he is attending the London Wine Fair with the "Cider is Wine Alliance", a newly formed non profit group based in the UK whose mission is to create a new quality drinks category for ciders & perries produced from 100% apples and pears. Simon Day, opening a bottle of "Chapel Pleck" a champagne method Perry Simon's own background before starting Once Upon a Tree led him to work globally in the business of wine both in the UK to the Pacific Northwest, Australia and on the Channel island of Jersey, which is right off the coast of Normandy. Jersey by the way has a rich cider making history too. When Simon eventually returned to England, he settle close by the original vineyard. The house was surrounded by orchards. Like most major life changes there is a pivotal moment in time that can change your life's trajectory and for Simon it was attending The Big Apple Association tasting in the same town where he lived. In 2007 he started pressing and using the same press, a Voran mill and press, that he had been using in Guernsey. That year he made 3 different ciders and entered them into the International Perry and Cider Competition in 2008. They won first place for all 3 categories Today, Once Upon a Tree is both making Cider, Perry, Ice Pear Wine and providing other cider makers both juice and cider. Shacksbury based in Vermont was the first to use cider from Once Upon a Tree. Shacksbury uses 25% of their UK juice to blend into Shacksbury's Dry Cider. In this chat Simon served a 2014 Marcle Ridge cider and a champagne method perry called Chapel Pleck, both outstanding ciders. Contact info for Once Upon a Tree Website: https://shop.haygrove-evolution.com/ eMail: mailto:info@onceuponatree.co.uk Address: Haygrove Evolution Little Marcle Road, Ledbury, Herefordshire, HR82JL Mentions in this Chat Totally Cider Tour | Normandy September 22-28, 2019 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

Tasty Southern Ciders at James Creek A cider dinner recording from CiderCon2019 in Chicago with Ann Marie and David Thornton of James Creek Cider House in Cameron, North Carolina. The main featured chat begins at 17 minutes into this chat. Before this main feature hear an email from a Russian cidermaker, helping us learn a bit more about the cider culture in this region of the world. Maxim contacted me when he became a patron of Cider Chat via the Cider Chat Patreon page. The Journey to James Creek Cider House Ann Marie and David Thornton moved to North Carolina in 2002. What got the Thorntons into cider? Ann Marie says, "It was the apples. And reading about Lee Calhoun" Then it turned out the Lee lived about 30 minutes from the Thorntons! They began planting apples trees in 2009, putting in 60 classic southern apple varieties. At CiderCon2019 David was elected onto the board for the United States Association of Cider Makers (USACM), now known as the American Cider Association. Anne Marie & David Thornton The Thorntons have an experimental orchard is based at their home site, and as of this recording they were in the midst of building a Tasting Room at an off site orchard in the area – which is now completed! In the meanwhile, if you are in or headed to North Carolina go to this link to find out where you purchase some James Creek Ciders. Two Cider labels at James Creek James Creek Heritage Ciders, bottled in 750ML glass presentations! Stargazer series Provides a compliment of modern style ciders. Read: fruit ciders and not just any fruit ciders but peaches and berries from their farm! We sipped on the Prowling Peach, a barrel aged cider with peach juice. I was over the moon for this cider. Plus, peach is not an easy fruit to work with! All of James Creek Ciders were super tasty and you definitely can tell made with a ton of affection for the process. All the apples come from within an area of 100-150 miles and are North Carolina grown. Newly elected Board members at CiderCon2019. (ltor) Michelle McGrath, ACA, Eleanor Leger - Eden Cider, Ben Calvi - Vt Cider Co, David Thornton-James Creek Cider House Contact for James Creek Cider House Website: http://www.jamescreekciderhouse.com eMail: info@jamescreekciderhouse.com Address: 172 US-1 Highway Cameron, NC 28326 Telephone: (910) 245-9901 FaceBook page: https://www.facebook.com/jamescreekciderhouse/ Mentions in this Cider Chat Totally Cider Tours Andrew Lea's cider making book