Cider Chat Ria Windcaller: Award winning Cidermaker | Craft Libations Columnist | Podc

Delve deep into the realm of cider co-ferments Enjoy this special talk with a tasting of select co-ferments from New York Apple Camp 2023. Hear the discussion on techniques, flavors, and challenges. This talk was hosted by:

Dan Pucci, author of "American Cider: A Modern Guide to a Historic Beverage" (2021) Matt Sanford, head cider and wine maker at Rose Hill Farm, New York Matt Sanford and Dan Pucci
Co-ferments in this tasting
All co-ferments where made in New York.

Blackduck Cidery Aronius: A unique co-ferment consisting of 92% apples and 8% Aronia berries, which lend a tannic profile to the glass. Rose Hill Cider Pomme Cerise 2020 & 2021 blend | 20% sweet and sour cherries and 80% apples, this blend showcases the layering of flavors over time. 
Mentioned - Rose Hill Cider Pearly Dewdrops' traditional fermented drink made of plums. Cuvée with carbonically macerated Shiro, Early Golden, Oblinaya and Satsuma plums, cherries and nectarines that are blended with apple cider. Dark, resinous fruit flavor buoyed by an invigorating sparkle, this is the stonefruit equivalent to a dry, rustic Lambrusco. Wild years fermentation, no filtering or fining, finished in bottle without additives. Metalhouse Cider Tazza: A co-ferment of cabernet Franc skins that resembles wine in smell and taste but lacks the body of wine. It exudes a piquette-like vibe, combining Macoun and Macintosh apple juice with the robustness of Cab Franc. Rose Hill Cider Chiffonner 9% ABV: Comprising 25% Roxybury Russet, 25% Ashmead's Kernel, and 50% Riesling. This unique blend sits in stainless for six months and another year in neutral oak. If it's not solely made of apples, Rose Hill labels it as wine.
 

When should a ferment be labeled cider vs. wine? Matt Sanford shares Rose Hill's approach.

- The debate continues: Are co-ferments undermining cider?

- Ultimately, co-ferments could serve as a gateway to the world of cider for many and with Matt making and other makers show casing what can be done, the future is bright for this category.

For a comprehensive dive into co-ferments and to expand your cider palate, tune in to Cider Chat's Episode 379.
Info on the speakers: Matt Sanford of Rose Hill Farm | New York Website: https://www.rosehillferments.com/ Dan Pucci - Co-author of American Cider: A Modern Guide to a Historic Beverage (2021) Mentions in this chat
Fermentis: SafCider™ Yeasts for your cider! Visit Idaho and taste the ciders! More info at https://nwcider.com/map

Nothing Sharp about the "Ice Cider Queen" Eleanor Léger is affectionately dubbed the Ice Cider Queen by many followers, most notably this podcast. She founded Eden Specialty Cider in 2007, the year of the first harvest of apples for producing Ice Cider at Eden.
The act of freezing apple juice outdoors during the coldest days and nights of the winter to extract the water and then ferment the pure juice into what is known as Ice Cider is not new to Canadian makers just over the border from Eden's Newport Vermont headquarters. What is unique however is how Eden marketed and refined the technique to showcase to this delectable aperitif/digestif to a wider audience.
Eleanor Léger
Many awards later, a White House serving, and a reputation for some of the best Ice Cider in the world is now par for the course for the Queen and her growing realm.  In 2023 Eden is celebrating its fifteenth anniversary and has broadening the business, based in the northeast kingdom of Vermont, to include to two additional brands, Shelburne Vineyard and Iapetus (a natural wine brand).
In addition to her role as President and CEO of Eden Specialty Ciders, Eleanor is the Board President for the American Cider Association (ACA). This will be her last year in this role, when a new President is elected in 2024. In total she will have served 3 years in this position and discusses her goal during that time of making the Association accessible to makers who produce less than 25,000 gallons per year .
In this Cider Chat: Focusing on Ice Cider as a niche within the niche of cider making From farmhouse to tasting room - the early days of Eden Specialty Ciders A perfect fit of cider, wine and brand expansion Educating people about dry cider Secret confessions from the Queen Work life balance Contact for Eden Specialty Cider, Shelburne Vineyard and Iapetus Wine Website: https://www.edenciders.com/ Mentions in this Chat
Fermentis: SafCider™ Yeasts for your cider! Visit Idaho and taste the ciders! More info at https://nwcider.com/map

Fable Farm Fermentory's Co-Evolution of Humanity & Apples The Apple Calls Us In | Fable Farm, VT started 15 years ago... In this episode hear how brother's Jon and Christopher Piana found their way to Fable Farm and how you can get there and enjoy the bounty too!
Jon and Chris Piana
Hear about:
Jon and Christopher's back stories Fable Farm's Feast and Field Event Every Thursday during the summer months, enjoy out door music, food, cider, and more libations The Tasting Room The Cave - underneath the huge barn at Fable Farm The Quarterly Wine Club Foraging Apples Native yeasts, apples and grapes Co-ferments Jon opening bottle in Cider Cave
 Ciders Walden (7.0%) A small amount of the 2020 pet nat, Emanation, was barreled down to age an additional two years. Emanation (6.0%) 1-2 years in the bottle, this cider has been rolling out since 2015 Apples from Walden Heights Nursery and Orchard   Fluxion (6.9%) made with a blend multiple vintages, which is a technique called Solera a spritz of maple syrup is added for the secondary fermentation. At this point the yeast remaining in the bottle get reinvigorated and create bubbles. (this is the short story of what is called traditional method) Farm Fermentory Barn sand Feast & Field event set up
Contact for Fable Farm Fermentory Website: https://fablefarmfermentory.com/ Shop: https://fablefarmfermentory.com/shop/

Walden Heights Nursery & Orchard (WHNO) was created in 1997 This 22 acre farm with 8 acres of orchards on a hillside outside of Hardwick, Vermont in the town of Walden was founded by Todd Parlo and Lori Augustyniak. It is a sustainably managed and certified organic fruit orchard and nursery. In this chat, we speak with both founders as they share the history and current educational offerings at WHNO.
Todd Parlo and Lori Augustyniak (w/ frozen jug of apple juice) at WHNO
We also discuss how WHNO was awarded a SARE (Sustainable Agricultural Research and Educational Project) grant to study: The evaluations of apple cultivars for hard cider production in the Northeast. The goal of the project as Todd Parlo states it, is “To increase the pool of possibilities for a cider maker. And to get numbers on the constituents of juices of a variety of apple cultivars."
313 apple varieties from WHNO were tested during this project. Todd in the Walden orchard
The study was completed and as of 2023 the results of the study can be reviewed via this link online.
Walk about the orchard with both Todd and Lori at WHNO and hear about just a few of the 600 apples varieties grown here.

Contact for Walden Heights Nursery & Orchard Website: https://waldenheightsnursery.com/about/ Mentions in this Chat
Vermont flooding help - Go Fund Me for Henry's Hardware & Den in Cabot Fermentis: AC-4. SafCider™ AC-4 stands for Apple Crisp and is one of 3 SafCider™ Yeasts for your cider! Visit Idaho and taste the ciders! More info at https://nwcider.com/map Athol Orchards visit this orchard in the Panhandle of Idaho

Cedar Hannan began selling his ciders branded as “Wildbranch” in 2020. He both forages apples and has a small orchard planted that he planted four years ago on his farm based in Craftsbury, Vermont. The ciders are both wild ferments and occasionally have cultured yeasts too.
He sells locally at Vermont farmers markets and doesn’t have any immediate plans to increase his production which is currently at 900 gallons per year.
Cedar Hannan
The Low Carbon Footprint of Cider Cedar was originally looking at brewing as a retirement goal, but (as he notes in this episode) there are already a fantastic number of breweries in the surrounding area. In addition, the carbon footprint of beer is a bit larger than that of making cider at a local scale. Thankfully for us all, Cedar went with his hunch and is making Wildbranch Cider his full time gig, having quit his IT job.
Each of the following is what Cedar looks for when foraging apples or pears for Wildbranch.
Flavor  - aroma Tannin Acidity Sugar content Wildbranch Ciders tasted in the Episode The Spiney - Flagship cider 6.8% Try with cheddar cheese and grilled pork chop Golden Russet 8.3% Intense fruitiness, Little bit of cooked apple Perry Made with culinary pears - Barlett’s and Big Earl (a local variety) Perry
Contact for Wildbranch Cider
Website: https://www.wildbranchcider.com/ Mentions in this Chat
Fermentis: AC-4. SafCider™ AC-4 stands for Apple Crisp and is one of 3 SafCider™ Yeasts for your cider! Visit Idaho and taste the ciders! More info at https://nwcider.com/map The Idaho University Extension Program - has a Fermentation Club - Find out about the July 29, 2023 Fermentation class

Bonus Cider Chat Live on NY Apple Camp July 28th - 30th at the Ashokan Center in the Hudson River Valley (on the west side of river) is the first ever NY Apple Camp!
Elizabeth Ryan of Stone Ridge Orchard who is producing this event catches us up on the scheduled events and talks. 
 Special Kickoff tour The weekend begins with an optional tour on Friday focusing on the life of Andrew Jackson Downing. The tour goes to the original site of the Downing Nursery and Downing Park. Then a 2 hour lunch with cider  and off to Esopus  - where the Esopus Spitzenberg originated from.

Hear about all the great happenings at NY Apple Camp  Find the Schedule of events and presentations at  https://www.hvcenterforfoodartsandag.org/apple-camp-schedule.html#/ Tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ny-apple-camp-2023-tickets-657779936497 The Friday tour is optional and there is a request for donations of $30.
Mentions in this Cider Chat Live Fermentis: AB-1 (Apple Balance) yeast is one of 3 SafCider Yeasts for your cider! Visit Idaho and taste the ciders! More info at https://nwcider.com/map