Join the Hard Cider Revival - Cider Week Oct 12-21

Hard cider is making a statement and growing.  In the last year domestic sales of cider were up 23% to 5.7 million cases. The big boys have seen the craze and entered into the market.  Angry Orchard Cider is produced by Boston Beer (Sam Adams), Michelob is producing an Ultra Light Cider and MillerCoors owns Crispin Cider.  But nothing beats drinking a local hard cider in the fall hand crafted at a local winery.

The largest Cider producer in New York State is Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery.  They produce close to 50,000 cases of Doc's Draft ciders a year.  Their cider comes in a variety of flavors, the original Apple, Pear, Raspberry, Black Currant, Sour Cherry, Pumpkin and Spiced.

Applewood Winery in Warwick just launched their Naked Flock brand of ciders. Their original Stone Fence Cider has run away to join the Naked Flock as the Naked Flock Original. They have crafted a Pumpkin Cider made with fresh roasted pumpkins and his Draft which is fermented with Belgian Trappist Ale yeast and smoothed over with a touch of organic Maple Syrup.

Brand new to the Hudson Valley is Kettleborough Cider House located at Dressel Farms in Gardiner, NY. Launched in September, his cider is fermented dry and then cider is added to bring up the flavor.

New York City and the Hudson Valley we are celebrating Cider Week which takes place October 12-21, 2012.  Now is your chance to get out and taste and support local cider. A list of local hard cider producers can be found  at http://www.ciderweekny.com/cider-makers.

There is a slew of events taking place from cider tastings to pairings to dinners during the week.  A list of events can be found at http://ciderweekny.com/events

Go out and enjoy some local crafted Hard Cider!

It's Cider Week in the Hudson Valley

This week October 16 - 23 is Cider Week.  I always thought cider came in a jug.  It wasn't until people from Ireland moved in across the street from me 14 years ago that I received an education on hard cider. Bulmers and Magners was the cider of choice for Frank and my first introduction to the world of hard cider.  Little did I know - cider was being produced in the Hudson Valley.

New York State is the second largest producer of apples in the nation and the Hudson Valley is the "apple belt".  The Glynwood Organization which began the Apple Project is organization behind Cider Week.  The Apple project promotes the production of hard cider and apple spirits in hopes to preserve apple orchards in the Hudson Valley. The development of the event Cider Week will cultivate the appreciation for hard cider.  There is even a Hudson Valley Cider Trail that promotes regional cider producers.  For a list of cider producers both regular and hard in the Hudson Valley click here.

The hard cider producers that I am familiar with in the Hudson Valley are Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery and Applewood Winery.  I have had, and enjoyed their cider numerous times.

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery produce Doc's Drafts which is a collection of ciders - Apple, Pear and Raspberry.  All their ciders are 100% fruit and gluten free.

Applewood Winery is the maker of Apple Dave's Stone Fence Cider. Every November, they host the New York Hard Cider Experience.  This year it is November 5 & 6. (Click here for a video of  the first NY Hard Cider Experience)

If you are looking for apple spirits Harvest Spirits in Valatie, NY produces an Cornelius AppleJack which is distilled 3 times and offers a nice smooth taste (I am told)  It is made from 100% Hudson Valley apples grown on their 200 acre fruit farm.  Each bottle is produced from over 60 pounds of fresh grown apples.

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery also produce a Bourbon Barrel Aged Apple Liqueur.   This liqueur is a slightly fermented sweet Hudson Valley cider blended with their apple brandy and finished and aged in Bourbon barrels.

I am sure there might be a few others out there that I have missed. I will have to spend a day on the Cider Trail and visit them.  Happy Cider Week!