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If you’re heading out to a beautiful pumpkin patch or farm stand display this month, consider adding a visit to an artisan cidery to your agenda.
Those who favour hard cider, and who may be considering a road trip before the winter snow arrives, can find a plenty of places to sip around the Pacific Northwest thanks to the Northwest Cider Association, home of the Northwest Cider Cup or have a look at the Cider Trails curated by the B.C. Farm Crafted Cider Association.
There are so many types of ciders – dry, sweet, still, sparkling, iced, hopped, sour – made from apples or pears (or both), and available in a variety of vessels from single-serve small cans to full-sized bottles meant to be popped and shared like sparkling wine, it’s well worth sampling a few sips.
Here are a few suggestions to get you started.
If you’re in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley Cider Company offers flights of cider, cider cocktails, alongside a selection of local craft beer and wines to enjoy with a bite from its food menu that includes a variety of pizzas.
In Saanichton on Vancouver Island, Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse currently has more than two dozen ciders available, including three non-alcoholic options under its Temperance Series.
Shuswap Cider Co. in Salmon Arm won a gold medal at the 2024 Northwest Cider Cup for its Blueberry, an apple cider infused with blueberry compote; a gold for its Fireside Spice, flavoured with nutmeg cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and a dash of vanilla, and a silver for its Perry, a low tannin pear cider.
Upside Cider near the Kelowna Airport offers a variety of ‘share’ boards, pizzas, and fried chicken in its lounge, and several intriguing ciders such as Upside Earl Grey and Upside Chai Latte. Both sound perfect for a warm Okanagan autumn day.
Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive has several cideries: Dominion Cider Co., Millionaires’ Row, Nomad Cider, and Summerland Heritage Cider. On the Naramata Bench, you’ll find Naramata Cider Co. at Elephant Island Winery, Creek & Gully, and La Petite Abeille.
At the southern end of the Okanagan Valley, Maverick Estate Winery in Oliver has several ciders, halfway between Oliver and Osoyoos there’s Orchard Hill Estate Cidery, and Destination Osoyoos has put together a list that covers a good part of the area, including the Similkameen.
Given the seasonal nature many of these businesses, be sure to visit their websites or social media channels for latest updates on hours, product availability, and upcoming fall and winter special events.
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.
