004: Nick Gunn and Dave White | West Coast Ciders

004: Nick Gunn and Dave White | West Coast Ciders

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist November 18, 2015 Duration: 48:00

Gunn and White on a Cider Road Trip

Nick Gunn of Anthem Cider and Wandering Aengus in Oregon (as of 2024 both cideries have closed – Nick is now with BenchGraft a cider consulting business) and Dave White, Whitewood Cider in Washington sat back for a chat about west coast ciders and the cider trend in the US

Nick Gunn has been in the cider business for eleven years working two labels: Anthem Cider and Wandering Anegus. He is married to Mimi Casteel the winemaker and member of the founding family at Bethel Heights Vineyard. Says Nick, "Winemaking is basically same thing as cider making. We are making a tank fermented chardonnay more or less, but are using apples instead of grapes."

Dave White started the cider blog "Old Time Cider Blog" years ago, but knew he was always destine to make his own cider commercially. He launched Whitewood Cider Company, in Olympia Washington in 2012. Dave describes Whitewood as a nano cidery.

l tor, Dave White of Whitewood Cider Co. Olympia Oregon and Nick Gunn of Anthem Cider & Wandering Aengus Salem Oregon at CiderDays 2015
l to r, Dave White of Whitewood Cider Co. Olympia Oregon and Nick Gunn of Anthem Cider & Wandering Aengus Salem Oregon at CiderDays 2015

Nick and Dave discuss:

  • The Northwest Cider Association (NWCA)
  • The US Association of Cider Makers (USACM), now called The American Cider Association
  • The Cider ACT
  • Cider wiki – cider maker's tool kit
  • Dealing with regulations: Carbonation levels in cider and how this impacts cider makers in the US.
  • Oregon being the first state to allow cider in growlers
  • Northwest Mobile Juicing
  • And where to go when you land in either Portland Oregon or Tacoma Washington when looking for a lass of cider.

Gunn and White West Coast Cider Bar Recommendations

Washington Cider Bars:

Mentions in this Cider Chat


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
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