John Bunker in this chat helps to trace the lineage in the US between cider apples and cidermakers. If you ever doubted whether you are on the right track with your cidermaking skills, Have no fear. Not only does John affirm even one's most basic cidermaking skills, but our basic love of the apple.
When I asked John what he would give himself as a job titled, he thought for a moment and then said, "Friend of Apples." That friendship is helping apples throughout the US find their rightful place in history as they get identified one apple at a time.
Cammy Watts and John Bunker
John Bunker on making your own cider
Take a clue from John when tasting your next cider or thinking about fermenting apple juice for the first time, "When it comes to my own cider, I'm just happy if I like it. Cuz it's a long way till next year. All I want is to like it, I don't care if you like it. I just want to like it."
He authored of Not Far From the Tree and The Art of Apple Detection
We chat about Fedco's early history with cider apples. How he met with Steve Wood of Farnum Hill Cider and Farnum Hills contribution to the cider tree nursery. It is a story of cider apple lineage in the US.
John discusses meeting with Steve Wood of Farnum Hill Cider and Terry Maloney of West County Cider.
You will crave a taste of West County Cider's Redfield Cider after listening to John chat about the history of this apple variety and how Terry Maloney's himself decided to experiment with the Redfield after a trip to Geneva.
John says, "The Redfield is not an heirloom apple. It originated in 1940 or so. Most of our traditional American varieties are seedlings of unknown parentage."
What about American cidermakers and what he suspects is happening and will continue to happen? John says, "There are so many [US] cidermakers that don't know about the English bitter sweets and may never know about them."
That he considers is a good thing and not something a cidermaker should worry so much about.
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.
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