137 Ontario's County Cider Story | Jenifer Dean

137 Ontario's County Cider Story | Jenifer Dean

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist July 18, 2018 Duration: 1:14:08

County Cider based in Prince Edward County in the Canadian Province of Ontario began selling cider in 1996. It was launched by Grant Howes a formidable man considered the Grandfather of Cider in Ontario. In 2000 Jenifer Dean who had studied winemaking joined up with County Cider. Her husband Grant passed away unexpectedly in January 2017 when he had a heart attack in his sleep.

Jenifer Dean tells the story of County Cider's past, present and future in this walkabout chat with Ria at the onsite location overlooking Prince Edward Bay in Ontario.

Historical Facts on Canadian cider

Ontario cider had a number of setbacks related to Prohibition, but also due to the Ontario government's  "Pullout Program" paying farmers to pull out trees. Unfortunately they had no pay out program farmers to plant trees.

County Cider grows a number of cider varieties

  • Kingston Black
  • Dabinet
  • Michelin
  • Yarlington Mill
  • Bulmers Norman
  • Benet Rouge
  • Brown Snout
  • Frequin rogue

Ciders at County Cider

  • Modern ciders made in with Fruit essence, such as peach and pear cider.
  • Traditional ciders such as Tortured Path made with a blend of bitter sharp and bitter sweet.
  • Ice cider made by allowing the apples (Ida Red) to freeze on the tree.

Visiting County Cider

  • Tasting Room and Retail Store - Open May 12th through October 31st
    • 10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Patio Restaurant open 7 days a week 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Contact County Cider

Website: https://www.countycider.com/

Address: 

  • 657 Bongards Crossroad, Waupoos, ON, K0K 2T0

Find County Cider in Ontario

http://www.lcbo.com/lcbo/search?searchTerm=county+cider

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Ask for the following ciders - By supporting these cidermakers, you in turn help Cider Chat

  1. Kurant Cider - Pennsylvania : listen to Joe Getz on episode 14
  2. Big Apple Hard Cider - NYC : listen to Danielle von Scheiner on episode 35
  3. Oliver's Cider and Perry - Herefordshire/UK ; listen to Tom Oliver on episode 29
  4. Santa Cruz Cider Company - California : listen to Nicole Todd on episode 60
  5. The Cider Project aka EthicCider- California
  6. Albermale CiderWorks : listen to Chuck Shelton on episode 56
  7. Cider Summit : listen to Alan Shapiro founder of this cider fest on episode 75.
  8. Ramborn Cider Co. Luxembourg.
  9. Big Fish Cider Co. Virginia
  10. Tanuki Cider Co. Santa Cruz California episode 103
  11. Ross on Wye Cider and Perry, UK
  12. Process and Analytical NMR Services - John Edwards provides analytics of cider - stay tuned for his Chemical Fingerprints workshop coming up on Cider Chat
  13. Ironbark Ciderworks, Claremont, California

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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

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