186: "Just Fucking Fermented Juice"

186: "Just Fucking Fermented Juice"

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist June 26, 2019 Duration: 59:28

"Just Fucking Fermented Juice" is splayed out in big white letter across the back of Krista Scruggs' black hoodie. The slogan both amuses and taunts gawkers. Krista wore the hoodie with slogan while attending the annual United States Association of Cider Makers conference in Chicago in January of 2018, called CiderCon. I don't know if she wore it in the airport on her way to the conference - I am hoping that she did.

Don't get me wrong, there is no win in upsetting the delicate minds of society who know nothing about cider. There is however, big gains in making people think or as my cider friends in the UK would say #rethinkcider. 

She presented on two panels while at the conference, one for Still Cider and another on Cultural Diversity. In this episode 186, she was welcomed as a special guest at the Pomme Boots Society meeting.

186 Krista Scruggs of Zaffa Wine

Krista Scruggs of Zaffa Wine

Krista Scruggs is turning heads, but it's not about the hoodie. It is her wines that is catapulting her out into the media spotlight. She has been featured as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Taste Makers 2018 in Wine Enthusiast and Krista Scruggs is Making the Most Exciting, Most Delicious Natural Wines Right Now | Bon Appêtit (Jan 2019). Now living in Vermont, having worked with Dierdre Heekin of La Garista she is making wine and cider fermented with grape skin/pomace under her own label ZAFA Wine.

Listen to episode 185: Who are the Pomme Boots? Episode 185 provides an overview of the Pomme Boots and is the first half of the same meeting that hosted Krista Scruggs.

Caitlin Brahm, Brand Specialist for Angry Orchard, interviews Krista during this recording.

Krista's interview snap shots:

  • Tidbits of her family's history and her path to becoming a winemaker
  • Hiring women

The meeting then moves onto a Q&A with Pomme Boots Founders

  • Jana Daisy-Ensign and Jennie Dorsey

Mentions in this Chat

Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving!

Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts.


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
Podcast Episodes
328: Chef Paul | Author, Maker & CiderDays OG [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:03
News on CiderDays 2.0! Orchards can be as small as 2, 5 or 10 trees. Get tips on how to manage a small scale orchard at CiderDays 2.0 with John Bunker on November 5th at 9am. Get updates and ticket information by followi…
327: Variety Tips from the  Quince Queen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:39
Orchards can be as small as 2, 5 or 10 trees. Get tips on how to manage a small scale orchard at CiderDays 2.0 with John Bunker on November 5th at 9am. Get updates and ticket information by following Cider Chat and signi…
326: Orchards & People | Stories in Ciderville [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:00
Orchards can be as small as 2, 5 or 10 trees. Get tips on how to manage a small scale orchard at CiderDays 2.0 with John Bunker on November 5th at 9am. Get updates and ticket information by following Cider Chat and signi…
325: Mouthwatering Alma Cider | Washington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:16
CiderDays 2.0 November 4th and 5th, 2022 - Greenfield, MA tickets for live August 1, 2022 Sign up for Cider Chat's eNews to get updates on CiderDays 2.0 Getting to Alma An affection to snow brought Dave Klawer to Washing…
324: Šraml Cutting-Edge Cider & Wine Tools | Slovenia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:12
Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHeartRadio , Spotify and wherever you love to listen to podcasts. Follow on Cider Cha…
323: Kazakhstan has Cider at last | Apple City Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:24
Apples started their world tour from Kazakhstan but… It is inconceivable, but true that in the home land, the epicenter, the frick'n ground zero of all apples globally there is no history of cidermaking in Kazakhstan. We…
322: The Celebrated Poiré & Calvados of Pacory | FR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:11
The Pacory Family at Grimaux in Domfrontais Began in 1939 when Marcel Pacory bought 20 hectres of land with what was called a forest of apple and pears trees. Marcel had three sons Paul, Claude & Marcel and three daughte…
321: Cider Styles with Eric Bordelet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:08
French Cider Tour with Eric Bordelet Reservations for the Normandy and Brittany Cider Tour have been extended to June 15, 2022. Find the trip itinerary and reservation link at https://ciderchat.com/france-cider-tour At t…
320: Musée du Cidre at Cidre Prié | Brittany, FR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:40
The September 2022 French Cider Tour will visit the Musée du Cidre and Ciderie Prié. Find out more at the info page Karine Prié The History of the Musée du Cidre Jean-Yves Prié (1948-2021) and wife Janine founded the Mus…
319: Arnaud Jouny's Cidre, Poire & Chouchen | Brittany, FR [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:20
Bretagne's Domaine Jouny In 1997 Arnaud Jouny was a professional bee keeper. In 2014 he built the current building where he both makes cidre and poire and also distills. He also makes a local product known as Chouchen. A…