233: "OMG" Russian Cider | Part 2

233: "OMG" Russian Cider | Part 2

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist August 5, 2020 Duration: 42:08

OMG and the story of two sommeliers!

Meet Olga and Micheal Efremov are Russian Sommeliers with two cider brands, OMG and Incider.

Michael & Olga Efremov of Incider - Russian cider Michael and Olga Efremov

They are based outside of Moscow in a small town, but close enough to work with restaurants in the city. Micheal is the cidermaker and Olga, the educator, leading tasting workshops.

During this chat recorded in February of 2020 at Cidrexpo, Olga discussed the apple variety known as "Antonovka".

She says it is difficult to make a single varietal cider from this apple because of the lack of aromas. Antonovka is used widely in the US as a rootstock for growing other apple varieties because Antonovka is so vigorous.

Labels from OMG and Incider. Note the first label features a painting from Giuseppe Arcimboldo.

Listen to a special episode on Cider Chat featuring the era of the Mannerist painters and the current Omni Era of Cider.


Russian Cider Baba Dash 2019 - episode 233

Mypysar label - Russian Cider 233

Get on Cider Chat!

  • Audio Snapshots from Ciderville - are you in the cider trade? Please send along an audio snap shot (2mins or less) with news from your special spot in Ciderville. Cider soon to be released, orchard news, Tasting Room hours - let us hear your good news! Send your snap shot to ria@ciderchat.com
  • Have a story to tell for the "Stories in Ciderville" segment?
    • Must be 3000 words or less or under 4 audio minutes
    • Apples and pommes must be integrated into the story line
    • Send your essay and a recording of yourself reading your essay to ria@ciderchat.com

Mentioned on this Chat

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…