292: A Little Italy at Westwind Orchard | New York

292: A Little Italy at Westwind Orchard | New York

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist October 13, 2021 Duration: 59:39

Who is Westwind Orchard and their cider

Fabio Chizzola & Laura Ferrara are the owners/farmers of Westwind Orchard located in Accord, New York on the west dies of the Hudson River. The orchard was bought in 2002 and was as Fabio described it "abandoned". Over time her pruned and replanted and open the area for Pick Your Own in 2008. 

In addition to offering the apples, pizza was being made and sold. In time Fabio noticed that many of teh patrons were bringing their own wine, beer and perhaps cider to drink with the food. That was an a-ha moment, when he realized that they could do more than just offer apples to take home but instead ferment the select crop into cider!

Both Laura and Fabio are of Italian descendent with Fabio growing up in Rome, which leads to an obvious statement that rings true. "I'm Italian I know food.…I know how food should taste."

Today the orchard has 70-80 varieties of apples and  the Pick Your Own option is no longer available with all the apples going into the production of Westwind Orchard's Cider.

Say Fabio, "We are using every single spot in the orchard for apples trees."

Fabio Chizzola Ep 292 Cider Chat 200x300 Fabio Chizzola

What to expect at Westwind Orchard

  • Cider is poured by the glass and bottles are available for purchase.
  • There is a restaurant with pasta offerings and wood fired pizza
  • The main seating is all outdoors on picnic benches and even open in the winter (there is some heating but dress warmly).

Westwind orchard signage 200x300

The Ciders of Westwind

  • All ciders are fermented to a dry profile
  • There are single varietal ciders available and also blends
  • Barrel aged ciders
  • Occasional ciders made with unsprayed apples and wild yeast
  • Cultured yeast are used because Fabio doesn't use sulfites

Westwind ciderbar 300 x 200

Contact for Westwind Orchard

Website: https://www.westwindorchard.com/

Address:

215 LOWER WHITFIELD ROAD
ACCORD, NY 12404

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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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