355: CiderCon Recap and Awards 2023

355: CiderCon Recap and Awards 2023

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist February 8, 2023 Duration: 46:15

Chicago Cider Week, Cider Tours, Interviews, Awards and Cider Summit

The week of January 30th - February 4th was packed with cider related events all based in Chicago. CiderCon, the annual conference hosted by the American Cider Association kicked off on Tuesday the 31st with Cider Tours. In this chat Ria took two tours: the Bronzeville Tour in the morning and the Historic Tavern Tour in the afternoon.

On Wednesday the 1st of February workshops began and Ria interviewed upcoming guests on Cider Chat!

Later that same day the Cider Share is held, which is a time for commercial makers to taste a bevy of ciders from fellow makers.

355 slide 2 Cider Focused Establishment ACA Awards 300x200

355 Slide 3 Cider Retailer ACA Awards 300x200

355 Slide 4 Cider Distributor ACA Awards 300x200

355 Slide 7 Apple Advocacy ACA Awards 300x200

355 Slide 9 Cider Soms ACA Awards 300x200

355 Slide 10 Cider Chat ACA Awards 300x200 Ria is the Producer and Host of Cider Chat

Mentions in this Chat

Help Support Cider ChatPlease 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
317: How a "Cyder" Teapot fueled the American Revolution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
Cider's back story behind the American Revolution In the 1700s ceramic teapots were the political bumper stickers of the day! In this episode we hear about the Cyder Act teapot that the Museum of the American Revolution…
316: Celebrating New Zealander Alex Peckham | 1962-2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:50
Alex Peckham New Zealand's Premier Cidermaker With wit and charm and dashing good looks Alex Peckham charmed all who had the pleasure of meeting him. The fact that he produced exemplary ciders was merely a side bonus. I…
315: Climate Change & Apple Disease | CiderCon 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:43
Climate Change insights for Orchardists Elizabeth Garofalo of the University of Massachusetts is an Extension Educator and part of the Fruit Team. This workshop presented how regional climates are shifting and the impact…
314: Top of the Mitten | Michigan Cider Terroir [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:47
Northern Michigan a.k.a. Top of the Mitten A cider tasting with Left Foot Charley, Tandem Cider and Presque Isle Farm Cider as presented at CiderCon20222. Nicole LeGrand Leibon of LaNose Knows consulting moderated this p…
313: Wild Yeast Fermentations | CiderCon 2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:04
Wild, Clean & Free: Harnessing the Beauty of Wild-Fermenting, Without the Flaws Was presented at CiderCon2022 held in Richmond, Virginia in February. The seminar was moderated by Christine Walter of Bauman's Cider. Three…
312: Angels Dressed Like Bears | Michael Phillips 1957-2022 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:19
Tribute to Author and Orchardists Michael Phillips I spoke with his long time friend Alan Surprenant of Brook Farm Orchard in Ashfield, Massachusetts on a cool March day a little over two week's after the unexpected pass…
311: Saving Bears by Making Cider | Farmstead Cider, WY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:52
Farmstead Wyoming's First Commercial Cidery Ian McGregor who cofounded Farmstead Cider with Orion Bellorado holds the title of being both the first commercial cidery in the state of Wyoming and as of this episode publish…
310: D.O.P.E. Cider House & Winery | Youngstown, OH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:44
The DOPE Brand Hannah Ferguson is giving us all a reason to visit Youngstown, Ohio. Her DOPE brand is helping to introduce the city to cider like never before. The bio says that the DOPE brand is about a "Winemaker, Mark…
309: Blue Bee Cider | Richmond, VA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:36
Blue Bee Cider Founder Courtney Mailey Courtney Mailey, always knew she wanted to be a farmer of sorts. In the high school she took part in an aptitude test with the result showing that she was to be a farmer. By the way…
308: Virginia's First Lady of Cider | Diane Flynt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:45
Flynt could have grown pot, but it was apples that really caught her eye Flynt casually joked during this interview that perhaps she could have chosen to become a pot (cannabis) grower as a career before becoming an appl…