409: Cider's Pilot Guy & Intel Girl | Olympic Bluffs, WA

409: Cider's Pilot Guy & Intel Girl | Olympic Bluffs, WA

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist April 17, 2024 Duration: 1:04:05

Escape to Olympic Bluffs a Dream Vacation Destination

Olympic Bluffs Cidery & Lavender Farm is located on the northern coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The farm is on a bluff that overlooks the Salish Sea, which spans the international waters between British Columbia and Washington State. The location is dreamy with views of Mount Baker, a 10,000+ foot mountain, to the east and Victoria Canada to the north.

Olympic Bluffs was founded by Ginger and Scott Wierzbanowski, who found farm land years early on a trip to Washington State. Both are Air Force Veterans with Ginger serving as an Intel Officer and Scott as an Air Force F 16 pilot.

Ep 409 Olympic Bluffs feature 200x300
Scott and Ginger next to F 16 – note Scott's name on plane

The two met in Korea, married in Denmark, and lived in Europe where in France they discovered Calvados. Years later their love of cider helped frame Olympic Bluffs Cidery and Lavender Farm which has an onsite Lavender shop, a cider production area, a Bed and Breakfast next door, and a commercial location where a future tasting room will be situated in downtown Port Angeles.

In this Cider Chat

  • The Wierzbanowski's backstory to cider.
  • Why a cidery and lavender farm in Port Angeles?
  • What does the location look like? When and how can people visit?
  • Is there a best time?
  • The orchards,
    • Size, terrain, soil type
    • Number of apple varieties and (pear?)
    • Orchard practices
  • What products Olympic Bluffs currently sells
  • Types of cider to expect?
    • What has informed your cider making styles?
  • Future plans

Contact for Olympic Bluffs Cidery & Lavender Farm

Mentions in this Cider Chat


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: 100

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