413: Ancestral Methods in Cider Making

413: Ancestral Methods in Cider Making

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist May 15, 2024 Duration: 1:09:14

Is Ancestral Method different than Pet Nat?

This panel discussion on Ancestral Method was moderate by Nicole Leibon of LeNosse Knows consultation. She was joined by Yann Gilles, a French cider consultant, Levi Danielson of Oregon's RAW cider and David Carr of California's Raging Cider. This feature was was recorded at CiderCon 2024, the annual trade conference hosted by the American Cider Association.

Cider Chat Episode 413 Full Ancestral Method panel
(ltor) Nicole LeGrand Liebon, Yann Gilles, Levi Danielson, Dave Carr

The discussion centers around various aspects of cider production, specifically highlighting traditional cider-making methods like the "ancestral method.

Topics discuss on this panel

  • Cider Making Methods and Personal Backgrounds of each speaker
  •  
  • Ancestral Method of Cider Production
    • This traditional method of cider making is particularly prominent in Normandy and Brittany, France.
    •  
    • It involves a two-step fermentation process:
      • the first step is in tanks and the second in bottles, intentionally leaving both fermentations incomplete to retain some natural sugars and create a sparkling cider.
  •  
  • Technical Details in Cider Fermentation
    • Discussions delve into the technical specifics such as controlling yeast population, managing nitrogen levels in the must, and how these factors affect the cider's quality and character.
  •  
  • Influence of Environmental Factors
    • Various environmental factors like orchard age, apple variety, and climatic conditions impact the nitrogen content in apples, which in turn affects the cider's fermentation process
  •  
  • Cider Quality Control Techniques
    •    Techniques like racking, filtration, and the use of centrifuges are explored to manage fermentation and ensure quality.
  •  
  • Packaging and Bottling Considerations
    •    The choice of bottles, pressure management during second fermentation, and how these factors impact the safety and quality of the final cider product are discussed

Cider Chat Episode 413 Ancestral Method Cider Tasted

  • Cider Tasting and Consumer Preferences
    • The session included a cider tasting, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer preferences and the impact of specific cider-making techniques on the flavor and appeal of the cider.
      • 2022 Cidre AOP Pays d'Auge Cuvée Réserve | Manoir de Grandouet (Normandy)
      •  
      • 2023 AW Cider Pet Nat | RAW Cider Company (Oregon)
      •  
      • 2020 Disco Nat, Metal House Cider (New York)
      •  
      • Jonathan & Liberty | Raging Cider & Mead Company (California)

Enjoy this detailed exploration highlights both the science and the art behind cider making, from orchard management to bottling and consumer satisfaction.

Contact info for Ancestral Methods Panel

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: 501

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
119: Stinky Cider Troubleshooting | Scott Laboratories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:16
Find this episode and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. Prevention & Correction of Sulfur-Off Odors in Cider Production was presented by Rebecca deKramer, cider specialist at Scott Laboratories at Cider…
118: Cider Dinner w/Gitche Gumee Ciderworks | MI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:53
The main chat with Gitche Gumee begins at 12:00 minutes. Please Help Support Cider Chat Please donate today. Help keep the chat thriving! _________________________________ Cider pairs well with food, especially Ethiopian…
117: Distillery Lane Ciderworks | Maryland [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:22
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. ______________________________ In 2000 Rob Miller and his family…
116: New American & Heritage Ciders | Newtopia Cyder, San Diego [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:46
Find this episode with complete show notes & photos and all episodes at the page for Cider Chat's podcasts. _____________ Rick Moreno opened the doors of Newtopia Cyder in San Diego County California in January 2017. He…
115: Baltimore Speaks Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:21
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. Listen also at iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher (for Android), iHear…
114: Lee Reeve | World Cider Experience, Japan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:37
Lee Reeve arrived in Japan in 2003 as an artist from the United Kingdom Today in Yokohama, he is still crafting his magician skills, but his love of cider has led him into Japan's growing cider market. We chat on the cur…
113: Jake Mann | Five Mile Orchard, CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:02
Jake Mann's family legacy goes back to the early days of the Apple growing in the California. His parent's ranch Five Mile Orchard is a locally known historical location, where his great, great grandfather Sam L. Mann se…
112: Maryland's Got Pommes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:48
Yes, Maryland's Got Pommes and there is going to be some big time cider fun at CiderCon2018 in Baltimore! January 31- February 2, 2018. But first a reminder on: The $900 Price Drop for the Totally Cider Tour to the UK in…
111: Cidernomics "Breaking Bad or Breaking Even" w/Eleanor Leger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:06
Budgeting money effectively is critical whether you are managing a household or a commercial business such as a cidery. In this episode of Cider Chat I speak with Eleanor Leger of Eden Specialty Cider based Vermont now i…
110: Eric & Katie | Rider Ranch Ciderworks, CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:08
A $900 Price Drop for the Totally Cider Tour to the UK in April 25 - May 2, 2018. Join Ria and other awesome cider friends on this tour of a life time. Go to https://form.jotform.com/73186243884970 and register now! ----…