416:Cider Symphony w/Bach in a Bottle

416:Cider Symphony w/Bach in a Bottle

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist June 5, 2024 Duration: 47:26

Crank the Bach & Go Boating with Green Bench in Hand

Brian Wing of Green Bench Mead and Cider is a classical music fan. Green Bench is located in Saint Petersburg, Florida and Brian was recently on episode 398 which is a must listen. Usually, we wait a bit here at Cider Chat Central to have a guest back on, but when a delivery of cider arrived from Brian, with 4 select bottles, the opportunity arose once again have a chat.

A cider inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach's Partita Nr. 2

Single Varietals to Bach Chamber Blends

  • Black TwigAn Earthy Delight
    • Brian starts the conversation by discussing the Black Twig, a cider crafted from the 2022 crop. This cider showcases a unique blend of 80% Black Twig and 20% Chestnut Crab apples. Brian describes the Black Twig as having a peachy blush color with a flavor profile that includes low acidity, apple
Cider Chat Ep: 416 Black Twig - Bach in a Bottle
  • Redfield: The Rosé of Ciders
    • The Redfield, a single varietal cider made from 100% Redfield apples. Known for its vibrant red flesh, this cider offers a stunning color and a flavor profile dominated by cranberry and citrus aromas. Brian highlights the high acidity and minerality of this cider, making it a perfect rosé alternative for brunch or any occasion.
Cider Chat Ep: 416 Redfield Bach in a Bottle
  • Malus: A Flagship Cider
  • Brian introduces the Malus, a cider that he considers the flagship of Green Bench. This cider is a blend of 12-13 apple varieties, including Dabinett, Kingston Black, Chisel Jersey, Black Twig, Chestnut, and Hughes Crab. The result is a balanced and rounded cider with a complex flavor profile that pays homage to French ciders. With an alcohol by volume of just over 7%, the Malus is a versatile and drinkable cider.
Cider Chat 416 chef Brian and Ria - Malus and Bach
Celebrity Chef Brian Duffy loved the Malus – listen to this special ep: 401
  • Chaconne: A High Acid Symphony
    • The final cider discussed is the Chaconne, named after Johann Sebastian Bach's Partita No. 2. This high acid cider is a blend of Wickson, Yates, and Harrison apples. Brian describes the Chaconne as having intense pear and citrus aromas, a mouthwatering acidity, and a unique flavor profile that includes tropical fruit and a touch of black pepper. The label, featuring three robed skeletons playing violins, adds to the artistic and esoteric nature of this cider.

Listen to Johann Sebastian Bach's

Violinist Jascha Heifetz is featured via the link below

416 Bach by Jascha Heifetz 300x20
Album cover for Jascha Heifetz which features Bach Chaconne d-Moll aus der Partita Nr. 2

Contact for Green Bench Brewing, Mead & Cider

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
209: CiderCon2020 Insider Tips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:25
The 10th Annual American Cider Association trade conference CiderCon will be held in Oakland California, January 28th through to January 31, 2020. This episode provides an overview on the following topics: Oakland weathe…
208: Calvados and Apple Brandy Tasting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:15
The tables are set with 6 stemmed glasses per person, each holding a tasting of Calvados or American Apple Brandy. There are over 60 settings. It is a sold out night. At 6:30 pm, the house lights are lowered and it is re…
207: Redfield Cider Bar and Bottle Shop | Oakland, CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:27
Redfield Cider Bar and Bottle Shop is located in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland California. Owners Olivia Maki and Mike Reis opened the doors to patrons in January of 2019. Olivia Maki and Mike Reis of Redfield Ci…
206: Oakland's Crooked City Cider | CA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:24
Crooked City Cider Tap House is located in the Jack London Square area of Oakland California. A mere stone's throw away in the Square you can take the fast speed ferry to San Francisco and other nearby ferry hops, making…
205: City Cidermakers at Duckchicken | London [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:01
Duckchicken makers Colleen O'Sullivan and James Mann are based in South London. Colleen is a certified Arborist and works as a Tree Officer in London and James works in "Knowledge" at a law office in London. Duckchickens…
204: Steve Selin |South Hill Cider, NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:34
Every Tuesday, when Steve was growing up, his Dad would be out that evening drinking cider with friends at the Cider Cellar, at the farm outside of Buffalo. That memory is his first on cider. Years later this professiona…
203: The Business of Cider | FLX Cider House, NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:11
Good Life Farm was started in 2008. On this same spot of land overlooking Cayuga Lake after the barn was built, the Finger Lakes Cider House opened 6 years later in 2014. Both the farm and the Tasting Room and Cidery wer…
202: Walkabout at Redbyrd Orchard | NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:28
"Everything about cider started for me in this old orchard, up the road." Says Eric. That abandoned orchard which first inspired Eric isn't there anymore, but he recalls the wild seedling trees that were growing in the h…
201: Ian Merwin PhD | Black Diamond Cider, NY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:58
Where does a Cornell University Pomologist do upon retirement? They start a cidery, of course! Ian Merwin says, founding Black Diamond Cider, in Trumansburg, New York is his 4th career. He has lived in California, Chile,…
200 Cheers for #ciderGoingUP [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:50
#ciderGoingUP is a favored hashtag that I have been using since the first year of this podcast, so it was a natural title for this milestone episode number 200. Some podcasters pod fade (end their shows quietly and never…