Collaboration Meets Ingenuity at Heartland Ciderworks
This episode is packed with insights for anyone interested in the intersection of entrepreneurship and craft cider-making. In Episode 427 of Cider Chat, Eliseo Bell-Uribe shares his story as a young entrepreneur and how and why he founded Heartland Ciderworks.
Practical Advice for Cider Startups: Learning to Collaborate
Starting a cidery from scratch is no easy task. The Eliseo shares practical advice on how to navigate the hurdles of zoning issues, sourcing equipment, and finding the right partnerships. By collaborating with a local winery, Heartland was able to sidestep some of the common challenges faced by new cideries, such as acquiring expensive equipment and navigating complex regulations.
For budding cider makers, this episode offers a blueprint for how to creatively solve problems and make the most of available resources. Whether it's building your own bottling setup or finding a winery willing to do custom crush, the key takeaway is to stay flexible and open to collaboration.
A Closer Look at Heartland's Ciders
Heartland Ciderworks may be a young company, but their lineup of ciders is anything but ordinary. Here's a quick look at the ciders discussed in the episode:
Avalon
Description: Heartland's flagship cider that combines Foxwhelp, Golden Russet, Yarlington Mill, and Dabinett apples.
ABV: 7.7%
Notes: Features a beautiful orange hue with a balance of tannins and acidity.
Little Apple
Description: A low-alcohol cider kin made with rehydrated pomace and back-sweetened with Golden Russet and Foxwhelp.
ABV: 3.65%
Notes: Easy-drinking with a light and refreshing profile.
Cooper
Description: A bourbon barrel-aged cider made primarily from Sweet Alford apples.
ABV: 6.4%
Notes: Rich with subtle bourbon notes, this cider is a limited-edition favorite, but more Cooper is in the cue!
Heart of the Valley
Description: A community-foraged cider made with apples gathered from the Salem area, benefiting the local Boys and Girls Club.
ABV: 5.75%
Notes: A modern cider with a sweeter profile and a beautiful can design.
Olive Branch
Description: A Newtown Pippin cider aged on olive leaves, offering a unique bitterness similar to hops.
Notes: A one-of-a-kind cider with complex aromas and a distinctive flavor profile.
Rosé Cider (Upcoming Release)
Description: A co-ferment of red-fleshed apples with Pinot Noir grape skins, lightly oaked for added tannin.
Enjoying the stories brought to you by Cider Chat? Help keep these stories rolling out by supporting the podcast by becoming a patron. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air, allowing us to continue bringing you inspiring stories like this one.
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.
From Suffolk to Virginia: Stephen Schuurman's Cider Journey In Episode 428 of Cider Chat, we meet Stephen Schuurman, owner and cider maker at Winchester Ciderworks in Winchester, Virginia. Originally from Suffolk, Englan…
Discover Red Island Cider on Prince Edward Island Guest podcaster Al Saxs interviews Red Island Cider owner and maker Robert van Waarden in this episode 426 of Cider Chat. Red Island Cider is located on Canada's reknown…
The Showering name is synonymous with both innovation and tradition in the world of cider for the past 187 years. In this Episode 425 of Cider Chat, Nick Showering shares a bit on his family's cider-making roots that str…
Apple Phenotyping: The Tools Every Orchardist Needs In Episode 424 of Cider Chat, we dive deeper into the intricate world of apple identification, this time focusing on apple phenotyping — the art and science of describi…
In Episode 423 of Cider Chat, we delve into the fascinating world of apple identification a.k.a. Apple Id with the one and only John Bunker, a renowned author and the c0-founder of FEDCO Trees, Maine Organic Farmers and…
New York Apple Camp Keynote Address by John Bunker In a captivating keynote from the 2023 New York Apple Camp, John Bunker, the founder of FEDCO Trees and renowned author on apple identification, shared his profound conn…
Eli Shanks' of Punta de Fierro Fine Cider In this episode meet Eli Shanks, a passionate cider maker sharing his journey from urban Massachusetts to the picturesque landscapes of Chile, where he co-founded Punta de Fierro…
Basque Cheesecake and Santa Cruz Cider Cider Chat Live brings you a tasting of a celebratory cider from Santa Cruz Cider Company paires with a what is called Basque Cheesecake! Basque Cheesecake is much less dense than c…
Wooden Gate: From Farm to Cidery with Clint Caver Clint Cavers and his wife Pamela have been farming for over 30 years at Wooden Gate The Farm and cidery is based in Pilot Mound, Manitoba, Canada which is right over the…
Paving a Path for Cider Branding at Cultivar Meet Kirk Evans, the founder of Cultivar Creative. In this episode, Kirk shares his journey from a casual cider maker to a professional brand designer specializing in cider pa…
