439: The Night Before the Holiday Pressing

439: The Night Before the Holiday Pressing

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist December 24, 2024 Duration: 21:20

The magic of Ciderville awaits you.

In this special holiday episode, Cider Chat invites you to step into the enchanting world of the Talking Pommes. The Night Before the Holiday Pressing is more than just a story—it's a celebration of all things pome, community, tradition, and the joy that comes with every glass of cider.

cider Chat episode 439 Holiday pressing

The cider house hums with anticipation as Ria, Perry Pear, Mr. Quince, and the Medlars prepare the night before their annual pressing. But as every year before there is always magic in the air for Ciderville. With the Talking Pommes truly anything can happen and so it does!

With snow blanketed orchards, and just the right amount of "Believe" a sleigh pulled by apples glides through the starry sky.

Raise a glass and join us on this festive adventure—because in Ciderville, the magic is always just a sip away.

Meet the Stars of the Cider House

This holiday episode of Cider Chat brings together some of Ciderville's most delightful characters:

  • Apple: The vibrant leader with a twinkle in their eye.
  • The Medlars: Sweet, quirky, and always ready with a witty remark.
  • Mr. Quince: The wise and slightly stern elder who keeps everyone on track.
  • Perry Pear: Full of charm and flair, a natural performer.
  • A Wide Assortment of Pommes: From Dabinett to Kingston Black, they bring their unique personalities to the mix.

The Gift of Holiday Cider Magic

This story is for anyone who cherishes the magic of the season. As Apple says, "Every glass of cider holds a story, and this one's for you."

From Cider Chat to all of Ciderville, we hope this episode brings joy to your holiday season. Raise a glass, gather 'round, and join the Talking Pommes and Ria in Ciderville!

Mentions in this Cider Chat

  • CiderCon2025 Promo Code –  Once you get to the registration form, towards the end of the first page you'll reach a section in the form that says "additional registration information" and there is a question: If you have a coupon, please enter code here (case-sensitive): CiderChat
  • Totally Cider Tour to the UK - send an email to info@ciderchat.com to get on the wait list for this 2025 tour taking place August 25-31, 2025

 


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
267: Fermenting with Quince | A Panel Discussion w/Makers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:09
Fermenting with Quince Was Aphrodite's Forbidden Fruit a quince or the apple? She's not talking, but cidermakers are in this panel discussion on "Fermenting with Quince" that was recorded for CiderCon2021. Quince a.k.a.…
266: Vermont Quince Co. Elevates a Forgotten Pomme [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:20
Vermont Quince Hosts the New England Quince Taste Test of 2020 Perhaps before you listen to this episode 266 you might like to go to episode 248 to hear the initial blind tasting to compare the notes with this episode. T…
265: Calvados with Étienne Dupont | Normandy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:10
Tasting Calvados with Étienne Dupont Étienne Dupont took over the Domaine Familial Etienne Dupont in the Pays d'Auge region of Normandy France from his father Louis and grandfather Jules in 1980. Episode 098: Jérôme Dupo…
264: Grandma's Perfect Apple Orchard | John Bunker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:03
Grandma's Apple Orchard John Bunker, of Maine, Presents: Grandma's Apple Orchard: the perfect orchard with only twelve trees. How did she do it? John is a Colby alumnus and was presented the 2019 Commissioner's Distingui…
263: Apple Identification and Genetics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:48
Science Based Resource for Apple Identification Up to this point we've all been reliant upon drawings and descriptions from historical books and "those in the know" to identify specific apple varieties. Today, as you wil…
262: Virtual Cidery | Building a Cidery Part 8 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:57
What is a Virtual Cidery? A virtual cider is a cidery managed out of someone's else's cidery, or winery and in some cases a brewery. This week's featured guest is Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider in Prince Edward County O…
261: Yonder & The Source | Building a Cidery, Part 7 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:00
What is Yonder? Yonder Cider is made at the production facility in Wenatchee, Washington. Cider are made with both culinary and classic cider varieties that co-owner Caitlin Braam, who is our featured guest in this episo…
260: Eris Brewery and Cider House | Building a Cidery Part 6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:51
What is Eris? Eris is the name of the goddess of chaos. Her splendor in creating chaos is exactly why co-owners Michelle Foik and Katie Pizza named their craft beer and cider bar Eris, but there is more. Katie's "elevato…
259: Artifact Cityscape | Building a Cidery - Part 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:46
Artifact Cider Project Soham Bahatt and Jake Mazar co-founded Artifact Cider Project in 2014. The cidery was originally located in the city of Springfield, Massachusetts, then moved out towards Boston and eventually back…
258: Ragged Hill Design| Building a Cidery Part 4 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:57
Ragged Hill Cidery since 2017 Steve Garwood is the Head Cidermaker at Ragged Hill Cidery. He and his daughter Anne Garwood Hampp who manages Sales and Marketing and orchardist Keith Arsenault form the Ragged Hill Cider C…