489: Natural Cider Production Seminar | CiderCon 2025

489: Natural Cider Production Seminar | CiderCon 2025

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist February 4, 2026 Duration: 1:10:53

Natural cider is often misunderstood as funky, volatile, or flawed.
Recorded live at CiderCon 2025, this seminar reframes natural cider as a philosophy of low intervention, balance, and intentional care, not a free pass for faults.

Moderator Haritz is joined by Richard of Brooklyn Cider House and Jasper Smith of Son of Man (Oregon) to explore how Basque cider traditions influence modern natural cider production in the U.S. The panel dives into fermentation choices, malolactic fermentation, volatile acidity, sensory evaluation, and why great natural cider is defined by quality, not dogma.

This conversation also examines how natural cider is judged in Spain, what tasting panels consider true faults, and why these ciders are designed first and foremost to be enjoyed with food.

Ciders featured:
Zapiain (Basque Country), Son of Man (Oregon), and Solstice (Brooklyn Cider House)

Episode 489 Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Basque Cider

00:25 Meet the Host: Ria Windcaller

00:42 The Magic of Sidra Natural

01:41 Exploring Natural Cider Production

02:32 Cider FOMO and CiderCon

03:34 Cider Chat Milestones and YouTube Channel

05:21 Thanking the Cider Chat Patrons

08:44 Featured Presentation: Natural Cider Panel

09:23 Defining Natural Cider

11:32 Production Techniques and Philosophies

27:05 Harvest Strategies and Apple Varieties

36:21 Exploring the Price Range of Ciders

37:01 The Science Behind Well-Integrated Volatile Acidity

38:31 The Role of Malolactic Fermentation in Cider

39:55 Tasting Panels and Quality Control in Basque Cider

42:44 Cider Pairing with Food: A Gastronomic Experience

44:31 The Cultural Significance of Cider in Spain

51:31 The Importance of Apple Varieties in Cider Making

55:43 Challenges and Rewards of Natural Cider Production

01:01:48 Final Thoughts and Future of Cider

01:06:55 Conclusion and Farewell

Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com
Episode 489: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/489-natural-cider-production/

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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: 50

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