490: Let Cider Lead

490: Let Cider Lead

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist February 11, 2026 Duration: 22:32

An editorial on leadership, scarcity, and why cider no longer needs to borrow authority from beer or wine.

In Let Cider Lead, host Ria Windcaller steps back from interviews to offer a clear-eyed reflection on the state of the cider industry, drawing on more than three decades in cider and nearly eleven years documenting the modern cider movement through Cider Chat.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview
01:02 Upcoming Cider Events
03:10 Totally Cider Tours
06:37 Cider Chat Schedule Update
08:00 Reflections on Cider Industry Leadership
10:53 Cider Industry Norms and Challenges
18:44 Call to Action: Let Cider Lead
19:50 Conclusion and Sign Off
20:25 Outro Song: Strange Apples
 

Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com
Episode 490: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/490-let-cider-lead/

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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.
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