491: Revisiting Randall Grahm | Cider Exploration Without Hesitation

491: Revisiting Randall Grahm | Cider Exploration Without Hesitation

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist February 18, 2026 Duration: 53:35

An early conversation that explored possibilities cider was only beginning to consider.

As Cider Chat moves toward its 500th episode, we revisit conversations from the earliest seasons, taking a long view of the moments that quietly shaped where cider and this podcast would go.

This episode, originally recorded in Season One, features legendary winemaker Randall Grahm, founder of Bonny Doon Vineyard and a James Beard Award winner. At the time, inviting a winemaker onto a cider podcast felt like stepping outside the expected boundaries of the category. Looking back now, it marked a turning point.

Long before many of these topics became common discussion in cider, this conversation explores:

  • indigenous and wild yeast fermentation
  • the use of pied de cuve to build healthy native fermentations
  • beginning fermentations de novo each vintage
  • blending philosophy borrowed from wine
  • quince used as structure and aroma rather than juice
  • perry through a winemaker's lens
  • antique fruits like medlars
  • cider as an expression of curiosity and place
Randall Grahm Feature 188
Randall Grahm

Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com
Episode 491: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/491-randall-grahm-cider-history/

Listen to Episode 491 of Cider Chat® wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville.

Prefer to watch?
Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture.

💛 If you love what you're hearing, please consider supporting Cider Chat.
Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations 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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 501

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
247: Marijuana, Cider and the Law [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:49
Marijuana as of 2020 is now legal in 15 states in the United States. CBD products are popping up in can drinks nearly every where you look these days. Is it legal? Can cider now be fused with cider or at least CBD or per…
246: Becoming Pomona [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:54
Becoming Pomona was recorded at the 25th Franklin County CiderDays in November of 2019. The goal of this pomona panel discussion was to share personal stories on the inspirational effect of CiderDays on women in the cide…
245: Apples of New England [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:51
245: Apples of New England "Apples of New England" was presented by Russell Steven Powell Powell served as executive director of the New England Apple Association from 1998 to 2024 ( the NEAA closed it's doors on June 30…
244: Traveling the Cider Trail | Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:53
Franklin County CiderDays now has a "Cider Trail" with 16 stops covering western Massachusetts and the Berkshires! This is part 2 of the series on traveling the Cider Trail and we will look at 10 stops along the trail. E…
243: Cider Trail 2020 | CiderDays Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:34
Plan the Perfect Cider Road Trip! This is Part 1 of a two part series on the new Cider Trail for Franklin County CiderDays 2020. The following is a recommended loop to visit 5 venues on the map. You can go in either dire…
242: Selecting Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:41
Tips on "SelectIng Your Perfect Cider" With so many choices on the shelf, purchasing cider can begin to feel daunting! This episode will provide tips to help you make that choice when faced with a wide range of cider sty…
241: How to Bottle Cider at Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:26
How to Bottle Cider at Home is Part 6 and the final episode of the Cidermaker Series "Oh September" for 2020 Learn How to Make Cider at Home in Part 1 of this Cidermaking Series. Part 5 To Rack or Not To Rack is a must l…
240: To Rack or Not to Rack | Cidermaking Series Part 5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:44
This chat provides a a sip of something for everyone, from makers who want to improve their skills to consumers who enjoy knowing why a cider tastes a particular way. In this Cider Chat, we look at the next step after pr…
239: Scrub-a-Dub Valves & Vessels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:25
Cleaning considerations for 3 different cider operations - DYI, Farm Winery and Production with Stormalong Cider. (l-r) Ben Roberts-Sano, Bright McConnell, Shannon Edgar DIY - Home Cidermaking It is soak and scrub for th…
238: Cidermaking Chemistry | Pt 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
This is Part 3 featuring chemistry safety tips for cidermakers! Part 1 - How to Make Cider at home, provides a recipe for making a 1 gallon jug of cider Part 2 - Makers Tips for Growth and Cleanliness was the first part…