494: Humboldt Cider and the Historic Orchard of Albert Etter

494: Humboldt Cider and the Historic Orchard of Albert Etter

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist March 11, 2026 Duration: 1:00:53

In this episode of Cider Chat, we hear from Tom Hart of Humboldt Cider Company, located in Eureka, California along the rugged Pacific coastline behind what locals call the Redwood Curtain. We also discusses preserving the original Albert Etter orchard in Humboldt County and continuing the legacy of these historic cider apples.

00:00 Welcome to Cider Chat

00:38 Wickson Crab and Albert Etter

03:06 News Cider Salons Ahead

05:08 Hungary Salon and Champagne Cellars

09:08 Blossom Time and UK Tour

10:59 Support and Show Notes

12:04 Meet Tom Hart

12:30 Humboldt Cider Origin Story

14:36 Taproom and Local Crowd

16:17 Emerald Triangle Economy Shift

22:08 Apples Supply and Production

25:02 Brand Name and Partnership

26:35 Growth Plans and Cider Board Work

30:44 Juice Tankers and Redwood Roads

33:12 Humboldt Outdoors and Fishing

34:47 Where to Stay in Humboldt

35:02 Farmers Market in Arcata

35:59 Cider Batch Sizes and Varietals

37:02 Meet Albert Etter and Ettersburg

38:44 Etter Apple Legacy Varieties

42:12 Stewarding the Historic Orchard

44:47 Orchard Layout and Perry Pear

46:48 Rare Trees and Homestead Grafting

48:32 DNA Testing and Replanting Plan

58:08 Wildlife Challenges and Wrap-Up

59:54 Show Notes and Support the Podcast

Find the full show notes for this episode at CiderChat.com
Episode 494: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/494-humboldt-cider-albert-etter/

Listen to Episode 494 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: 100

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
489: Natural Cider Production Seminar | CiderCon 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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…
488: Vintage Cider Label Lawsuit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:10
A pending lawsuit spearheaded by Ron Extract of Garden Path Fermentation could change how cider makers label harvest year and "vintage" on cider over 7% ABV. Ron explains why the current TTB rules block truthful harvest-…
487: Further Tales of Chocolate Pears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:00
In This Episode, We Cover Why Sorbus domestica is often nicknamed "the chocolate pear" (and why that name actually helps people get it) What bletting means, and why sorbs can be delicious before they turn fully brown (de…
485: Cider as a Catalyst for Chile's Edible Forest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:14
Carlos Flores is an architect, landscape designer, and co-founder of Punta de Fierro Fine Cider. At the 2025 CiderCon in Chicago he presented Carlos presented "Developing An Experimental Edible Forest in a Heritage Apple…
484: Rethinking American Cider History with Patrick McCauley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:59
Meet Patrick McCauley, a Michigan-based cider maker and researcher, who is questioning some of the most common myths about American cider history. What Patrick uncovers is a far more regional, farm-based, and resilient c…
483: The Talking Pomme's Grand Winter Party [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:23
Enjoy this annual winter tale from Cider Chat Central! In this special holiday episode, Cider Chat invites you to step into the enchanting world of the Talking Pommes. The Talking Pommes Grand Winter Party is more than j…
482: FLX Cider & Cheese Pairing with Cheesemonger Rachel Freier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
At the New York Cider Fest in November, there were 2 Cider and Cheese sessions. Cider Chat Emcee Ria Windcaller attended one featuring ciders from 4 different makers. This cider and cheese pairing was led by Rachel Freie…
481: Totally Cider Tour: A Merry Visit to Tom Oliver's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:34
Tom Oliver is delightfully talented, mischievously witty, and not only a renowned cider maker but also a top-notch perry maker. He may say, "If you're going to make perry and work with pears, you've already identified yo…
480: Holiday Cider Gift Guide 2025 and Playing with Pommeau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:36
00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:32 French Pronunciation Fun 02:27 Holiday Gift Ideas for 2025 02:59 Cider Chat News and Updates 04:42 Listener Stories and Experiences 07:49 Upcoming UK Cider Tour 2026 12:47 Fe…