498: Heeman's Cellar | Somewhere Cider from Ontario

498: Heeman's Cellar | Somewhere Cider from Ontario

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist April 8, 2026 Duration: 1:12:05

In this episode of Cider Chat, we visit Heeman Cellars in Ontario, where a multi-generational strawberry farm expanded into cider and mead production focused on heritage apples, terroir, and experimentation. We taste blends, single varietals, and rare apples including Wayne, Swayzie – Pomme Grise, Yarlington Mill, and crab apples while discussing Ontario cider history, barrel aging, Pet Nat cider, and what it means to make cider that comes from somewhere.

00:00 Somewhere Cider Idea

02:17 Episode Setup Tom Heeman

03:44 Cider Travel Updates

06:16 Road To Episode 500

10:19 Heeman Farm Origins

11:18 Orchard Plans Partnerships

12:04 London Ontario Location

14:13 Apples Bees Cider Bug

15:28 Cider Mead Beginnings

17:18 Launching During Covid

19:58 Style Shift Toward Dry

23:26 Ontario Terroir Apples

25:48 Family Buy In

27:51 Tasting Flight Begins

30:10 Magic Apple Story

34:52 New Traditions Pet Nat

36:14 Somerset Blend Deep Dive

37:55 Ontario Blend Origins

38:23 Aging Takes Time

39:04 Yarlington Mill Pour

40:28 Terroir and Acid Balance

41:51 Somewhere Cider Philosophy

42:12 Happy Space Mission

45:16 Wayne Apple Discovery

47:13 Old World Notes Explained

51:32 Swayze Pomme Grise

55:15 Ontario Apple Golden Age

58:59 Sweet Crab Apple Shock

01:04:21 Clamping and Carbonic Trials

01:08:27 Wrap Up and Credits

Find the full show notes for Episode 498 at CiderChat.com

Direct Link at:https://ciderchat.com/podcast/498-heeman-cellars/ 

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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: 501

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