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/ 

Listen to 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.

💛 Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP - by 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
169: History of Alcohol Law | Marc Sorini [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:29
A History of Alcohol Law as presented by Marc Sorini at CiderCon2019, Chicago Attorney Marc Sorini is a Partner at McDermott Will & Emery LLP based in Washington. DC. Marc is considered the go-to attorney on the alcohol…
168: Barrel Aging Cider Inspiration [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:16
Using Oak Barrels in Cidermaking - What do you want to know? Ryan Monkman of FieldBird Cider based in Prince Edward County, Ontario Canada presented an extended seminar on Oak Barrels at CiderCon 2019 in Chicago. [captio…
167: Cider Vortex Tales | Chicago2019 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:09
167: Cider Vortex Tales | Chicago2019 This episodes highlights recordings made during Chicago Cider Week February 1-9, 2019. SHERYL YOUNGBLOOD w/ Terrell Carter CiderCon, the annual Trade Conference for members of the Un…
166: Cider Chat Live | Lift off CiderCon2019 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:12
166 Cider Chat Live | Life off CiderCon2019 I was able to squeak in a mini episode before setting off to Chicago for the annual cider trade conference "CiderCon" hosted by the United States Association of Cider Makers. I…
165: Monterey Bay Cider Tour | California [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:46
Monterey Bay, California cider tour April 12th & 13th, 2019 Reservations are open! Must be 21 years or older to attend. Tour Begins: 1pm Friday | April 12, 2019 in Capitola, California Meet the makers and orchardists of…
164: Soquel Cider's Organic Orchards | California [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:00
Soquel Cider's Organic Orchards | California Soquel Cider is located at the Everett Family Farm in Soquel, California. Laura and Rich Everett were looking for away to get back to the land and enjoying a bit of farming, w…
163: Pro Tips for Navigating CiderCon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:27
Pro Tips for Navigating CiderCon 2019 Ambrosia Borowski is the General Manager of The Northman a cider bar in Chicago. She also spearheaded Chicago Cider Week. In this chat, Ambrosia chats: Tips for making a Calvados Coc…
162: S. Martinelli & Co. | 150 Years of Cider [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:41
S. Martinelli & Company was founded by Stephen Martinelli in 1868. The company is located, as it has always been, for the last 150 years in Watsonville, California. The first cider made by Stephen was a 7.5% alcohol by v…
161: Best of Show | Cider Judging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:16
Best of Show | Cider Judging at Franklin County CiderDays 2018 is featured in this episode 161. Franklin County CiderDays takes place on the first weekend of November in "Franklin County" Massachusetts. This year 2019 wi…
160: The Way of the Amateur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:04
The Way of the Amateur How do you pronounce Amateur? Did you know there is more than one way to approach this word? Do you use "amateur" as a compliment or an insult? If you are swinging back and forth on your answers to…