Northwest Cider Association (NWCA), dedicated to connecting cider fans and the Northwest ciders they love, got one employee stronger this month, with the official hire of Jana Daisy-Ensign. 

Bringing a new full-time employee on board marks a notable growth milestone for the Association and speaks to NWCA’s unwavering commitment to serve the industry and grow the cider sector in the Pacific Northwest. As a Program Manager, Daisy-Ensign joins employees: Executive Director, Emily Ritchie and Program & Membership Coordinator, MJ Harris along with core contractors: Strategic Communications Director, Michelle Markesteyn, PhD and Program Manager, Emily Becker.

Daisy-Ensign was contracted to be part of NWCA’s small, but mighty all-woman team beginning fall 2019, with a plan to orchestrate in-person trade and consumer-facing events across the region. When pandemic forced a pivot, Daisy-Ensign hosted virtual meet the maker events and the team got busy launching the nation’s premier cider subscription service, NW Cider Club, delivering curated cider to 39 states. Prior, Daisy-Ensign was actively involved with the Association, serving on the Oregon Cider Week Planning Committee, judging at Portland International Cider Cup and helping organize Cider Rite of Spring (2017). 

Daisy-Ensign brings valuable insider perspective, versatility and connections to the role, having logged nearly two decades in craft beverage. She has experience working in distribution, consulting, sales, events, marketing and category writing, holds a Masters Degree in Communications, helped found Pomme Boots Society – for women in cider (2015) and earned Certified Pommelier™ status in 2020, as one of a small number of American Cider Association’s highest ranking cider experts.

Media contact: Emily Ritchie, Executive Director emily@nwcider.com

Portland International Cider Cup 2021 Winners Announced

Northwest cidermakers have been hard at work turning apple juice into liquid gold!

PORTLAND, Ore. – Nov 19, 2021

The Northwest Cider Association (NWCA) proudly announced the 2021 winners of their annual Portland International Cider Cup (PICC) competition last night at a sold-out awards party at Swift Cider in NE Portland. NWCA unveiled 45 medal winning ciders across an array of categories, ranging from Modern Dry to Traditional Perries. 

Prize for Best in Show!

“We’re judging one of the most prestigious apple growing regions, and a place that puts a high value on craft culture. These awards are big,” says Emily Ritchie, Executive Director of Northwest Cider Association. NWCA is a non-profit supporting cidermakers in four Northwest states and British Columbia – an area recognized as one of the most innovative cider regions in the nation. The Northwest is home to 150 orchard-based, small, independent, and mid-sized makers, and the 8th annual Portland International Cider Cup is the region’s premier judged competition. “Makers rely on this event for critical peer review, not to mention bar, restaurant and retail buyers who use these results for curating their cider selections.”

The Big Winners Are…

Best In Show – “Bittersweet Cider” from Sea Cider Farm and Cidery (Victoria, BC): They’ve taken home this award for the second time (first in 2018) for this cider

Runner Up – “11th Anniversary Heirloom Cider” from 2 Towns Cider (OR) 

Small Cidery of the Year – Puget Sound Cider (WA) 

Medium Cidery of the Year – Bauman’s Cider Co (OR) 

Large Cidery of the Year – 2 Towns Ciderhouse (OR) 

Some Noteworthy Medal Winners…

New Cideries

Gold: Peak Light Cider (OR) for “Orchard Reserve Quince” 

Silver: Yonder Cider (WA) for “Yonder Bar Anniversary Blend” 

Established Cideries

Gold: Finnriver Farm & Cidery (WA) for “Traditional Perry” 

Silver: Seattle Cider (WA) for both “City Fruit” and “Pumpkin Spice” ciders

Gold: Fraser Valley Cider Company (British Columbia) for “Scrumpy” 

Silver: Western Cider (MT) for “Farmhouse” 

For a full listing of winners, keep scrolling down.

Ciders are judged by trained industry experts looking for both flaws and determined style qualities. The competition is strict and not all categories take medals if the quality is not there.

“After a hiatus last year, it felt like the right call to bring back this critical competition,” Ritchie states. “Partnering with Swift Cider to hold the awards in their industrial cider space gave us an opportunity to safely gather people in a celebratory place. It was a fantastic night that shows the resiliency of this community and this growing category!”

With the pandemic in full swing over the last year and a half, cideries faced serious production and sales challenges, the NWCA dug deep to find innovative opportunities to support the Association’s nearly 100 cidery members in their three pronged mission – maintaining sales, increasing cider quality and fostering community. The main campaign has become the nation’s premier cider subscription, the NW Cider Club. The quarterly subscription features curated boxes of themed cider experiences delivered to the door. The coming Spring box will be themed “Best Of” and will feature winning ciders from the 2021 PICC awards.

Sea Cider’s youngest owner, Thomas, came from Victoria to claim the cup!

Here is the full list of medal winners:

Executive Director of NWCA, Emily Ritchie

The Northwest Cider Association invites British Columbians to explore BC cider by visiting cideries and picking up BC cider at local retailers during BC Cider Week 2021, being held this month from Thursday, May 20th to Sunday, May 30th.

Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse is one of many craft cideries in BC gearing up for BC Cider
Week. “It’s not the BC Cider Week that we are accustomed to but we look forward to
celebrating and bringing attention to our craft each year.” Says Kristen Needham, Sea
Cider’s Founder and General Manager. “We believe that cider is for celebrating and that
cider is worth celebrating.”

Cideries across the province are coming together to provide safe and creative ways for
consumers to appreciate BC cider. From exciting seasonal releases to cider infused food
pop-ups and more, cider lovers can stay up to date on what’s happening here.
Working in cooperation with the Northwest Cider Association to celebrate BC cider is the
BC Farm Crafted Cider Association. “This past year has brought on plenty of challenges for
cideries throughout our province and we are lucky to have many local supporters,” says
Melissa Dobernigg, a Board member of the BC Farm Crafted Cider Association.
“BC Cider Week celebrates both those who make cider and those who enjoy cider,” says
Kristen. British Columbians can support their local cideries during BC Cider week by
purchasing cider, either directly from any of the nearly four dozen cideries in the province,
or by purchasing cider through BC liquor stores and restaurants.

About BC Cider Week
Founded in 2015 by the Northwest Cider Association, BC Cider Week brings attention to the
dozens of cider producers across the province. BC Cider Week, happening May 20-30th,
2021, was re-imagined so cider lovers still celebrate BC cider. www.bcciderweek.org

Whiskey Barrel Heirloom Bottle Release with Press Then Press
Online-only Exclusive Release From Now Through Washington Cider Week

Greenwood Cider and Seattle-based online retailer Press Then Press have partnered for their
first ever online-only exclusive release, Whiskey Barrel Heirloom. 500ml bottles of Whiskey
Barrel Heirloom will be available at pressthenpress.com from now through Washington Cider
Week (9/10 – 9/20). With a virtual Seattle Cider Summit and limited Cider Week events, the two
companies seek to bring something new to isolated at-home celebrations taking place in
Washington and across the country this year.

North Seattle’s Greenwood Cider has offered barrel-aged and heirloom releases, but never one
and the same. Whiskey Barrel Heirloom is a blend of heirloom and cider apples, bittersweet and
bittersharps, aged for six months in Westland whiskey barrels. More than 13 varieties were
used, including Foxwhelp, Muscat de Dieppe, and Reine des Pommes. This is their third barrel-
aged release and first Heirloom Series release of 2020.

Seattle-based Press Then Press is an online retailer of rare, independent and craft ciders. Born
from an evening of drinking fine ciders around a firepit, they became determined to get craft
ciders in the hands of more people so they too can experience the best the Pacific Northwest
has to offer. They now ship to 49 states (Utah excluded).

From the usually boisterous Seattle Cider Summit to the extensive events that occur during
Washington Cider Week, this year is bound to feel a little different. Greenwood Cider and Press
Then Press hope to fill the void of this less-than-ideal year, break out of the mold and offer
something new for cider fans across the country.

Wenatchee-based cidery launches Seattle tasting room, online sales and new craft ciders

SEATTLE (August 17, 2020) – Yonder Cider is excited to announce the launch of its new line of
craft ciders, blending modern apples with traditional apples to create ciders as balanced, bright
and complex as the land they come from. Picked and pressed in Wenatchee, Washington – the
heart of Apple Country – Yonder’s unique approach creates ciders that are more full-flavored
and complex than traditional modern ciders, while still remaining affordable and wrapped in
packaging that’s perfect for any occasion. Available in 16-ounce cans ($11.99 four-pack) and
draft, Yonder marks the August 22 launch of its ciders with distribution throughout Washington,
online shipping, a Seattle retail shop and more.

“I’ve always been captivated by the beauty of the Wenatchee Valley and the apples it produces,
along with their unlimited potential for amazing cider,” said Caitlin Braam, founder of Yonder
Cider. “It’s why there was question where we would be producing ours. The depth of flavors and
character coming from the region’s apples are what help set our ciders apart, and we’re excited
to share what Wenatchee has to offer with the rest of Washington and beyond.”
Crafted using a blend of bittersweet cider apples and juicy culinary apples, Yonder creates ciders
that are hardly simple and you can always count on being interesting. With a foundation of
flavorful Fuji and Honeycrisp apples, a variety of cider apples – containing added tannins, acid
and body – are blended in to create a beautifully bright and complex cider. Products available
for launch include:

Dry (6.5% ABV) – Bright, light and refreshing. This easy drinking cider is a blend of traditional
and modern cider apple varieties with bright notes of citrus. Hints of orange and lime dance
with flavors of tropical fruit, making this a very refreshing but hard to define cider. Apples: Fuji,
Honeycrisp, Roxbury Russet, Ashmead’s Kernel, Porter’s Perfection, Wickson Crab
Semi Sweet (6.5% ABV) – Juicy, crisp and beautifully balanced. Bold tones of peaches and
strawberries compete with the nuance of spice, bringing the best out of our red fleshed and
traditional cider apples. This stunning and complex blend will keep you coming back to pinpoint
just what makes it so delicious. Apples: Fuji, Honeycrisp, Golden Russet, Dabinett, Various Red
Fleshed Apples

Palisades (6.5% ABV) – The perfect mix of tangy and tart. A blend of juicy culinary and old-world
apple complexity meets bright and mouthwatering Pacific Northwest blackberries, all of which is
supported by an herbal hint of sage. Inspired by a favorite cocktail at Seattle’s Oliver’s Twist.
Apples: Fuji, Honeycrisp, Roxbury Russet, Dabinett, Various Red Fleshed Apples

Yonder Cider will also feature a selection of single varietal ciders available only on draft,
including Roxbury Russet, Red Fleshed and more.

Available from Bellingham to Olympia through NW Beverages and Sound Beverages beginning
August 22, Yonder Cider will also be available throughout the greater Wenatchee/Leavenworth
area via self-distribution with plans for expansion to the rest of the state in the coming months.
From those not in Washington state, Yonder Cider is also now available online for shipping to 40
states.

For those in Seattle, Saturday, August 22 will also mark the official opening of ‘Yonder Bar,’ the
to-go only retail shop for Yonder Cider. Located in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood on 1 st Ave
NW between 78 th Street and 79 th Street (one of Seattle’s now pedestrian-only Stay Healthy
streets), Yonder Bar will offer four-packs and growlers to-go, along with merchandise, special
releases and more. A portion of the proceeds from Yonder Bar will be donated to the Phinney
Neighborhood Association.

“When we dreamed up Yonder, we also dreamed up the perfect tasting room – then COVID hit,”
added Braam. “We quickly pivoted, turned our garage into a little to-go spot, and now we
couldn’t be more excited about Yonder Bar. We love adding something fun to the
neighborhood, while bringing a little piece of Wenatchee to the heart of Seattle.”
Founded by Caitlin Braam (President), Tim Larsen (Head Cidermaker) and Maddy Porter
(Creative Director), Yonder Cider was born out of a true love for cider, both modern and
traditional. With more than a decade of experience in each of their respective fields, the team at
Yonder has spent the last nine months crafting the Yonder brand. Putting branding right
alongside cidermaking in importance, Yonder Cider offers ciders as beautiful as the packaging it
comes in, and through creative marketing, hopes to introduce an entirely new audience to the
world of cider.

For more information and updates, follow Yonder Cider on Instagram and Facebook, or visit the
website at yondercider.com. To buy online, visit yondercider.com/buy-cider.
Media interviews, samples and photos available upon request. Please contact Caitlin Braam at
caitlin@yondercider.com. Establishments interested in carrying Yonder Cider products are
encouraged to send inquires to hello@yondercider.com.

About Yonder Cider
“I’ll be over yonder.” Yonder Cider was started to bring full-flavored, delicious cider to every
occasion. Whether it’s a hammock, a hike, or your favorite hole-in-the-wall, Yonder is a place
where you’re welcome and every possibility is just within reach. Picked and pressed in
Wenatchee, Washington – the heart of Apple Country – we create cider that's as balanced,
bright and complex as the land itself. Crafted using a blend of bittersweet cider apples and juicy
dessert apples, our ciders are hardly simple, and never straightforward – but you can always
count on them being interesting. Launching August 2020, Yonder Cider will be available in 16-
ounce cans and on draft throughout Seattle at your local grocery store, bottle shop or bar, and
online at yondercider.com. For more information, follow Yonder Cider on Instagram and
Facebook (@yondercider).

The COVID-19 pandemic crashed upon the world with destruction in its wake, impacting nearly everyone. Yet where destruction brings pain and toil, life continues its march with new strength, resilience, and creativity. 

“Our business dropped by over 90% overnight,” states Tim Larsen, cidermaker at Snowdrift Cider Co., regarding the limitations placed on businesses in Washington State. “We kept our employees working as long as we possibly could, but did have to furlough our entire staff … it was a heart-wrenching decision to make.” 

But pain has a way of focusing attention, and Tim and the owners, like so many, have poured time and energy into taking a hard look at what they have to work with, uncovering new strategies to move forward—and finding opportunities to help those also struggling. 

…Like the restaurant industry, which was devastated, had to furlough thousands of employees, and quickly scramble to offer delivery and takeout services. 

Resilience, Resistance, Strength 

For some, the pivot has turned into a positive. Zeeks Pizza is a partner restaurant in the Hero Meals program, which delivers fresh meals to front-line workers, donated by supportive community members. That’s not the only plus. Tommy Brooks, Director of Business Development at Zeeks Pizza, reports another shift: thanks to his team’s creativity, their draft beer & cider sales have increased during this time, with growlers sold to-go, to many who previously would enjoy their evenings in bars. 

This move has been good for their business—and it also trickles down to the company’s suppliers, such as Larsen’s cider company. In a time when demand has dried up elsewhere, an opportunity has opened up for them to make a community-minded move and release cider that otherwise would not have sold during this time. So Snowdrift Cider Co. is opening up their 2019 reserves—at cost—to give restaurants an authentic, affordable cider that delivers a special experience from their cider orchard. 

“The goal is to have something exciting out, to draw people out to support restaurants (even if it’s takeout), so they can get more employees working again,” says Larsen. As they stand in support of restaurants, they’ve named this cider Solidarity. “We don’t have a whole lot to offer at this point, but we do have cider – and we’re sharing that!” 

# # # 

For more information, or to schedule an interview with Snowdrift Cider Co., please contact Tim Larsen at (509) 885-2734, tim@snowdriftcider.com.