Check out this article from Capital Press on Portland International Cider Cup’s winners, featuring Western Cider Company who won Best in Show. Congratulations to all the winners!
PRESS RELEASE: Liberty Ciderworks Scrumpy Cider Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 19th, 2017
Save an Apple, Feed a Neighbor, Pour Some Backyard Cider!
SPOKANE, Wash. –Liberty Ciderworks is releasing a special batch of cider to benefit Second Harvest. Called Spokane Scrumpy Cider, it’s made from apples rescued from backyards, roadsides, and abandoned orchards in the Spokane area. Last harvest season volunteers collected more than 6,000 pounds of fruit that otherwise would have gone to waste and delivered it to Second Harvest for use in the cider.
Scrumpy is a unique addition to the ciders produced by Liberty Ciderworks, not only because it’s made from apples which aren’t quite market-quality, but because of its organic nature.
“We wanted to focus on what volunteers were collecting and let the cider become what it may,” said Austin Dickey, co-owner and founder of Liberty Ciderworks.
Liberty Ciderworks, located in downtown Spokane, pressed and began fermenting the cider last fall. Juice from the apples was allowed to ferment with the “wild” yeast found on the fruit, at cool temperatures during a process that took about three months.
“A good wild yeast is often better than a cultured yeast – you get more interesting, layered flavors,” Dickey said.
“This batch turned out light but complex with some buttery chardonnay notes,” Dickey said. “If you respect white wine, you will appreciate it. It’s a little sweeter and more buttery than some of our other ciders. Our approach to Scrumpy was just to let the apples and yeast do the talking.”
Second Harvest provides nutritious food at no cost to thousands of people facing hardship throughout Eastern Washington and North Idaho every day.
“We love the Scrumpy Cider project. Not only does Second Harvest appreciate the generous donation from Liberty Ciderworks that allows us to get more food to more people, but rescuing unused apples is in line with our tenet of no food waste” said Drew Meuer, Second Harvest Chief Development Officer.
You can sample the Scrumpy Cider and learn a little about cider production during a release event on June 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Second Harvest Kitchen. A portion of all proceeds from the sale of Spokane Scrumpy Cider will benefit Second Harvest. Guests will also have the opportunity to talk barbecue sauce and rub secrets with Casey Booey, of Booey’s Gourmet. His fiery fun sauces will be paired with food prepared by staff at The Kitchen at Second Harvest. To register for the event, go to www.2-harvest.org/scrumpy.
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Media Contact:
Julie Humphreys, Community Relations Mgr. Second Harvest
1234 East Front Avenue Spokane, WA 99202
(509) 252-6252
cell – (509) 954-8408
julie.humphreys@2-harvest.org
PRESS RELEASE: Les Dames d’Escoffier – Summerdine 2017
Victoria Summerdine 2017
A Summer Luncheon to Celebrate Women in the Culinary Arts
(Victoria, BC) — Mark Wednesday, August 16th on your calendar for a delicious culinary celebration as Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Chapter presents Les Dames Summerdine. As part of Les Dames Summerdine, there is a special event happening on Vancouver Island. ‘A Celebration of Women in Hospitality’ will celebrate British Columbia’s Culinary Heroines. Please join us for a very special luncheon being held at the beautiful Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse in Saanichton and catered by Victoria’s popular Spinnakers Gastro Pub. Chef Ali Ryan has created a perfect menu for a summer luncheon, expertly paired with Les Dames BC’s own wines.
Engage with our guest speakers, browse our silent auction offerings and mingle with the leaders and trend setters of our industry. Proceeds will fund scholarships for women seeking training to advance their careers in the food and beverage industry. The ticket price is only $60 and includes lunch, beverages, tax, tips, plus a shuttle to/from downtown Victoria (for the first 30 people).
Guests will depart from downtown Victoria at 11:30 & arrive at Sea Cider for a welcome drink and canapes. Departure from Sea Cider will be at 1:30pm.
Seats go on sale June 19th at www.lesdames.ca and are sure to sell out quickly. Don’t miss your chance to participate in one of the most unique dining experiences of the summer. All funds raised from Summerdine go to support Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Chapter’s Scholarship and Outreach programs.
About Les Dames d’Escoffier BC Chapter
Les Dames d’Escoffier is the only organization of its kind: a world-wide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The invitation-only membership, composed of 38 individual chapters across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and Mexico, is highly diversified and reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality. The mandate of the BC Chapter is to support the advancement of women in the hospitality and culinary domains as well as fostering industry excellence through educational and charitable activities. The BC Chapter is celebrating its 25th Anniversary this year.
For information on Les Dames D’Escoffier BC Chapter and updates on its various events and programs please visit: http://www.lesdames.ca Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @LesDamesBC
For information on Les Dames d’Escoffier International: www.ldei.org
Media Contact
Christine Couvelier
Culinary Concierge
M: 250-589-5845
E: taste@culinaryconcierge.ca
31 Medals Awarded in Portland Cider Cup Competition
Media Contact:
Emily Ritchie, Executive Director
Northwest Cider Association
emily@nwcider.com
503-887-8960
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cheers to the Champions!
31 Medals Awarded in Portland International Cider Cup Competition
PORTLAND (June 15, 2017) – The results are in! Eight Pacific Northwest cideries took home gold medals at the Awards Party for the Northwest Cider Association’s 5th Annual Portland International Cider Cup (PICC) last night. For the second year running, a cidery from Montana, Western Cider Company, took home the competition’s highest honor and Cup– the Best In Show Award.
The party, hosted at Portland Cider Company’s Clackamas event space, drew 150 cidermakers and cider fans, celebrated ciders crafted in the Pacific Northwest, the largest cider market in the US for consumption and home to quarter of the country’s cidermakers. The competition, which was hosted at Square Mile Cider on April 9, increased by 150% this year, growing to over 150 ciders from over 40 cideries in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, and featured 45 experienced industry judges.
Within the 14 categories sampled, judges found ciders in eight categories worthy of gold medals:
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Western Cider Co, Montana – McIntosh (Heritage Dry) – Best of Show
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Montana Ciderworks, Montana – North Fork Traditional (Modern Sweet) – Runner up, Best of Show
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Square Mile, Oregon – Spur and Vine (Hopped)
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Square Mile, Oregon – Ginger Pear (Spiced/Herbed)
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Swift Cider, Oregon – Peach Oak (Wood/Oaked)
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2 Towns Ciderhouse, Oregon – Traditions 2015 Riverwood (Modern Dry)
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2 Towns Ciderhouse, Oregon – Flight of the Kiwi (Fruit)
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Eden Valley Orchards, Oregon – Pear House Cider (Modern Perry)
These eight ciders went on to compete in the Best of Show round, in which the head judges from each table found the McIntosh to be the best of the best.
“In our first year of operation, it is truly an honor to receive such recognition from the PICC. From starting the orchard in 2010 – to working on Western Cider for the last two years, this has been a vision that has taken many years to realize. We are grateful to be part of a world-class cider making community and look forward to many years ahead as stewards of great cider.” said Western Cider Co cidermaker and founder Michael Billingsley.
Western Cider Company also won the the Best New Cidery award which carried with it a $500 prize, and awards were given to 2 Towns Ciderhouse in Corvallis, OR and Montana CiderWorks in Missoula, MT respectively as Large and Small Cideries of the year. Visit nwcider.com for the full list of medalists and past cup winners.
“We’re so excited to grow the competition this year and give northwest ciders a chance to be judged by well-trained, knowledgeable judges. Next time you’re in the grocery store, try one of the medalists!” says Emily Ritchie, Executive Director of the Northwest Cider Association.
The NWCA board recognizes the importance of unbiased cider evaluation, and the benefits of medals as a marketing tool for member cideries. This competition is held with the utmost regard and judges are asked to score only deserving ciders. A maximum of one gold, one silver and one bronze may be awarded per category. This award system is in contrast to other competitions which award medals based on merit with multiple gold, silver and bronze awards per category.
Cideries of the Year
Large Cidery of the Year 2 Towns Ciderhouse
Small Cidery of the Year Montana CiderWorks
New Cidery of the Year Western Cider Company
Medals
Gold 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Traditions 2015 Riverwood, Modern Dry Cider
Gold Western Cider Company, McIntosh, Heritage Dry Cider
Gold Montana CiderWorks, North Fork Traditional, English Sweet Cider
Gold Square Mile Cider Company, Hopped Apple Cider, Hopped Cider
Gold Square Mile Cider Company, Ginger Pear Apple Cider, Spiced/Herbed Cider
Gold Swift Cider, Peach Oak, Wood/Oaked Cider
Gold 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Flight Of The Kiwi, Fruit Cider
Gold EdenVale Winery, Eden Valley Orchards Pear House Cider, Modern Perry
Silver North Idaho Cider, North Idaho Fresh Apple, Modern Dry Cider
Silver Alter Ego Cider, The Brute, Modern Sweet Cider
Silver Liberty Ciderworks, Columbia Crab SV, Heritage Dry Cider
Silver Montana CiderWorks, Darby Pub Cider, Heritage Sweet Cider
Silver Alpenfire Cider, Pirate’s Plank, English Dry Cider
Silver Swift Cider, Golden Equinox, Hopped Cider
Silver 2 Towns Ciderhouse, La Mure, Wild/Non-Sac Cider
Silver Wards Hard Cider, Wards Ginger Apple Cider, Spiced/Herbed Cider
Silver Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Firebarrel Cider, Wood/Oaked Cider
Silver Bauman’s Cider, Peach Raspberry, Fruit Cider
Silver Tieton Cider Works, Perry, Modern Perry
Bronze Scenic Road Cider Co., Nearly Dry, Modern Dry Cider
Bronze Portland Cider Company, Apple, Modern Sweet Cider
Bronze Scenic Road Cider Co., Dry, Heritage Dry Cider
Bronze Liberty Ciderworks, Porter’s Perfection SV, English Dry Cider
Bronze Tieton Cider Works, Wild Washington, English Sweet Cider
Bronze WildCraft Cider Works, Spring Traditional Keeved, French Cider
Bronze 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Hop & Stalk, Hopped Cider
Bronze La Familia Cider, Jamaica – Hibiscus, Spiced/Herbed Cider
Bronze Apple Outlaw, Heritage, Wood/Oaked Cider
Bronze 2 Towns Ciderhouse, Prickle Me Pink, Fruit Cider
Bronze 2 Towns Ciderhouse, 6th Anniversary, Specialty Cider
Bronze Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Perry, Modern Perry
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About the NWCA
Formed in 2010, the Northwest Cider Association brings cideries and cider lovers together to share knowledge, experience and live the Northwest cider culture. We are a trade organization formed by cider producers throughout the Pacific Northwest to promote awareness of regional artisanal ciders. We sponsor classes and workshops, and develop cider-themed events, including Oregon Cider Week in June, Washington Cider Week in September, and BC Cider Week in October.
To learn more about the PICC, contact Carolyn Winkler, Chief Competition Coordinator (carolyn@revnats.com).
To learn more about the NWCA, contact Emily Ritchie, NWCA Executive Director (emily@nwcider.com).
Snakebite Showdown brings NW beer and cider together on June 24th
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Snakebite Showdown brings NW beer and cider together on June 24th
Portland Cider Co. Clackamas hosts 13 cideries and breweries to go head-to-head in a collaboration mini-brewfest like no other to end Oregon Cider Week.
June 5, 2017 (Portland, OR) – SNAKEBITE SHOWDOWN, the only festival featuring the popular English beer + cider refreshment, Snakebites! Portland Cider Company has partnered together 13 local NW breweries and 13 cideries to create signature Snakebites in an epic Snakebite Showdown during Oregon Cider Week. Held on Saturday, June 24th from 1 – 7 pm, this festival is during the final weekend of Oregon Cider Week and a highlight event of the 11-day celebration dedicated to all things Oregon cider. The fest takes place in the cidery production and warehouse space at Portland Cider Company’s Clackamas Cidery (8925 SE Jannsen Rd., Bldg. F, Clackamas, OR 97015). Tickets are available now.
Breweries and cideries will go head-to-head to win the title for Best Snakebite. The event is focused on the ever-growing in popularity blend of beer and cider, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the craft beverage industry here in Portland. Snakebites originally hail from the United Kingdom, where a crisp lager and cider are blended with a 50/50 ratio in a pint glass. The traditional drink has gained a following here in the Northwest where we pride ourselves on all things craft and new in the beverage world. But expect more than the norm at this unique festival.
All 13 snakebites at the festival will be a custom blend crafted by the cider makers and brewers from each company. Some blends you can expect to see include IPAs, Berliner Weisse, beers, fruit ciders and more. Highly anticipated collaborations include: 2 Towns Ciderhouse + Block 15 Brewery, Anthem Cider + Santiam Brewing, Cider Riot + Heater Allen Brewing, Edgefield Cider + Edgefield Brewery, Finnriver Farm & Cidery + Hopworks Ubran Brewing (HUB), Portland Cider Co. + Oregon City Brewing Co., Reveille Ciderworks + Reach Break Brewing, Reverend Nat’s Cider + Coalition Brewing, Schilling Cider + Culmination Brewing, Seattle Cider Company + Coin Toss Brewing Co., Square Mile Cider + Kona Brewing, Swift Cider + Wild Ride Brew, and lastly, Tumalo Cider + Three Creeks Brewing.
Admission includes a souvenir glass and six (6) drink tickets; additional tasting tickets will be available for $2 each. All snakebite blends will be one (1) ticket per four-ounce sample. Cider and beer without mixing will be available to sample or buy in 16 oz. pints from Portland Cider Co. as well.
SNAKEBITE SHOWDOWN is a 21+ years of age event. Food will be available at the Portland Cider Co. Clackamas Taproom. This mini-fest is coordinated by Portland Cider Company and Dave Fleming, veteran Oregon brewer and founder of Fleming Brewing Consultants, LLC.
Pertinent links: Ticketing Merctickets.com/events/44488456/snakebite-showdown-2017 ($20 online, $25 at the gate.)
About Portland Cider Company:
The Portland Cider Company was started in October 2012 by an Oregonian and a family of British expats with the mission of bringing cider, handcrafted in the English tradition, to the Northwest. They have two taproom locations: Hawthorne, Portland Cider House (3638 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214) and Clackamas, Taproom & Cidery (8925 SE Jannsen Rd, Bldg. F, Clackamas, OR 97015). For more information, visit www.PortlandCider.com.
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Media Contact:
Helen Lewis
Marketing Director // Cider Propagandist
Portland Cider Company
C: 503-305-0877 | E: helen@portlandcider.com
Cider based on English traditions, made with Northwest ingredients. Drink it, it’s Good!
Cider Riot! Wins Two Medals at Prestigious Royal Bath and West Show
Oregon Cidery Wins Two Medals at Prestigious Royal Bath and West Show
Cider Riot!’s 1763 Revolutionary West Country Cider won Bronze in the Traditional Cider category, and its Everyday Semi-Dry won Bronze in the New World category at the Bath and West Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England. The awards were announced live at the show on June 1. The Royal Bath and West Show is the biggest cider competition in the world, and the Show has been held since 1851. Winning an award there is the cider world’s equivalent to a brewery winning at World Beer Cup.
“When I delivered our entries to the Bath and West Showground in April, I thought it was a bit like bringing sand to the beach,” says Cider Riot! founder and cidermaker AbramGoldman-Armstrong. “The West Country is the heartland of great cider, and 1763 is inspired by Somerset farmhouse ciders, so it is very humbling to win this award at the Bath and West Show.”
Made in the tradition of dry West Country ciders, 1763 exhibits the bold tannins and complexity of traditional bittersweet and bittersharp cider apples. Cider Riot! sources its cider apples from Yamhill County’s White Oak Cider and Skurdahl Farms, both of which planted their cider apple orchards in the 1990’s. “Bittersweets and bittersharps are not widely grown in North America,” says Goldman-Armstrong. “So we’re really lucky to be working with Yarlington Mill, Dabinett, Harry Master’s Jersey, and Brown’s apples from these two mature orchards. It gives us the ability to make a nuanced and elegant cider.”
Everyday Semi-Dry, a clean light cider is Cider Riot’s first venture away from strictly dry ciders. “We were shooting for a clean thirst quenching cider,” says Goldman-Armstrong. “To make a cider stand out in the New World category is a real challenge, this award is a testament to our production techniques and Cascadian apple growers.”
Cider Riot! cidermaker Angie Watkins was on hand at the Bath and West Show to receive the award as part of the Northwest Cider Association trip to France and England to study keeving the traditional production method used by the French.
About Cider Riot!:
Cider Riot!® was founded in 2013 in a garage in Portland’s North Tabor neighborhood and opened its pub and production facility on 8th and NE Couch in the summer of 2016. Cider Riot! is dedicated to the production of flavorful thirst-quenching ciders. The English style pub features live music, darts, games, tacos from No Que No taco cart, and is open Wednesday-Monday, shut Tuesdays. Cider Riot will host the 2nd Annual Fruit Cider Invitational June 24-25th featuring two dozen fruit ciders.
Media Contact:
Abram Goldman-Armstrong
ciderriot@gmail.com
Seattle Cider Co.’s Berry summer seasonal release!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Seattle Cider Company’s Berry Cider Returns for a Summer Full of Outdoor Adventures & Patio Parties
Tart and refreshing, Pacific Northwest berries give the growing cidery’s summer seasonal an unexpected twist; launches June 1 at The Woods tasting room with limited edition cocktail-inspired infusions
SEATTLE (May 31, 2017) – This Thursday, June 1, marks the return of Seattle Cider Company‘s summer seasonal, Berry! Available in 16-ounce cans, this tart and refreshing cider was created using a delicious blend of Pacific Northwest blueberries, blackberries and raspberries, pulling in all the flavors of the season without the sweetness. Berry takes over for spring seasonal Basil Mint, joining the cidery’s three year round and two limited edition ciders on shelves in 14 states across the country.
“Our Berry cider tastes tart, fresh and just like the season,” said Joel VandenBrink, founder of Seattle Cider Company. “Summer means hiking, backyard BBQs, boats and getting outdoors – and this cider is always the perfect accompaniment!”
A semi-dry cider, Seattle Cider’s Berry is crafted with raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, the juice from which is added straight into the tank during fermentation. Softly tart with a flavor of young raspberries at the start and subtly sweet on the finish, this cider is both refreshing and full-flavored. Offering a 6.9 ABV and just 1.8 Brix, this deep rosé-color cider is available in 16-ounce cans, 22-ounce bottles in select markets and on draft, all available at The Woods tasting room beginning June 1.
In addition to the release of Berry on draft and in cans, guests will be able to enjoy a host of cocktail inspired infusions at The Woods tasting room for the evening, including: Berry Sangria with rosemary, mint and cava, “The Negroni” (Berry infused with rhubarb, orange peel and juniper berries, playing off the classic gin cocktail) and “The Manhattan” (Berry infused with cherry, orange and whiskey soaked oak chips with a touch of Angostura bitters).
Seattle Cider’s full lineup of offerings breaks the mold of overly sweet cider, bringing the natural flavors of Washington apples to the forefront. Naturally gluten free and made from a custom blend of fresh pressed, Washington apples, Seattle Cider’s products are handcrafted with real ingredients, never from concentrate and free from artificial flavorings. Seasonal ciders – such as Berry, Pumpkin Spice, Oaked Maple and Basil Mint– are to be released each quarter, offering unique and unexpected flavor profiles geared toward the season.
Find Seattle Cider products in stores and on tap throughout Washington, Oregon, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Alaska, California, Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, Denver, Colorado, and Austin, Texas, with growing list of locations available at seattlecidercompany.com. Tastings, pints and packaged products are also available at The Woods tasting room in SoDo, which shares the space with Two Beers Brewing Co. For more information about Seattle Cider Company, visit seattlecidercompany.com, or follow Seattle Cider Company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@seattleciderco).
Media interviews, samples and photos available upon request. Please contact Caitlin Braam at caitlin@seattlecidercompany.com.
About Seattle Cider Company
Not your standard cider. Seattle Cider Company is city’s first cidery since Prohibition, bringing true craft cider back to Seattle and across the country. Bridging the gap between wine and beer with flavorful, uniquely dry cider, Seattle Cider Company’s year round and seasonal offerings break the mold of overly sweet cider, bringing the natural flavors of Washington apples to the forefront. Naturally gluten free and made from a custom blend of fresh pressed, locally grown apples, Seattle Cider Company’s products are handcrafted with all natural ingredients and never from concentrate. Seattle Cider products are currently available throughout Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Austin, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Nevada, Missouri and Colorado. Visit our tasting room, The Woods, open weekly Tuesday – Sunday at 4700 Ohio Ave. S. in Seattle. For more information, visit seattlecidercompany.com, or follow Seattle Cider Company on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Tieton Cider Works featured in Yakima Magazine
Tieton Cider Works‘ success is putting the Yakima Valley on the map for hard cider. Read all about it in this article in Yakima Magazine.
PRESS RELEASE: Sea Cider Takes Top Prize At Dan Berger International Cider Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sea Cider Takes Top Prize At Dan Berger International Cider Awards
SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA (PRWEB) MAY 16, 2017
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse is thrilled to announce that the company’s “Bittersweet” cider has taken home the Sweepstakes Award for best cider at the Second Annual Dan Berger International Cider Competition (DBICC). The traditional beat out nearly 200 other cideries entered into the competition held in Sonoma County, California on May 5th.
The Sweepstakes Award winning Sea Cider Bittersweet is made from a selection of traditional bittersweet cider apples including Dabinett and Yarlington Mills. Off-dry and rich in tannin, the Sea Cider Bittersweet impressed the judges with its rich yet balanced style and a complexity that results from use of well-cultivated traditional cider apples.
The local Vancouver Island producer was ecstatic to also win awards for:
Pippins – Single Variety Cider – SILVER
Prohibition – Wood Aged Cider – SILVER
Wild English – Traditional Cider – Dry – BRONZE
“We were thrilled by the diversity of styles of cider we saw at the competition this second year,” said Tom Wark, director of the DBICC. “No doubt this had much to do with the fact that we had entries from 20 different states and four different countries, which is a testament to the growing popularity of cider in the American marketplace.”
This announcement comes on the heels of Sea Cider winning the nine medals for the nine ciders that the company entered in the 2017 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) and two medals at the San Diego Craft Beer Awards.
About Dan Berger International Cider Awards
The DBICC strives to raise the visibility of the best ciders sold in the American marketplace. Founded by Dan Berger, the Dean of American wine competitions and directed by Tom Wark, publisher of The Cider Journal, the DBICC accepted entries in 12 categories that were judged by cider and orchard professionals.
About Sea Cider:
Sea Cider is a certified organic cidery and orchard located on the Saanich Peninsula. Situated on 10 acres overlooking Haro Strait, the family-owned company has been producing award-winning ciders since 2007. Sea Cider is available throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as in the states of Washington, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Illinois and California.
Media Contact:
Mike Pepperdine, Sales & Marketing Manager
Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse
c. 250.589.9809
p. 250.544.4824 ext. 4
f. 250.544.4870
e. mike@seacider.ca