Meet The Startup Seeking To Bring Fine Heritage Cider To The Masses
Read original story on Forbes.com
Although American cider has a long history in the United States, dating back to when the British colonists brought apple seeds and cidermaking knowledge to our side of the pond, it hasn’t enjoyed the same popularity as it does overseas in markets like the UK, France and Spain. Hard ciders (as they are called in the U.S. – everyone else just calls it cider) have seen an increase in popularity over the past few years, however a lack of understanding of the category has led to an underappreciation of heritage ciders, which sit at the higher end of the cider spectrum. Worse, they’re often lumped together with their mass produced counterparts, which draw in consumers with their accessibility (in both availability and lower prices) and flashy flavors (adding other fruits or hops into the mix).
Launched earlier this summer, Cider in Love is a comprehensive online platform aimed at educating consumers on heritage cider and connecting talented makers to a larger market.
“I am enchanted by the wild and wonderful world of fine heritage cider,” Cider in Love president and founder Annie Bystryn says in a release. “Our goal at Cider in Love is to make artisanal, heritage ciders more accessible and share with folks new to cider all the incredible ways to sip and savor. Every heritage cider captures a time and a place that you can sip in a glass.”
Just like fine wine, each vintage of heritage cider is unique and reflects the growing season. The apples used are grown specifically for cidermaking, which, though not the best for eating off the tree, possess tannic qualities that lend a complexity of flavor to the resulting product.
Bystryn’s digital platform highlights a curated selection of “hard-to-find, small-batch ciders from talented makers across the country.” For those new to craft cider or seasoned consumers that know what they like, ciders can be filtered based on flavor notes (earthy, floral, tart), dryness, effervescence and by region. Partner cideries include Tilted Shed Ciderworks from Windsor, California; Alpenfire Cider from Port Townsend, Washington; and South Hill Cider from the Finger Lakes region in New York.
Individual cider pages have a wealth of information, from flavor notes and tasting profiles to details on the apples used and pairing recommendations. There’s pages devoted to each cidery highlighting the people that make it and what makes their cider unique. The “enjoy” section of the site, featuring content written by cidermakers and experts, delves into cider pairings with different cuisines and even offers recommendations based on the kind of wine you like. The “learn” section is all about heritage cider.
“Springing as it does from a place of passion, Annie's vision for bringing premium heritage ciders to curious drinkers through great content and visuals has real potential to expand the demand for cider from New York and beyond,” Jenn Smith, executive director of the New York Cider Association, says in a release.
I’ll raise a glass to that.
