If you like your apples fermented, you’re in luck: Cider Week New York kicks off October 5 and runs through October 13. The timing for this year’s Cider Week couldn’t be better, considering all the progress the industry has made this year.
During Cider Week New York, the Empire State’s greatest apple-heads come together to celebrate one of the most storied beverages in the country, hard cider. From its roots in Colonial America, when cider was a form of currency and a safer beverage to drink than water, to its fall from popularity during the Industrial Revolution and Prohibition, to its revival as a sophisticated craft beverage today, New York has always been at the center some of its most audacious developments.
“We could not be more excited with all there is to celebrate around New York Cider,” says Scott Ramsey, executive director of the New York Cider Association. “We’re also very excited to be launching our new NY Cider Trail App, which allows people to form their own trails and experiences year round and especially for Cider Week New York. The app also houses our Cider Week New York calendar of events.”
Cider Week New York’s Roots
Glynwood inaugurated the first annual Cider Week in 2010, a byproduct of the Center for Regional Food and Farming’s travel and educational exchange program between French and American cider producers.
That exchange, and the interest stoked by a growing contingent of serious artisanally minded craft cider producers in the state, helped spark a cider-making revolution in the Empire State.
In the past 10 years alone, hard cider production in New York has grown 2,400%, and now delivers—in addition to memorable sips—$1.7 billion in total economic impact for the state’s economy. There are now 125+ licensed producers making 5 million gallons of cider every year, with New York leading the nation in the number of active cideries.
Cider Week New York has grown every year and has become a time when everyone across the state can celebrate an appreciation for New York orchard-based cider in all of its diversity, food-friendliness, and quality.
From Saturday, October 5, through Sunday, October 13, there will be exclusive tastings, chef-curated food and cider pairings, educational orchard tours, cider festivals, and cider markets, which means there will be something for both the most experienced and neophyte cider-phile.
Cider Week is always fermenting new events, so be sure to follow along on Instagram @newyorkcider and sign up here for the Cider Week New York newsletter, so you don’t miss a single tasty sip.
As Ramsey points out, be sure that you download the NY Cider Trail App to take full advantage of everything Cider Week has to offer. The NY Cider Trail App has the latest-breaking event information, and also provides the essential information you need to plan your itinerary, such as directions, open hours and contact information for cideries across the state, region by region.
Prime Your Palate for All the Cider Under One Roof
For cider lovers who want to explore the broad diversity of cider in one place, there’s the NY Cider Festival NYC. Mark your calendar for Saturday, November 16, from 11 am to 3 pm, for a memorable day of cider sampling, live music, and great food pairings.
The festival takes place at Location05, Hudson Yards, in New York City. Tickets range from $5 to $50 with healthy early bird discounts available. VIP tickets include the first meet-and-greet with cider makers, a discount on merchandise, free membership to the NY Cider Association, and commemorative cider accoutrements. Regular ticket holders will also be able to meet cider makers starting at 12 pm.
Cider connoisseurs and the cider curious (21 and older) are welcome!
Toasting to the Future
Cider in New York is about to get bigger, but it will always keep its roots.
“New York is a leader in the country when it comes to cider production,” Ramsey says. “We are also toasting the fact that we just got direct-to-consumer shipping passed. It has been a big effort we’ve been working on since 2018 to have our small cidery producers and growers be able to ship directly to their customers, and the Governor just signed the bill.”
Ramsey points out that to ensure you’re getting not just cider made in New York but cider made with New York apples, you can now look for the NY Cider mark on every bottle, which ensures that everything inside will be made from 100% New York State apples. 2024 may be the biggest year on record for New York Cider in terms of sheer size of production and legislative wins. Cheers to celebrating New York’s great apples!
