Cover Story
Cider sector keeps on growing
There are differences in why these three operations got started and how they function. By Susan McIver
hree new cideries in the South Okanagan and Similkameen have joined the swelling ranks of cider-makers in the province. Faustino Estate Cidery in Osoyoos is the newest, having welcomed its first customers in June, while Twisted Hills Craft Cider in Cawston opened the previous June.
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The old timer in the group is Oliver's Howling Moon, which produced its first commercial vintage in 2012.
All three are off to a promising start, although differences exist in the reasons for starting a cidery, the style of cider produced and horticultural experience.
SUSAN MCIVER
Twisted Hills' Kingston Twist won the Judge's Choice Award for Best Cider in the 20th annual Okanagan Fest-of-Al held last April in Penticton. Kingston Twist also brought home gold in the fruit category
Anna Relva poured samples of Faustino cider at the celebration of the inaugural B.C. Cider Week, held October 17-25 at Summerland Heritage Cider Company.
of the Okanagan Life Best of BC Wine Awards 2015. “The secret is in the blend of our premium quality estate- grown, certified organic apples,” said Kaylan Madeira, who owns Twisted HIlls with husband Jo Schneider. Kingston Twist is made primarily from Kingston Black apples, blended with other cider apple varieties with a touch of heritage dessert apples Madeira explained. Twisted Hill's other cider varieties include Porter's Perfection, Bulmer's Norman, Golden Russet, Yarlington Mill and Burgundy.
Gala, Vista Bella, Nicola and Honey Crisp are among the dessert varieties grown.
“Jo is the apple guy and I'm the cider maker, but we help each other,”said Madeira, who is also in charge of marketing. Both took the cider-making courses at Mt. Vernon in Washington State.
Schneider is a fifth-generation Cawston fruit grower and Madeira was raised on the family orchard in Oliver. The couple named their cidery Twisted Hills in honour of the twisting secondary mountainous road between Oliver and Cawston which they travelled frequently before they lived together.
They eventually purchased seven acres in Cawston and planted cider apples which they originally sold to Sea Cider Farm and Ciderhouse in Saanichton.
This year the couple is producing 7,900 litres of five different type of ciders.
In addition to the award-winning Kingston Twist, there is Pippin's Fate, a crisp dry cider, Tangled Rose, a sparkling blend of apples and Santa Rosa plumes. and Sparkling Orchard, a blend of apple varieties with a touch of pear. “Calville's Winter is new this year. it has a unique French twist because it is a blend of Calville Blanc d'Hiver and more traditional cider apples,” Madeira said.
Jack and Anna Relvas, owners of Faustino, are pleased with how well their ciders have been received.
“Our apple-pear blend sold out within a couple of months and our dry and semi-sweet apple ciders are popular with customers,” Anna said.
“I plan to increase production from 5400 litres this year to 8,000 next,” said Jack, whose eventual goal is an annual production of 20,000 litres.
After sustaining several years of crop failure due to frost and hail, the couple realized in spring 2014 that it was either sell out or get innovative.
“We couldn't sell our hail damaged fruit on the fresh market but it still tasted great so we began to think about cider,” Anna said.
They also wanted to continue to enjoy country life and to help preserve fruit land rather than see it converted to vineyards.
Operating a cidery also combined the couple's interests and talents.
Anna was a long-time devotee of cider and Jack had made his own wine for many years.
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2015-16
“Things went amazingly quickly. We had our license in early 5
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