June 19, 2018 – Did you think cider was a fleeting obsession? Nay, nay. Just look around you and behold the number of cideries in Santa Cruz at the moment. There’s Santa Cruz Cider, Surf City Cider (aka Santa Cruz Scrumpy), Rider Ranch, Soquel Cider, Tanuki Cider and Ratel Cider. Apples are such a strong suit in the Pleasant Valley area of Santa Cruz, they’ve long been coveted by cider makers.
Inspired by the growing thirst for hard cider, the cider makers of Santa Cruz County have put together a blockbuster week of tastings, tours and tap takeovers, including their first ever Open Orchard Tour on Sunday, June 24 featuring free tours and tastings at four local apple orchards. Come see where cider begins: in the orchard! Meet the makers, taste the cider and enjoy the beauty of rural life.
Some cider makers are planting their own heritage varieties, like Katie Rider of Rider Ranch in Scotts Valley. She uses Mann’s out of Watsonville for Newtown Pippins, but has planted many old American, as well as French and English varieties, in her three-year-old vineyard, which she’s totally stoked about.
“We grow a variety of heritage American cider varieties mixed in with French and English ones. Our orchard has the following: Dabinett, Roxbury Russet Black Twig, Yarlington Mill, Wickson, Red Field, Black Oxford, Black Limber Twig, White Limber Twig, Pink Pearl, Pink Sparkle and Kingston Black. I really enjoy the pink-fleshed cider apples and am excited for them to produce soon.”
Cider has certainly proven its longevity and its growing popularity speaks to a place in your heart and in your glass. Our local cider makers continue to innovate and elevate the county as a source of premium ciders. Nicole Todd of Santa Cruz Cider garnered a prestigious Gold medal in the very tough California Cider Competition, just held in Mendocino, for her Gravenstein wood-aged cider, while Santa Cruz Scrumpy scored a Silver for its Pom cider, infused with pomegranate.
She says their current seasonal offering is one of her favorites, a strawberry cider made from the local bounty! And they just bought a single can seamer to can some of their ciders, which they have to laboriously label, one at a time as well. Talk about the ultimate hands-on project!
Says Todd, “We are canning our signature dry cider, the Wooden Tooth Special, and our Hopped cider, currently. Hoping to do the strawberry before the end of the season, too.”
Saturday, June 24, Cider Open Orchard Tours
Time:11am-5pm
Price: This event is free to enter, with flights and glasses of cider available for purchase at each location. Go ahead and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy the fabulous setting, although light food will also be available for purchase.
Farms include:
- Everett Family Farm: 2119 Old San Jose Rd Soquel, CA 95073, contact everettfamilyfarm.comfor more details.
- Santa Cruz Cider Co: 1875 Hames Rd Aptos, CA 95003 – entrance to the orchard is between 1785 and 1695 Hames Rd, look for the signs, contact nicole@santacruzciderco.com for more details.
- Tanuki Cider: Will also be offered at the Santa Cruz Cider Co orchard barn on Hames Rd.
- Serventi Ranch: 65 Litchfield Ln Watsonville, CA 95076, contact serventiranch.com for more details
- Rider Ranch: Glenwood Rd near summit of Hwy 17, contact riderranchciderworks.com for more details
Tuesday, June 26, Cider Pairing Dinner at HOME Restaurant
Time: 5pm-9pm
Location: HOME Restaurant
Address: 3101 N Main St Soquel, CA 95073
Description: Chef Brad Briske will pair his amazing menu with cider in mind. In addition to his seasonal menu, he will offer a cider pairing menu in which items may be ordered a la carte or as a full pairing with multiple local cideries. Order one or order them all and get a full taste of what Santa Cruz Cideries have to offer.
Tuesday, June 26, Tasting at Felton Farmer’s Market
Time: 2:30pm-6:30pm
Location: Felton Farmers Market
Address: 120 Russell Ave, Felton, CA 95018
Description: Join Santa Cruz Cider Co for a complimentary tasting and bottle sales
Wednesday, June 27,Tap Takeover & Meet the Makers at Lúpulo Craft Beer House
Time: 5pm-8pm
Location: Lúpulo Craft Beer House
Address: 233 Cathcart St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Description: Lúpulo will be offering many ciders on tap and even more by the bottle. Cider makers will be on hand to answer questions.
Wednesday, June 27, Downtown Farmers Market
Time: 1pm-6pm
Location: Downtown Santa Cruz
Address: Corner of Cedar and Lincoln St.
Description: Join Santa Cruz Cider Co for complimentary tastings and bottle sales
Thursday, June 28: Cider Dinner on the Farm ft. Soquel Cider and Bruxo Food Truck
Time: 6pm-10pm
Location: Everett Family Farm
Address: 2119 Old San Jose Rd, Soquel, CA 95073
Price: $100
Website: ciderdinner.brownpapertickets.com
Description: The evening will start with a farm tour of the fields followed by dinner prepared with organic ingredients grown here on the farm by chef Brooks Schmitt of Bruxo Food Truck. Each course will be paired with estate grown and produced Soquel Cider.
Friday, June 29:
Shanty Shack and Santa Cruz Cider Co. Start of Summer Party!
Time: 5pm-10pm
Location: Shanty Shack Brewing
Address:138 Fern St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Description: Enjoy some fun beer/cider collaborations like Newtown Pippin Pilsner and a smoked apple beer! Play cornhole and make smores. The food pop up is Efi’s Dutch Indo Kitchen.
Saturday, June 30: Hard Core Cider Tour
Time:1pm-4pm
Location:San Lorenzo Park
Address:137 Dakota Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Price:$30-$40
Website: HardCoreCiderTour.com
Facebook Event: Hard Core Cider Tour: Santa Cruz ’18
Description: The Hard Core Cider Tour returns to Santa Cruz, CA for its 4th Year. About 25 vendors will gather to sample hard craft ciders, while you enjoy live music. Savor mouth watering food from Local Food Trucks (food sold separately. The Tour is raising funds for Bike Santa Cruz County and Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz.
So, get out and enjoy Cider Week. There’s more than one great way to get your “apple a day!”
About the author
Laura Ness is a longtime wine journalist, columnist and judge who contributes regularly to Edible Monterey Bay, Spirited, WineOh.Tv, Los Gatos Magazine and Wine Industry Network, and a variety of consumer publications. Her passion is telling stories about the intriguing characters who inhabit the fascinating world of wine and food.
