The Cider Chat Blog

Ripe apples growing in an orchard with a USDA Organic certification logo representing organic orchard management.

Kordick Family Farm’s USDA Organic Certification Offers Lessons for Cider Orchards

After earning USDA Organic certification in June, North Carolina’s Kordick Family Farm is offering a firsthand look at what organic certification really means for orchardists and cider makers—from record keeping and regulations to the difference between growing organic apples and producing certified organic cider. WESTFIELD, North Carolina — Kordick Family Farm has become one of … Read more

GLINTCAP cider judging table with tasting glasses filled with ciders of different colors during the 2026 Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition.

What GLINTCAP 2026 Reveals About Cider’s Future

The 20th anniversary of the Great Lakes International Cider and Perry Competition (GLINTCAP) did more than recognize outstanding cider. It offered a snapshot of where the industry is heading. With more than 1,400 commercial and noncommercial entries from around the world, GLINTCAP has become one of cider’s most influential competitions. While medals recognize individual excellence, … Read more

Young cider apple orchard in the Netherlands with dry summer grass and developing apples on newly established trees.

Around the World’s Orchards: July 2026

Midwinter in the Southern Hemisphere. Midsummer in the North. Orchards on both side of the planet. While orchards across the Northern Hemisphere move through the long days of midsummer, orchardists in southern Chile are pruning century-old apple trees in the middle of winter. The contrast is a reminder that cider is a year-round agricultural story, … Read more

Heartland Ciderworks' The Little Rose, Gold medal winner and Best of Show Runner-Up at the 2026 Northwest Cider Cup.

The Little Rose Proves Low ABV Can Win Big

An intentionally low-alcohol cider inspired by the historic ciderkin style has emerged as one of the standout winners at the 2026 Northwest Cider Cup held in Portland Oregon in late June. Heartland Ciderworks, based in Oregon, earned Gold in the Low Alcohol/Alcohol Removed category with The Little Rose, which also received the competition’s Best of … Read more

Editorial illustration showing three proposed EU cider categories—Classic Cider, Cider, and Cider Beverage—set against the European Union flag.

EU Cider Standards Face Pushback as Commission Floats Compromise

This article is an update to eCiderNews’ June 2026 coverage of the European Commission’s proposed EU cider standards. One month after eCiderNews first reported on the European Commission’s proposed cider marketing standards in “Who Gets to Define Cider? EU Draft Heads to National Representatives” ahead of the June 9 meeting, the debate has expanded well … Read more

eCiderNews graphic promoting a Cider Chat interview with Christine Walter discussing CiderCon 2027 and the future of the American Cider Association.

The Questions Everyone Is Asking About CiderCon 2027

Last week, eCiderNews reported on the American Cider Association’s decision to co-locate CiderCon 2027 with the Craft Brewers Conference in San Antonio. The announcement sparked one of the most active discussions the cider industry has seen in recent years. To explore those questions, Cider Chat host Ria Windcaller sat down with ACA Board President Christine … Read more

Illustration showing the American Cider Association and Brewers Association joining forces ahead of CiderCon 2027 and the Craft Brewers Conference in San Antonio.

ACA Board President to Discuss CiderCon 2027 Plans in Upcoming eCiderNews Interview

The conversation surrounding CiderCon 2027 continues. Following eCiderNews coverage of the American Cider Association’s announcement that CiderCon 2027 will be co-located with the Craft Brewers Conference in San Antonio, Texas, ACA leadership has agreed to participate in an interview to discuss the decision and answer questions emerging from the cider community. eCiderNews is scheduled to … Read more

Guests enjoy live music at The Brackley Bar, Red Island Cider's new cider-focused destination in Prince Edward Island.

Red Island Cider Expands With New Tourism-Focused Brackley Bar in PEI

Prince Edward Island’s Red Island Cider has opened a second location with the launch of The Brackley Bar, a cider-first outdoor destination designed to introduce more visitors to local cider while expanding the company’s direct-to-consumer business. Located on Brackley Point Road near Brackley Beach — one of the busiest tourist routes on the Island, The … Read more

A vintage-labeled cider bottle stands among harvested apples in an orchard, illustrating the ongoing legal challenge over federal cider vintage-labeling regulations.

Cider Vintage Labeling Lawsuit Set to Continue After Court Setback

“Should cider makers be able to tell consumers which harvest year produced the apples in the bottle?” A legal challenge to federal vintage-labeling rules for cider and fruit wine is moving forward despite a recent court setback. Last week, a federal judge dismissed a Washington winery’s lawsuit challenging Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau … Read more