The Cider Chat Blog

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

Guests on a Totally Cider Tour gather at Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France, during the 2022 France cider tour.

What Can Cider Learn From Wine Tourism in 2026?

Ahead of English Wine Week, Visit Essex released a wide-ranging look at vineyard tourism in Essex, highlighting everything from wine tastings and vineyard stays to concerts, weddings, food events, picnics, and overnight accommodations among the vines. According to figures cited by the tourism organization, visits to UK vineyards have increased by 55% to 1.5 million … Read more

Jake Mann stands inside a cold storage facility beside towering stacks of apple bins at Five Mile Orchard in California's Pajaro Valley.

Can Local Cider Help Save California Apple Orchards?

As concerns grow over the future of apple orchards in California’s Pajaro Valley, local growers and cider makers are shifting from alarm to action. Recent discussions surrounding changes in apple purchasing by major buyers have drawn renewed attention to the region’s orchards, particularly after community members witnessed longtime apple blocks being removed along Freedom Boulevard. … Read more

Honey bee resting on a red apple covered with dew drops in an orchard setting.

Cider Canada Expands National Role With Launch of Mead Canada

Canada’s mead producers have gained a national voice without having to build a national organization from scratch. This week, Cider Canada announced the creation of Mead Canada / Hydromel Canada, a new standing committee designed to represent Canada’s growing community of mead producers while operating within the existing Cider Canada framework. The move gives meadmakers … Read more

Illustration of a smiling summer sun wearing sunglasses inside a red apple with the words "Cider Summer Calendar," representing annual cider festivals and events held throughout the summer season.

Missed World Cider Day? Cider Summer Is Just Getting Started

World Cider Day which is held annually on June 3rd came and went on, but don’t worry if it slipped past your radar. Unlike many beverage celebrations that arrive and disappear in a flash, cider’s summer calendar is packed with festivals, competitions, tastings, and traditions that stretch from June into autumn. In fact, some of … Read more

Split cider bottle of traditional and modern practices illustrating the debate over proposed EU cider definitions ahead of a June 9 regulatory meeting.

Who Gets to Define Cider? EU Draft Heads to National Representatives June 9

A draft proposal that could reshape how cider and perry are defined across the European Union is scheduled for discussion by national representatives on June 9 in Belgium. The working document, prepared for a Wine & Spirit GREX meeting, outlines possible marketing standards and reserved terms for cider and perry products. While still under discussion, … Read more