201: Ian Merwin PhD | Black Diamond Cider, NY

Where does a Cornell University Pomologist do upon retirement?

They start a cidery, of course!

Ian Merwin says, founding Black Diamond Cider, in Trumansburg, New York is his 4th career. He has lived in California, Chile, France and now on the west side of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes Region of New York state. He and his wife Jackie settled 30 years ago on on the spot of land that is now Black Diamond Cider and Orchards. He moved here from California, and going to school for Pomology. After receiving his PhD in Pomology in 1997, he the was hired to do both research and teaching at Cornell University. After 27 year at that position, he retired from Cornell and the Merwins opened Black Diamond Cider that same year.

From this sloping landscape they sell fruit and make cider. Do make a plan to visit Black Diamond and try their cider on tap and buy bottles to go.

Cider Blends at Black Diamond episode 201 — Cider Blends at Black Diamond

Topics discussed with Ian

Nitrogen in the orchard.
- Do you need to add nutrients to an orchard?

Says Ian, “Apple trees in general need very little nitrogen. Big Fruit (think large weighted apples) are created through the use of nitrogen and water. It might sell, but they aren’t necessarily choice for cider.”

At Black Diamond they want apples that are medium size and have a concentration of flavor.

The mythology about nutrients impact on apples.
- The amount of nitrogen we put on the fertilizer had absolutely no impact on the yeast available nitrogen on the fruit
No yeast nutrients in Black Diamond

“The more I tried to feed the yeast the more problems I have.”