ABOUT US

PROUDLY LOCAL and intently sustainable, Seminary Hill Orchard & Cidery in Callicoon, NY, is all about Catskills heritage. Founded by Chicagoans Doug Doetsch (descended from a Callicoon family) and Susan Manning, Seminary Hill features the world’s first Passive House-certified cidery: an expansive 4,000-square-foot space clad with larch wood reclaimed from the underwater pilings of the original Tappan Zee Bridge. A cathedral-style ceiling frames floor-to-ceiling windows, and a wrap-around patio and balcony offer a perfect vantage point for the spectacular views of the orchard below and Delaware River Valley in the distance.

Designed by James Hartford of River Architects, the cidery is a modern take on a classic bank barn built into the side of a hill. Certified by the Passive House Institute U.S., the building’s insulated thermal envelope prevents heat loss or gain, while its triple pane windows help warm the room during winter while also providing peaceful orchard views. The eco-consciousness doesn’t stop at the cidery’s design but continues throughout stages of cider production.

Seminary Hill grows more than 60 American heirloom, English, and French varieties of cider apples and perry pears in rocky clay on a south-facing slope overlooking the Delaware River. They holistically manage their orchards in cooperation with nature. The fruit they grow (and the fruit they buy from area grower partners) has the complex aromatics, sharp acids, and tactile tannins needed to ferment and blend ciders with depth and nuance.

Seminary Hill’s orchard-driven cider reveals the distinct qualities of each year’s fruit. They never add other flavors or colors, and the ciders tend toward the dry end of the spectrum. Hence, all the flavors and textures shine through without the obscuring veil of excess sugar.

“For our grandparents and great-grandparents, making cider was simply part of living off the land. They took in summer boarders to make ends meet, and some became lifelong friends,” says owner Doug Doetsch. “Their example inspires us as we craft distinctive ciders, welcome guests to our tasting room and boarding house, and share our appreciation for the bounty and beauty of the land.”

PRODUCTS

DELAWARE DRY 2020

CACKLING HEN 2021

HEN’S TEETH 2021

Meet The Cider Maker

Stuart Madany

Trained as an architect, Stuart Madany’s passion for cider making evolved out of a feasibility study and ensuing design work for an orchard and cidery. Long oriented toward sustainability, he naturally grew the apples organically as an orchardist and cider maker at Virginia’s third licensed cidery. He also created a wide range of award-winning ciders while pioneering unique techniques.

Upon reading about Seminary Hill’s sustainable and orchard-based approach, he felt an immediate resonance and wanted to bring his experience and inspiration to the team. He is fascinated by the differences in apple expression and which varieties truly shine in the Western Catskills compared to his previous experience.

THE ESSENTIALS

ADDRESS

43 Wagner Lane, Callicoon, NY 12723

EMAIL info@seminaryhill.co

WEBSITE seminaryhill.co

PRODUCTION

1,950 cases

OWNERS

Doug Doetsch, Susan Manning

CIDERMAKER

Stuart Madany

FARMERS MARKET

Callicoon Farmers’ Market

Upcoming Events 2023

JUNE

10- Modern Makers Market

11 St. Mary’s Church | Cold Spring hopsonthehudson.com

JULY

6 Sip & Stretch Yoga Treasury Cider | Hopewell Jct. treasurycider.com (visit website for other dates)

22 Pollinator Masquerade Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider Stone Ridge Orchard hudsonvalleyfarmhousecider.com

AUGUST

5-6 Putnam County Wine & Food Fest Wells Park | Brewster putnamcountywinefest.com

12 Hudson Valley Craft Beverage Festival & Market Brooklyn Cider House Twin Star Orchards | New Paltz twinstarorchards.com

12- Modern Makers Market 13 St. Mary’s Church | Cold Spring hopsonthehudson.com

SEPTEMBER

9 Fall Harvest Festival Weekends (through Oct 29) Treasury Cider | Hopewell Jct. treasurycider.com

Head to the

House and taste through an exclusive line-up of craft ciders, sign up for a guided tour, and experience all that our 60-acre Orchard has to

1 Angry Orchard see page 8 2241 Albany Post Road | Walden angryorchard.com

2 Awestruck see page 10 8 Winkler Road | Sidney 34 Howell Street | Walton awestruckciders.com

3 Brooklyn Cider House see page 12 155 N. Ohioville Road | New Paltz twinstarorchards.com

4 Doc’s Draft Hard Cider see page 14 114 Little York Road | Warwick docscider.com