Crossmount Cider Company Could be the Apple of Your Eye
Crossmount Cider Company might be in the early stages of growth and development, but for a cidery that has only had product on the shelves since spring of 2016, there’s little question they’re off to a fantastic start. Located six minutes south of Saskatoon on Lorne Avenue, Crossmount came into existence in 2014 and soon after began planting the first apple trees for their orchard. As those trees took root and matured, trucking runs to the Okanagan brought back the first bushels for their fermentation tanks, and in 2016 their first blends were launched. Flatlander Gold, Flatlander Dry and Flatlander Crisp set the whole thing in motion, and it wasn’t long after Crossmount was off and running. Their ciders are produced using a largely hands-on process, from the selection and crushing of the apples to the use of a traditional rack and cloth press to collect the juice that will later
become their tasty libations. Their orchard continues to develop and now features 1,500 trees filled with apples bred on the Prairies. That includes cultivars developed exclusively for them by the University of Sas-
From pineapple blends to winter spice, a Saskatoon cidery is taking taste in a new direction
katchewan and Norkent apples found throughout the province. They’ve recently branched out into a series of unique flavours, including a
Rosé with strawberries and rose hips, Pina Loca with pineapple and coconut, their Cider & Black with blackcurrants and even a seasonal Winter Spice. Crossmount additionally has plans in place to expand their orchard to include pears and apples designed for ice cider. Crossmount Cider Company includes a unique tasting room where their wares can be sampled and is open afternoons and early evenings Wednesday through Sunday. Their product can be found in liquor stores and offsales throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta, and their website at crossmountcidercompany. ca features plenty of information on where to order in addition to a host of other information on what they have to offer and what they’re all about. For more information find them on Facebook and Instagram, send off an email to cidery@crossmount.ca or give them a shout at (306) 374-9884.
Cypress Hills Vineyard and Winery offers Impressive slate of Fruit Wines
Whenever one thinks of a decent bottle of wine, massive vineyards in California, an impressive French hillside or maybe even Chilean or Argentinian vineyards come to mind as the prime place of origin. But the rolling hills of southwest Saskatchewan? Since 2004, Cypress Hills Vineyard and Winery – located in the Cypress Hills near Maple Creek – has been the source of some of the best fruit wines you’ll find in the province and beyond. It was 16 years ago that owners Marty and Marie Bohnet decided to take advantage of the naturally growing chokecherries and Saskatoon berries found on their cattle ranch, using their experience as amateur winemakers to launch their current venture. Their products have only grown in popularity since, featuring a line of seven wines with a wide range of dry and sweet profiles, including cherry,
rhubarb, black currant and honey and even a honey mead. And if you’re wondering just how good Cypress Hills wines are, the All Canadian Wine Championship has you covered – the Bohnets won double gold for their mead in 2016, double gold for their cherry wine in 2015 and double gold for their spring wine in 2014. Their growth as a business has been steady, eventually reaching the point in 2016 that saw the winery itself moving into full manufacturing mode and no longer available for public tours. Cypress Hills Vineyard and Winery has their products available in liquors stores and off-sales throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta, and all can be purchased on their website at cypresshillswinery.com.
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The Cypress Hill Vineyard and Winery, located near Maple Creek.
A sampling of some of the wines on sale through the Cypress Hill Winery.
