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USA TODAY SPECIAL EDITION
UP FRONT | CIDERIES
Crisp Craft Sample some of the best cideries in New England By Kae Lani Palmisano NORTH COUNTRY HARD CIDER
T
HE TRADITION OF CIDER making came to the United
States via English colonists who started planting apple trees nine years after landing at Plymouth Rock. Apples, a crop brought over from the Old World, were easy for farmers to cultivate and thrived along the northeastern corridor of the new colonies. Today, cider is enjoyed throughout the country, but the heritage of this tart drink has deep roots in New England, where cider production started. Experience one of America’s oldest traditions at these New England cideries:
NORTH COUNTRY HARD CIDER Rollinsford, N.H. To guarantee high quality and freshness, North Country Hard Cider has teamed up with local farms where it carefully vets methods of growing apples. These tightknit relationships give this cidery access to antique and heirloom apple varieties that lend themselves to unique and experimental flavors. ▶ northcountryhardcider.com
FAR FROM THE TREE CIDER Salem, Mass. Just as American cider-making has roots in England, so do the roots of Far From the Tree Cider. Before opening a cidery, Al and Denise Snape became so passionate about winemaking that the two moved to England where Al earned a winemaking degree. Their interest shifted to cider, and every variety they create tells the story of their travels. ▶ farfromthetreecider. com
SHACKSBURY
SHACKSBURY CIDER Vergennes, Vt. This cidery is trying to stay as true to the European tradition as possible. Sourcing heirloom apple varieties from around North America, England and Spain, Shacksbury Cider’s Lost Apple Project brings the flavors of Old World cider to Vermont. First-time visitors should try the Shacksbury Farmhouse to get a taste of cider history. ▶ shacksbury.com
FAR FROM THE TREE CIDER
