Join the Cornell Hard Cider Program Work Team & The New York Cider Association on June 14 as we tour commercial cider operations across Western NY. We’ll hear from producers about their agri-entertainment, cider production, and cider apple production strategies. Extension specialists and researchers from CCE and Cornell will discuss current research into cider apple varieties, cider apple orchard management, and mechanical harvesting.
Stop 1: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM
4493 Walden Ave., Lancaster 14086
- Hosted by Michael Robb (owner) and Isabella Pucci-Schaefer (cidermaker)
- Short Tour of Production Facilities
- Optional tasting
Travel to stop 2, ~36 minutes, 11-11:40 AM
Stop 2: 11:40 AM- 1:00 PM
Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards
3724 Quaker Rd., Gasport 14067
- Hosted by Mindy Vizcarra
- Lunch
- Optional tasting
- Agri-entertainment, how beverages fit in, how its grown
- Program Announcements, Upcoming Events, etc. (NYCA/CCE/Cornell)
- Production Tour
Travel to stop 3, ~15 minutes, 1:00-1:15 PM
Stop 3: 1:20 PM – 2:20 PM
Donovan Orchards Estate Ciders
8503 Lower Lake Rd., Barker 14012
- Hosted by Scott Donovan
- Orchard Tour
- Production tour
- Low intervention cider making techniques
- Focus on cider varieties
- Optional tasting
Travel to Stop 4 ~17 minutes, 2:20-2:40 PM
Stop 4: 2:40-3:45 PM
LynOaken Farms & Steampunk Cider
11540 Platten Rd., Lyndonville 14098
- Hosted by Christopher & Jonathan Oakes
- High density hard cider block
- Cornell thinning trials
- Mechanical harvesting discussion
- Cider production facility tour
3:45 PM ADJOURN, or head to the tasting room at LynOaken Farms Market & Winery for a tasting or purchase at 10609 Ridge Road Medina NY, 14103 (~11 minutes)