Cideries In and Around Penticton: A Comprehensive Guide

Nomad Cider: Tradition Meets Innovation

Nomad Cider, based in Summerland, BC, exemplifies the harmony of traditional methods and contemporary flavours. Founders Mike Petkau and Brad Klammer have dedicated themselves to crafting wild-fermented ciders with minimal intervention. Their lineup includes over twelve cider styles, including flagship varieties like Semi-Dry and Traditional Dry. The cidery also boasts a picnic area for visitors to enjoy local smoked meats alongside their cider tastings, making it a perfect spot for summer weekends.

Nomad Cider offers an extensive range of ciders that appeal to various tastes, showcasing their dedication to traditional and innovative cider-making techniques. Here's a detailed look at their offerings:

• Original Series: Classic flavours that focus on the pure expression of the apple.
• International Series: These ciders explore global cider-making traditions, featuring unique styles from around the world.
• Barrel Series: These include ciders aged in barrels, giving them a complex profile influenced by the wood.
• Orchard Series: Made from specific types of apples from their own orchards, highlighting the individual characteristics of each apple variety.
• Fruited Series: These ciders are infused with different fruits, adding a sweet or tart dimension to the traditional apple base.

Here are some specific ciders and their prices:

• Semi-Dry Can: CAD$6.50
• Strawberry - Can: CAD$8.50

• Raspberry - Can: CAD$8.50
• Haskap - Can: CAD$8.50
• Geneva, Estate Dry, Pomme Raisin, Kermerrien, Calville Blanc, Locard Vert, Pear, Traditional Dry, Sparkling Sagardo, Belgian Rouge - Bottle, Maple Bourbon, Pinot Noir Barrel, Michelin, Dabinett, Kingston Black, Blauacher, Cox Orange Pippin, Frequin Rouge, Yarlington Mill: Each priced at CAD$9.50
• Estate Keeved and Ice Cider: These premium options are available for CAD$30.00 each. They reflect the meticulous care and extended fermentation required to achieve their rich, nuanced flavours.

Nomad also offers cider-related merchandise such as hats (CAD$40.00), bottle stoppers, and openers (each CAD$5.00), catering to enthusiasts who want to take a piece of their cider experience home.

There's a diverse range, so if you prefer a classic dry cider or something more experimental and fruit-infused, there is something for you here. Each cider is crafted with care, using locally sourced ingredients to create authentic and innovative flavours. If you prefer something traditional or are inclined towards experimental flavours, Nomad Cider has a drink that will delight your taste buds.

Millionaires' Row Cider: A Taste of History

Located on an orchard with over a century of history, Millionaires' Row Cider brings to life the legacy of Summerland's early 20th-century prosperity. Their craft extends to various ciders such as 'High n' Dry', 'Hop on Board', 'Modern Miracle', 'Makin' a Mint', and 'Full Steam Ahead', each telling a unique story of the region's past. These ciders are known for their crisp and clean profile, offering a refreshing taste of history.

Tasting and Shopping Experience

The cidery provides a variety of options for cider enthusiasts to enjoy their unique offerings:

• Millionaires' Row Briefcase (Mix & Match 4-Pack): Customers can select and sample different ciders, priced at C$38.40 for four 500ml bottles.
• 12-Pack Mix & Match: Offers a more extensive selection for dedicated fans or gatherings, with a price of C$97.20, reflecting the convenience and variety packed into every case.

Signature Ciders

Each cider is crafted to reflect the unique terroir and history of the orchard:

• High n' Dry: Priced at C$11.00 per 500ml, known for its crisp and refreshing taste.
• Hop On Board, Makin' A Mint, and Modern Miracle: Each also priced at C$11.00 per 500ml, these ciders offer distinct flavours ranging from hop-infused notes to refreshing mint hints, catering to diverse palates.

Apparel and Accessories

In addition to their ciders, Millionaires' Row also markets themed apparel, enhancing the brand experience:

• T-shirts and Sweatshirts: Priced at C$29.95 and C$69.95, respectively, allow patrons to wear their cider loyalty proudly.
• Ball Caps: Available for C$19.95, adding a casual flair to the enthusiast's wardrobe.

Visiting the Cidery

Millionaires' Row Cider welcomes visitors at their orchard on Dale Meadows Road in Summerland, open daily from 11 am to 5 pm, providing a complete experience from tasting to touring.

This combination of rich historical roots, diverse cider selections, and branded merchandise makes Millionaires' Row a notable destination in the Okanagan cider scene, offering a taste and experience as rich in history as they are in flavour.

Creek and Gully Cider: Sustainability at its Core

Penticton's Creek and Gully Cider celebrates organic and sustainable cider production. This family-run cidery is committed to ecological practices, producing ciders that reflect the pure taste of their organically grown apples and pears. Their dedication to maintaining a sustainable operation resonates through their product line, which is as environmentally friendly as flavourful.

Creek and Gully Cider offers a wide array of handcrafted ciders that reflect the bounty of their orchards and the creativity of their cider-making. Here's an exploration of some of their unique offerings, along with their pricing:

• Bittered 4pk: Priced at CAD$25.74 for four 355mL cans, this cider features a field blend infused with organic California citrus rinds, delivering a zesty, crisp, and tangy experience.
• Flora 4pk: Available for CAD$24.00, this four-pack of 355mL cans is made from every apple variety from their farm, styled after English scrumpy.
• Aurora: A rose-coloured cider with grape skin contact, priced at CAD$22.52 for 750mL. It features a blend of apples with a new grape varietal each year, offering a bright and colourful profile.
• Century: This cider, priced at CAD$22.52 for 750mL, uses apples from the oldest block on their farm, including varieties like Red Delicious and Macintosh, creating a textural, juicy, and concentrated drink.
• Crabby-Pear: A balance of Bartlett Pear and Hyslop Crabapple, this cider is fragrant, mouth-watering, and rounded, available at CAD$22.52 for 750mL.
• Goldie 2020: Aged in neutral French oak barrels for six months and conditioned in the bottle for a year, priced at CAD$26.00 for 750mL. It offers a crisp taste with a touch of grip and a complex finish.
• Just Crab: Made entirely from Crabapple varieties like Hyslop and Dolgo, priced at CAD$22.52 for 750mL, offering a crisp, earthy taste full of tannic grip.
• Reserve Ancestral Method: This new favourite features a stunning orange-gold colour, a little sweetness balanced with plenty of tannins, priced at CAD$33.04 for 750mL.
• Reserve Traditional Method Pear: Completely made from pears, this cider is fragrant, floral, and buttery with a hint of sweetness, available for CAD$36.00 for 750mL.

Creek and Gully also offer a variety of cider-related accessories, such as:

• C&G Soda - Lemon Hibiscus: A non-alcoholic option that is natural, bubbly, and bright, priced at CAD$5.36 for 355mL.
• Topper: A branded bottle topper designed to keep cider bottles fresh and fizzy after opening, available at CAD$5.00 each.

These offerings encapsulate Creek and Gully's commitment to sustainable agriculture and innovative cider production, ensuring a diverse selection that caters to all palates. Their range offers something to capture your imagination and taste buds.

La Petite Abeille Cider: Embracing French Tradition with Okanagan Flair

La Petite Abeille, meaning "The Little Bee," is a cidery that expertly marries France's sophisticated cider-making techniques with the Okanagan Valley's fruitfulness. Each cider produced at La Petite Abeille is an exemplification to the rich "goût du terroir" – a French term representing the unique flavours of the region's terrain. Their ciders are gluten-free, vegan, and crafted to highlight the natural fruit flavours without being overly sweet, providing a perfect effervescence in each sip.

Here's a glimpse into their diverse cider offerings:

• Sparkling Strawberry, Apple & Pear: Combining strawberries, Bartlett pears, and Granny Smith apples, this cider is light, off-dry, and refreshingly fruity, priced at CAD$24.00 for 750ml.

• Traditional Method Brut Pear: A sophisticated dry cider at CAD$45.00 for 750ml, made using the conventional method with secondary in-bottle fermentation, featuring an ultra-fine bubble and a delicate pear finish.

• Sparkling Apple & Apricot: This off-dry cider blends the tartness of Granny Smith apples with the sweetness of Goldbar apricots, available for CAD$24.00 for 750ml.
• Sparkling Apple, Carrot & Ginger Cider: A unique blend at CAD$24.00 for 750ml, featuring Granny Smith apples, earthy carrots, and a hint of ginger for a dry, refreshing taste.
• Pear Charmat Cider: Exclusively available online and at their tasting room for CAD$36.00 for 750ml, this cider is lively and creamy with a fresh pear aroma.
• Sparkling Pear Cider: Styled like prosecco at CAD$24.00 for 750ml, this cider offers complex fruit flavours with good acidity.
• Sparkling White Currant, Apple & Honey Cider: A unique blend priced at CAD$12.00 for 375ml, combining white currants and McIntosh apples with a hint of clover honey.

La Petite Abeille is proud of its roots in the French cider tradition and its local Okanagan heritage, inviting guests to enjoy these crafted ciders that are as stylish as they are delicious. The cider encourages reservations for tastings but welcomes walk-ins based on availability, ensuring everyone can enjoy their delightful ciders.

Conclusion

Each of these cideries offers a glimpse into the rich cider culture of the Okanagan and invites visitors to experience the flavours, stories, and traditions that shape this unique Canadian cider scene. If you're a cider enthusiast or new to the world of fermented apple beverages, the Okanagan region has something unique to offer.