Thursday, March 28, 2024

Ciderfest Comes to Cashmere

Posted

 The majority of the Wenatchee Valley’s hard cider makers will be in Cashmere this weekend pouring their samples at The Big Chill Ciderfest.   Eleven cideries will participate in the first time

event, slated for July 28 from 4-10pm.  The Big Chill is being erected in the parking lot of Liberty Orchards on Mission Avenue.   

Visitors will enjoy cider tasting, a lounge area in the mister cooled “chill pavilion,” free games like the bean bag toss and an exhibit on cider making from the Cashmere Museum.  Food concessions on site include The Wild Boar serving brats, potato salad and beverages, Kanoa Shave Ice, and Chris & Becks Pitas serving  a variety of sandwiches and sides.  Led by Sergio Cuevas and Markus Hoyer, a live trio will perform from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, and a comprehensive selection of bottled local ciders will be available for sale.

The Big Chill will feature apple ciders, pearies and cherry ciders.  Participating cider makers are Centre Ring, Longdrop Cider Co., Phillippi Fruit Company, Rootwood Cider, Snowdrift Cider, Steelhead Cider, Bad Granny Hard Cider, PearUp, Manchester Road, Archibald James Cider Works, and Barns Etc. Hard Cider Shed.

Barns Etc Hard Cider Shed and Archibald James Cider Works are based in Cashmere. 

 Paula Fredricks,owner of Barns Etc, is a Cashmere artist who turned her gallery into a tasting site.  She and her husband have been serving their Country Elegance Heirloom Blend hard ciders for six years.  They use rare heirloom apples and fruit to develop a complex taste profile with English dry cider making technique. 

 Archibald James Cider Works, new to the cider industry, will debut three ciders at the Big Chill:  Smashapple, Dry Sider and Cerise Sèche.  They have been developing a series of small-batch ciders over the past 6 months in their facility in Yaksum Canyon.  Using organic apples, the fermentation process occurs in stainless tanks and oak barrels.  Archibald James ciders range from traditional styles to seasonal fruit co-fermentations with a focus on the dry side of the flavor profile.

 Cascade Farmlands, the non profit host of the event, has been working with Gina Imperto and the team at the Cashmere Chamber of Commerce since last fall to debut Chelan and Douglas County ciders to the public.  Their vision is to position the Apple Capital region as a leading hard cider destination in the Pacific Northwest, and to place Cashmere at the heart of the annual tasting event.

 Cascade Farmlands receives funding from the Port of Chelan County for economic development for the region’s ag businesses and tourism.  Funding for the Chamber’s participation comes from lodging tax funds designated by the county and Washington’s Playground.  

 Tickets to the Big Chill Ciderfest are $30 per single and $55 per couple and can be purchased at the event or online now at cascadefarmlands.com.  Entry to the Big Chill includes a commemorative tasting glass and totebag, twelve taste tickets and a thirteenth taste token to vote for your favorite.  Must be 21.

Ciderfest

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