Clearly, this spring and summer (and who knows, maybe the fall and winter) are looking different than in years past in a lot of ways. For cider fans, one of those differences will be the cancellation and postponement of the cider-themed festivals, gatherings and Cider Weeks that we look forward to each season. Some event organizers are getting creative, and moving the festivities online, hoping to keep the spirit alive and community connected through virtual events.
Cider Week Hudson Valley, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, is doing just that. From Saturday, June 20 through Sunday, June 28, 2020, the NY Cider Week organizers are working to bring a week of online programming to life. This will include tastings, happy hour cocktail recipes, orchard and cidery tours, panel conversations, chef and cider pairings, all of which can be enjoyed by fans, near and far, from the safety of their homes.
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Some examples of this innovative programming include:
- June 20: A three-course dinner date and cider pairing with Chef Alex Raij, James Beard semifinalist, chef and owner, together with her husband Eder Montero, of four popular Spanish regional restaurants in Manhattan and Brooklyn: Txikito, El Quinto Pino, La Vara and Saint Julivert Fisherie. Raij will prepare three dishes to enjoy and pair with Orchard Hill Cider, and attendees will be able to tune in via live video to watch her cook and discuss how cider and Spanish food are a natural pairing.
- June 24: Join a live cider tasting with Max Pritchard of Rose Hill Farm, with a guided tasting of its Kitchen Sink, Pomme Bleu and Selection Suspendue ciders, which are available for purchase here, and from Artisan Wine Shop (Beacon, NY) and Kingston Wine Co. (Kingston, NY).
- June 26: Sip and Stretch with Pennings Farm Cidery. Join an online yoga session with plenty of breaks to enjoy a bit of cider sipping, too! Participants are encouraged to pick up a growler of Pennings Cider to-go on Wednesday or Thursday afternoon to really get in the spirit of things.
See the full events calendar here, and be sure to register in advance (registration is free!). Keep up with all the happenings via Cider Week New York’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, and plan to attend at least a few of these fun gatherings. Remember, unlike other Cider Weeks, you don’t have to live nearby to participate in the events, and you connect with fellow cider fans and meet the makers. It’s one silver lining of this whole situation, and we urge you to get involved in Cider Weeks outside of your hometown!
- Feature photo: Cider Week New York