About Cider

Cider is made from fermented apple juice. As with wine, the character and quality of the resulting product will bear heavily on the variety and quality of the fruit used. The cooler climate of Vermont is well suited to high quality apple production, and produces a sizeable amount of quality sparkling hard cider. The finest ciders in North America may well emanate from the province of Quebec in Canada, which has an established artisinal cider industry with historical ties to Normandy cider. These Quebecois ciders are slowly starting to appear on the US market.

Top Picks for Cider

Aval Cider  Blanc French Cider
95 points
Fun and approachable, with a balancing rustic touch and a gentle kiss of tannin; a delightful introduction to cider.
Aval Cider  Gold French Cider
95 points
Very farmhouse-y without being overly funky; lots of complex flavors that lend themselves well to drinking easily without blowing out the palate.
William Heritage 2023 Ice Cider Outer Coastal Plain
93 points
$38
Walks the fine wine line between apple cider and apple wine and is quite delicious in its well-executed balance of sugar and acid; like drinking a fresh apple.
Awards: '2024 New Jersey Wine Competition - Best Dessert Wine' 2024 New Jersey Wine Competition - Governor's Cup Best Dessert Wine
Six Byrd Cider  Small Batch Prickly Pom Fruit Cider
93 points
$7
This Cider is exactly what it says it is; a true technical achievement and a marvel of balance.
Woodchuck Hard Cider  Chucks Imperials Wild Tropics Fruit Cider
93 points
$10
A truly superb balancing act of flavors, and the tropical fruit essence is delicious.
Woodchuck Hard Cider  Pineapple Mimosa Cider
93 points
$10
An excellent pineapple focused Cider, with highly approachable flavors; indispensable at a summer pig roast and imminently chuggable.
Easton Cider Co.  Apple Blend Common Cider
93 points
$15
Best Buy
Crisp and clean with a good balance of acidity and fruit without feeling too sweet as to mask the natural flavors of apple.
93 points $15 Best Buy
Brick River Cider Co.  Honey Crisp Apple Low Alcohol Cider
93 points
A very fruity and delightful cider, the elderflower adds some classy depth and the acidity keeps everything in balance; very well done.
Highpoint Cider  Tram-Line Mosaic Dry Hopped Cider
93 points
A fantastic use of Mosaic, that shows off the properties of this hop in a pure and focused way that most beers can't; exceedingly well done.
Woodchuck Hard Cider  Chucks Imperials Cheeky Cherry Fruit Cider
92 points
$10
Impressive balance and ability to express the cherry, apple, and lychee in almost exact equal proportions.