Robinette Cellars Scores Four Medals at 5th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition

Two New Products to be Introduced January 30 at “Release Party”

Robinette Cellars in Grand Rapids proudly brought home four medals earlier this month from the 5th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition, sponsored by the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association (www.greatlakescider.com).

Two of those products – the Apple Cherry Hard Cider and Apple Table Wine – have not even been bottled for release to the public as of yet. A “Release Party” is planned for Saturday, January 30 from 1-5pm at Robinette Cellars, 3142 4 Mile Road NE.

There were 91 entries in 17 categories from throughout the Great Lakes region in the commercial division of this annual competition, which took place December 12 in Grand Rapids.

Robinette Cellars received medals for:

Fruit Cider
Bronze - Apple Cherry Hard Cider*
Lightly carbonated, semi-sweet, made with apple juice and Michigan cherry juice.

Apple Wine
Silver - Apple Table Wine*
Non-carbonated, semi-dry, crisp, bright and brimming with apple.

Pommeau (Intensified Cider & Perry Post Fermentation)
Bronze - Dessert Apple Wine
Apple wine fortified with apple brandy.

Open Category Mead
Silver – Cyser
Honey and cider fermented with dates & raisins.

“This is a great honor for us to bring home so many medals from this competition,” says Bill Robinette – cider maker at Robinette’s. “We’re excited to maintain an active role in the growing agri-tourism industry here in Michigan. This recognition of our products – including two of our new releases – is something we’re very proud of.”

Robinette Cellars began producing its line of hard cider, mead, cyser and wine in January, 2006, and currently has a product list of 16, all made with Michigan fruit. Visitors to Robinette Cellars pay $3 per person or $5 per couple for a souvenir wine glass and samples of six of their local wines. The glass can be brought back on future visits for free tastings.

Founded in 1911, Robinette’s is a 5th generation, 125-acre year-round agricultural destination in northern Kent County. In addition to the orchard and winery, Robinette’s offers a cider mill, farm market, corn maze, horse-drawn wagon rides, mountain biking & cross country ski trails, bakery and full lunch menu. The 1800s Gift Barn features made in Michigan products, such as food items and fine art, as well as holiday decorations and custom-packaged gift boxes.

Robinette’s holds memberships in the Michigan Apple Committee, Michigan Cider Makers Guild, Michigan State Horticultural Society, Kent Harvest Trails, Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association, Local First and West Michigan Tourist Association.

For hours, activities and more information, visit www.robinettes.com



*New products for Robinette’s, to be released January 30, 2010.