Uncle John’s Russet Cider Earns 3rd Place in World’s Largest Cider Competition

Uncle John’s Fruit House Winery & Cider Mill, located on US27 North in St. Johns, has earned a 3rd Place in The Royal Bath & West Show in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England. This is the second consecutive year that Uncle John’s has been recognized at this event – noted as the world’s largest cider competition.

This competition dates back to 1895, in what North American’s would call a pro-am format – with professionals and amateurs competing side-by-side. This year’s judging received a record 518 entries, up from 498 in 2012. There were 16 different classes (categories) in the judging this year, with two of those dedicated solely to entries from outside the United Kingdom (and a total of 52 international entries). Uncle John’s was the only American cider honored in this year’s competition.

“Uncle John’s is very excited about earning this award,” says Mike Beck. “We work very hard to grow and source the best Michigan fruit to make a great cider. It is a testament to what good practices in your orchard can achieve.”

Russet Cider is a blend of many “russeted” apple varieties: Golden Russet, Roxburry Russet, Knobby Russet, Razor Russet and Hudson’s Golden Gem, to name a few. Russet Cider is dry and sparkling, fruit forward with an earthy/mineral finish, and 6.5% ABV. Earlier this year, Uncle John’s Russet received a Silver Medal in the “Old World” category at the 2013 Great Lakes Cider & Perry International Competition. It is available in limited distribution (bottle and draft) at the tasting room and a few selected locations around Michigan, Chicago and Portland, OR.

Centrally located in the state, Uncle John's Fruit House Winery mixes traditional agri-tourism with a Winery and Tasting Room. Uncle John's specializes in Fruit Wines, Hard Ciders and Perrys. Aside from the fruit wines, we also feature traditional grape varieties, as well as Apple Brandy and Vodka made from Apples. The winery and tasting room is housed in an 85-year-old restored fruit packing house and is located beside Uncle John’s Cider Mill, Pie Barn and Gift Shop. Uncle John’s is located at 8614 N. US 127, seven miles north of St. Johns and four miles south of US-127 and M-57 intersection.

For more information, visit Fruit House Winery online at www.fruithousewinery.com.

4th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival Planned for Sept 10 at Uncle John’s Cider Mill

More than one hundred different ciders and perries will be available for sampling from producers throughout the Great Lakes region at the 4th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival, September 10, at Uncle John’s Cider Mill at 8614 N US 127, St. Johns – just north of Lansing. The festival is presented by the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association.

A special VIP hour runs from 11am until Noon, which includes a special pour of cider from participating cideries and a unique cheese station featuring local and international selections. Special presentations from Pete Brown and Bill Bradshaw from England and Dick Dunn, editor of the Cider Digest, are also planned. VIP admission is $25 and also includes a commemorative glass and 10 sample pours.

General festival admission runs from Noon to 5pm. At $15 per person, regular admission includes a commemorative glass and 10 sample pours. Group tickets are also available for general admission ($25 for 2 tickets | $40 for 4 tickets | $75 for 10 tickets). The group rate for VIP is $10 additional for each VIP admission. Members of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) and Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM) trained staff receive free regular admission.

Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.greatlakescider.com/ciderfest.html

All profit proceeds from the festival benefit the Great Lake Cider & Perry Association (est. 2008). Find them online at www.GreatLakesCider.com.

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The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association (GLCPA) is a nonprofit organization formed to showcase and promote fermented apple and pear beverages and to help educate consumers and producers about them. Our members include both commercial and non-commercial producers, as well as affiliate members located outside the region. Come join us at one of our events and discover some of the finest North American ciders and perries!

Uncle John's Fruit House Winery Snags a Dozen Medals at 2011 Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition

Uncle John’s Fruit House Winery, located on US27 North in St. Johns, returned home from the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival in Grand Rapids earlier this month with a dozen new pieces of hardware. According to owner and cider maker Mike Beck, the 8-year-old winery was awarded five gold medals, five silver medals and two bronze medals, including:

Cyser (4 entries)
Gold - Cyser
A fresh blend of Apple Wine & Michigan honey, with subtle hints of melon, honey and spices.

Common Cider (35 entries)
Silver – Seasonal Baldwin
A Varietal Cider made from an apple that was our Nation’s #1 planted variety its 100 yrs of existence.

Silver – Original Hard Cider
Full-flavored, crisp and refreshing with just the right amount of carbonation.

Bronze – Bourbon Barrel Cider
Dry Cider aged in Bourbon Barrels to give it a hearty Bourbon character…

Perry (6 entries)
Gold – Perry
Made from juicy Michigan Bartlett pears; semi-dry and sparkling with carbonation.

Fruit Cider (16 entries)
Gold – Apple Cranberry
Full-flavored, crisp and refreshing, barrel aged for approximately 4 months.

Bronze – Apple Cherry Cider
A carbonated blush made with fresh apple hard cider, mixed with Michigan Cherry Juice.

Apple Wine (10 entries)
Silver – Apple Wine
A Semi-Dry wine from a blend of apple varities. Crisp & Refreshing and great for mulling.

Specialty Cider (19 entries)
Silver – Fireball Cider
A cider blended with Atomic Fireballs that is fun to drink and takes you on a stroll down memory lane.

Intensified Cider
Gold – Apple Dessert Wine
Starting with fruit wine then fortified with brandy from the same fruit.

Distilled Eau de vie (5 entries)
Gold - Vodka
This is not apple “flavored” vodka, rather vodka distilled from apples. It is ultra smooth and clean with gentle fruit and spice notes. Made with Uncle John’s apples, coming in at 86 proof.

Distilled – Brandy (Oak Aged) (6 entries)
Bronze – Apple Brandy
A 90 proof brandy distilled from apple cider boasting subtle fruit bouquet with flavors of spice and leather, followed by a toasty oak finish. A nice earthy note finishes the palette from aging in French and American Oak Barrels.

The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition has grown to become the second largest cider and perry competition in the English-speaking world, behind the Royal Bath & West Show in Somerset, England.
This year, the competition showed notable growth with the number of commercial entries more than doubling. There were 19 categories of entry in three divisions – two commercial and one non-commercial. Entries came from 17 US states and three Canadian provinces, as well as producers in the English counties of Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Dorset and Suffolk. The 6th annual competition is sponsored by the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association.

The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association is a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 2008 with a mission of promoting cider and perry and of providing related educational opportunities for producers and consumers. Its core membership is comprised of commercial and noncommercial cidermakers in the states and province bordering on the Great Lakes. Additional information about the Association may be found at www.greatlakescider.com.

Centrally located in the state, Uncle John's Fruit House Winery mixes traditional agri-tourism with a Winery and Tasting Room. Uncle John's specializes in Fruit Wines, Hard Ciders and Perrys. Aside from the fruit wines, we also feature traditional grape varieties, as well as Apple Brandy and Vodka made from Apples. The winery and tasting room is housed in an 85-year-old restored fruit packing house and is located beside Uncle John’s Cider Mill, Pie Barn and Gift Shop. Uncle John’s is located at 8614 N. US 127, seven miles north of St. Johns and four miles south of US-127 and M-57 intersection.

For more information, visit Fruit House Winery online at www.fruithousewinery.com

2nd Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival Planned for September 12-13 at Uncle John's Cider Mill

The Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association has announced its 2nd Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival, September 12-13, at Uncle John’s Cider Mill at 8614 N US 127, St. Johns – just north of Lansing.

Throughout the weekend, samples of the finest cider and perry (cider made from pears) from the states and provinces that border the Great Lakes will be available for tasting, while food vendors sell sweet and savory selections. Activities such as cider pressing, nature walks and the kids’ playground, will be open for family fun at Uncle John’s all weekend long as well.

The festival runs from 11am to 6pm on Saturday, with cider and perry tastings throughout the day at a cost of $10 per person, which includes a souvenir glass for the first 250 people, and 10 tasting tickets. Ben Watson, author of Cider Hard & Sweet – History, Traditions & Making Your Own (2nd Edition) and Sharon Kegerreis and Lorri Hathaway, co-authors of From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries will be on hand throughout the day, selling and singing copies of their respective books.

On Sunday, the festival kicks off with an Antique Apple Tasting from 11am-Noon. Then, from 12:30-1:30pm, a Cider & Cheese Pairing will be held. Both sessions are hosted by Ben Watson and are limited to 50 individuals. The cost for each session is $10 per person. During the afternoon, from 1:30-3:30pm, learn from other non-professional cider makers at the cider makers’ roundtable discussion.
Those looking to partake in all the festival’s activities can purchase a special pass for $25 (limited to 50 people). Tickets can be purchased online at www.michiganvine.com/blog/tickets.

All profit proceeds from the festival benefit the Great Lake Cider & Perry Association (est. 2008). Find them online at www.GreatLakesCider.com.