5th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival Planned for September 8 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 5th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival, September 8, 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.

General festival admission runs from Noon to 6pm. 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). Members of the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA) and Techniques of Alcohol Management (TAM) trained staff receive free regular admission.

Entertainment this year will be provided by the Fading World Band, from 1-5pm. Established in 2003, this Mid-Michigan band delivers a “fusion” of music that includes classic oldies, pop and show tunes and country songs, dating back from the early 1900s to the 1980s.

Tickets for the 5th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival may 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.

Individuals interested in volunteering at the event should contact Mike Beck at 989-640-2763 / mjbeck@ujcidermill.com.

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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!

Robinette Cellars Scores Four Medals at 6th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition

Robinette Cellars in Grand Rapids proudly brought home four medals from the 6th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Competition, sponsored by the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association (www.greatlakescider.com). The competition was held April 2 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

This year, significant growth was reported in the number of participants, drawing 265 entries in 19 categories from throughout North America from Washington to Nova Scotia and from Quebec to Texas, as well as entries from overseas (Last year, the total number of entries was 91, in 17 categories).

This competition includes categories for both commercial producers (those who may lawfully sell their products) and non-commercial producers (home hobbyists and commercial establishments such as cider mills that press fresh juice but are not licensed to sell fermented products). With 19 categories of entry, the competition is unique in its high level of inclusiveness with fermented products of all kinds are welcome: ciders, perries, meads, beers, and commercial distillates, provided that they are made with apples or pears.

This year, Robinette Cellars received medals for:

Common Cider
Bronze – Barzilla’s Brew Hard Sider
Lightly carbonated, dry, made with apple juice.

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

Intensified Cider
Silver - Dessert Apple Wine
Apple wine fortified with apple brandy.

Open Mead
Bronze – Cyser
Honey and apple juice fermented with dates & raisins.

“This is a great honor for us to bring home so many medals from this competition once again,” says Bill Robinette – hard cider maker and wine maker at Robinette’s. “With the increase in the number of entries from around the world, it’s great that we’re being recognized for our products in a variety of categories. Michigan had a proud showing at the competition, and we’re excited to be part of this thriving agri-tourism industry.”

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 – celebrating its Centennial in 2011. In addition to the orchard and winery, Robinette’s offers a cider mill, farm market, corn maze, horse-drawn wagon rides, mountain biking trail, 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

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.

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.