6th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival Planned for September 7 at Uncle John’s Cider Mill

Craft cider is more popular now than ever before and to celebrate this growing Midwest passion, the 6th Annual Great Lakes Cider & Perry Festival returns to Uncle John’s Cider Mill at 8614 N US 127, St. Johns – just north of Lansing.

More than one hundred different ciders and perries from dozens of producers from throughout the region will be available for sampling on Saturday, September 7 at this annual gathering, presented by the Great Lakes Cider & Perry Association.

General festival admission runs from 2-7pm. 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). Tickets for the may be purchased online here. All profit proceeds from the festival benefit the Great Lake Cider & Perry Association (est. 2008).

Entertainment this year includes the Jagwire Country Band (1-5pm) on the Cider Mill Porch followed by 16-year-old Taylor Taylor from 5-7pm at the Tasting event.

Jagwire Country was formed by Dan Hullihen and features several talented, local musicians and singers including Randy Wooley on drums; Jaxie Hartman on bass guitar and vocals; Del Shorts on lead guitar and vocals; Martin “Luther” Hutchinson on rhythm guitar, lead guitar and vocals; and Hullihen on steel guitar and vocals. The band has developed a small following in the mid Michigan area, playing music for dancing – everything from waltz to line dancing, with some up tempo two-step numbers as well as some old rock and roll.

Taylor Taylor is a 16-year-old native of Lansing, MI with African American and Colombian roots. She has been cultivating her jazzy-pop style with classical guitar skills, warm and charismatic vocals and songwriting lyrics, which reveal her intelligence beyond her years. This singer-songwriter enjoys performing at venues around the state and has won several singing and talent competitions. Highlights of her career so far have been performing in Nashville, TN for various songwriting showcases, including the Bluebird Cafe, opening for Radio Disney's, Shane Harper and releasing her first EP in 2012. While Taylor stays busy with school, sports, music lessons and volunteering, her passion is to perform. Taylor is a genuine, humorous and all around great young lady. She believes a philanthropic mind and love for music can change the hearts for those who listen.

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

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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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.