The second annual community apple project has started up again. Following last year’s well-received People’s Cider, this October Muwin Estate is once again embarking on an effort to create a unique blend of heritage varietals, capturing Nova Scotia’s orchards in a drink.
“Our inspiration here is very much by the community, for the community,” says owner Germain Bergeron.
“We take apples grown across the province from back gardens, farms and wild orchards, making use of fruit that might otherwise be wasted, and create an annual blend of real Nova Scotian cider.”
Thus the seasonal vintage is a collaborative effort bringing together the apple community in Nova Scotia, including farmers, local volunteers and cider manufacturer Muwin Estate.
The labour of love yields the all-natural People’s Cider with part of the sales to go to a Nova Scotia-based charity.
Muwin Estate is alrady accepting donated heritage apples from Annapolis Valley at its New Ross location at 7155 Highway 12.
Muwin, which produces the award winning Bulwark brand ciders, wants to raise awareness of the myriad heritage varieties of apples still growing unattended in many fields throughout the province.
“These apples are superb for cider production, rich in tannins and acidity, but not often suitable for eating,” says Bergeron.
Many of these varieties would be French, English and German in origin, names long forgotten as eating apples have risen in production and popularity.
Muwin Estate is holding an open house on Oct. 14, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Anyone with too many bushels of apples, call the office on +1 902 681 1545 to arrange pick up.
For varieties that ripen later, arrangements can be made for pick up or later drop off.
Visit Facebook page facebook.com/bulwarkcider or BulwarkCider.com for updates on the project.
Did you know?
Muwin Estate Wines is an award-winning craft cider and fruit wine producer based in New Ross. Muwin is the largest owner-operated cidery in Nova Scotia and the only one that is fully integrated.
Its Bulwark signature five-apple blend cider is made with apple varieties from the Annapolis Valley, which are freshly pressed on site then fermented and bottled, all under one roof.
