Celebrating its 10th year, Cider Week Hudson Valley kicks off this June, a celebration of all that is cider in the scenic, rolling hills of one of New York’s most treasured regions. Unlike in years past, though, this year, Cider week, which will take place from Saturday, June 20 through Sunday, June 28, will be a virtual affair. Taste cider, enjoy exciting happy hour cocktails, tour orchards and cideries, join in on panel conversations, and learn how to pair cider with unbelievable food, all from a digital perspective, and all from the comfort of wherever you like.
Now entering its sophomore decade, Cider Week began as the natural outcome of the Glynwood travel exchange between French and American cider producers. It makes sense that cider would find a home in New York’s Hudson Valley, where apples are bountiful, local food culture is ingrained, and agriculture is central to region. Apples are as much a part of the Hudson Valley landscape as any other single agricultural feature, and in the intervening decade, Cider Week has grown in size and importance. It’s now a prominent summer event hosted in the region each summer.
Read more: Follow This Map Straight to New York Cider
The Hudson Valley is considered one of the premier growing regions for hard cider in the United States. The region’s agrarian roots gave way to a system of transport, with apples moving by steamboat down the Hudson River. After falling out of favor for some time, the Hudson Valley’s great orchards enjoyed a second renaissance during the 1990s and 2000s. Today, the region is home to the most cider producers in the United States, many of whom are doing the exceptional work of reflecting the terroir of New York.
With several different distinct growing regions, the Hudson Valley boasts farms of all sizes. Cider is made from all different types of apples: Cordlandt, Golden Delicious, Gala, Golden Russet, Ashmead’s Kernel, and Fuji are some of the apples that are often turned into the ciders for which this region is now well known. For those new to cider, or new to Hudson Valley cider, expect a leaner style, with complex notes and full fruit on the palate.
But this is just a taste! Cider Week will deliver all this and more. Consider this an aperitif to the cider extravaganza that is still yet to come. For Cider Week, the built-in education is invaluable, a trove of stories, history, and access that you can’t find anywhere else. Like wine, cider deserves its time in the sun, and this is an opportunity to sit back (in the privacy of your own garden, kitchen, living room, or even bedroom) and enjoy the chance to learn from the masters. Meanwhile, you can plan your future trip to the Hudson Valley, where you can taste these gems in person and visit the apple-dotted splendor that is one of New York State’s true treasures.
To register for the Hudson Valley Cider Week, follow @newyorkcider on Instagram, where registration information, schedules, and more virtual information will be posted in the coming days.
This story is part of our ongoing partnership with the New York Apple Association and the New York Cider Association. Join us as we showcase all that New York apples have to offer: on the plate, in the glass, and beyond.
