American hard cider is making a comeback. There are many high hopes for the industry, which has gotten the welcome mat from New York's chief executive.
A new law that will take effect early next year creates a new type of license for farm cider-making operations. Sonya del Peral is manager of Albany's Nine Pin Cider Works Company.
She agrees with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who believes that the farm cider operations, which can sell other products such as jams and souvenirs, will promote tourism and help New York agriculture.
Cuomo's "Farm Cideries" bill creates a license for operations that make and sell hard cider annually from crops grown in New York. The license is similar ones available to farm wineries, breweries and distilleries.
One of the nation's first urban cideries, Nine Pin is nestled in warehouse space on the corner of Broadway and Thacher in North Albany. Nine Pin procures apples locally from Hudson Valley Apple Orchards like Altamont's Indian Ladder Farms and Lindsey’s Idyllwood Orchard in Rexford. Dean Norton, President of New York Farm Bureau, hails the new Farm Cidery License as a boost for local orchards and cider makers.
Alejandro del Peral, Sonya's son, is the cider-maker - he says if you haven't tasted hard cider, you're in for a treat. Nine Pin plans to have its first batch of cider ready in 2014. It will be available at the Broadway cidery and in supermarkets, wine stores, restaurants and bars.
