Metal House Cider starts with apples sourced entirely from historic Hudson Valley orchards and their own reinvigorated family orchard in Esopus, NY. After having sweat the apples for a spell, they press on a handmade rack-and-cloth press. Initial fermentation takes place in glass and stainless steel, and then rests through the winter in a steel clad cider house – the metal house!
Blending takes place in the spring, and start a new tirage using champagne yeast, nutrients and sugar to restart the fermentation process. Bottled immediately and then lay the bottles horizontally for a minimum of six months, allowing the second fermentation to proceed slowly, and imparting an optimal effervescence to each one. After riddling the lees into the neck of the bottle, the precipitate is disgorged and the bottle is topped off with a cider dosage and then cap, clean and label bottles.
Sure, one can make cider in about four days. But good things take time. From the sustainably grown apples, to the way in which they ferment, to the time they allow it to bottle condition, they work for it … and wait for it. Toil, love and time.
Some Metal House Cider Products
2019 Ora d’Oro
NY – Hudson River Region
Ora d’Oro features organic Goldrush in a blend of untreated Idared, Empire and wild apples from our Esopus orchards. It has an intense, fruit-forward palate with moderate yeast provided by the methode champenoise secondary bottle fermentation. The crisp mouthfeel is complemented by a profusion of lively bubbles and a mouth filling finish.
2019 Sundown
NY – Hudson River Region
Sundown is a tribute to our many pilgrimages to the Catskills, where we handpick wild and untreated fruit growing under the stern and watchful eyes of the Kalonymus Escarpment, in a beautiful valley inhabited by generous friends…
Sundown is a field blend which fermented slowly with naturally occurring yeasts.
Alcohol 8.50%
2019 Wild One
NY – Hudson River Region
Wild One is a tiny batch of wild 65% Golden Russet and 35% Rum Runner apples, fermented with naturally occurring yeasts in glass demijohns, followed by a second fermentation in this bottle.
Gorgeous mouthfeel and perfect expression of two of our favorite apples from that harvest.
Alcohol 7.70%
2019 Judy’s Jewel
NY – Hudson River Region
Single varietal from a single tree at the performance art space, PS21 in Chatham NY, in honor of it’s founder Judy Grunberg Wild ferment. bottle conditioned. Available in 375ml only. 25 cases produced.
Alcohol 7.50%
2019 Wild One
NY – Hudson River Region
Wild One is a tiny batch of wild 65% Golden Russet and 35% Rum Runner apples, fermented with naturally occurring yeasts in glass demijohns, followed by a second fermentation in this bottle. Gorgeous mouthfeel and perfect expression of two of our favorite apples from that harvest.
Alcohol 7.70%
2018 Still Falls the Rain
NY – Hudson River Region
Anything but still, Still Falls the Rain is an elegant Methode Champenoise cider made of organic Goldrush, wild Catskill crabapples and untreated Esopus Empire and Idareds. Soft tannins and medium acidity. Undisgorged. Open Slowly. Expect Sediment.
Alcohol 8.20%
2019 Disco Nat
NY – Hudson River Region
Early into 2019 harvest, the wild Dolgo crabapples we picked in the Catskills were fermenting in demijohns next to wild ‘disco’ pears. We bottled mid-fermentation, blending with a 2018 wild ferment of sustainably grown Cortland and Macs.
Alcohol 7.60%
2017 Arista
NY – Hudson River Region
Arista marks the chance to resurrect that which was lost. To work with what we have as we build something better. Like our farming culture at large, we once had it all and like Aristaeus we went chasing Eurydice and fell afoul of the Gods.…May that we are fortunate enough to raise a hive from the carcass.
Arista is a blend of wild and sustainably grown apples. Subtle aromas of tart cherry and petrol, apricot and dates on the palate balanced by a firm acidity and crisp lively finish. Dosaged with a tiny amount of local honey.
Traditional Method -0% RS -13 months en tirage at first release. Hand disgorged. 150 cases produced.
Alcohol 8.00%
Metal House Cider picks apples from a cross-section of these old orchards and endeavor to use the most sustainably grown fruit available to us.