The Craft of Ontario Cider
"I'm just a caregiver of yeast," one cider maker told me — which sums up the whole appeal of this piece for Wander North.
I spent time with makers at Two Blokes Cider, The County Cider Company, Spy Cider House, and Loch Mōr Cider Co. to understand what actually separates a good Ontario cider from a forgettable one: the apples (Honeycrisp and Gala don't cut it — cider needs rugged, tannic, cider-specific varieties), the terroir, and a dry-leaning style that pairs closer to wine than to beer.
It closes with a pairing guide built around the "Four Cs" — complement, contrast, cut, complete — for anyone trying to actually drink the stuff thoughtfully rather than just as a summer cooler grab.
