The Story of Northern Spy 2022

We have been making a single varietal bottling of sparkling Northern Spy since the very beginning. I remember our opening day in 2002, pouring a Northern Spy made from James’ apples. I love making cider with Spies- the briney, lemony, minerally flavors make a palate-pleasing, palate-cleansing, food-friendly cider. Since our Albee Hill Orchard was very “off” in 2022, this bottling is 100% from the Newfield Orchard.  James planted these trees in the early 80’s on a geographical feature that was once the shore of lake Ithaca over 10,000 years ago. This “shore” is made up of steps of extremely deep gravel running the contour where the edge of the lake deposited gravel as it slowly shrank and receded with the melting of the glacial dam to the south.  This is a dry, rugged, rocky soil and I think you really pick that up in the cider. 

Primary fermentation in stainless steel with both wild and commercial yeast, secondary fermentation in-bottle, followed by disgorging.

~Autumn Stoscheck, Cider Maker/ Orchardist