Five Stops, Endless Discoveries
Exploring Ontario Craft Cider in Niagara and Beyond
From historic family farms and picturesque vineyards to innovative cider houses, discover the people, places and flavours that make Ontario craft cider worth exploring.
There’s something special about getting off the beaten path and discovering what’s being made close to home. In Ontario, that sense of discovery comes with a refreshing twist: craft cider.
With a rich agricultural heritage, exceptional locally grown fruit and a growing community of passionate cider makers, Ontario offers an incredible variety of cider experiences. From crisp, traditional apple ciders to innovative blends and sophisticated barrel-aged creations, there’s much more to discover than you might expect.
To experience some of that diversity firsthand, cider enthusiast Renée set out from Toronto on a day-long adventure along the Ontario Craft Cider Trail, visiting five distinctive destinations across Niagara and the surrounding region.
Each stop offered something different, but all shared a passion for great cider and the Ontario-grown ingredients that make it possible.
Lowrey Bros. Cider at Ravine Vineyard
A Taste of History
The adventure begins at Ravine Vineyard in St. Davids, where more than 160 years of family farming history provide the foundation for Lowrey Bros. Cider.
Although best known as a winery, Ravine is also home to a cider-making tradition rooted in the family’s commitment to preserving its agricultural heritage.
Cider maker Natalia Casioli brings a winemaker’s sensibility to the process, producing clean, fresh ciders that allow the character of the fruit to shine.
The extra-dry apple cider delivers bright acidity, delicate floral notes and a crisp, refreshing finish. A second tasting, combining apples and pears, offers a softer, more aromatic experience with hints of honeysuckle and ripe pear.
It’s a wonderful introduction to how Ontario’s winemaking expertise and apple-growing heritage can come together in a glass.
Ironwood Cider
Where Craft Meets Creativity
The next stop is Ironwood Cider, where traditional cider-making techniques meet a spirit of experimentation.
Known for working with culinary and heritage apples, Ironwood produces everything from approachable canned ciders to complex bottled expressions that benefit from extended aging.
Cider maker Theo Rendle introduces two particularly interesting creations, including a barrel-fermented cider featuring Bramley apples and a cyser, a distinctive combination of apple juice and honey that has undergone years of aging.
The results demonstrate just how sophisticated cider can be. Aromas of fresh apple, vanilla and tropical fruit complement the texture, acidity and subtle tannins that develop through careful fermentation and aging.
For wine enthusiasts looking to explore something new, Ironwood makes a compelling case for cider as a beverage to savour, pair with food and appreciate for its complexity.
Bench Brewing Company
Cider, Food and Sustainability
By lunchtime, the journey reaches Bench Brewing Company in Lincoln, home to Niagara Cider and Liberty Village Cider.
With an inviting kitchen, cider on tap and a wide selection of creative offerings, Bench is an ideal destination to combine a tasting with a leisurely meal.
The cider selection showcases the versatility of Ontario fruit. Niagara Gold brings together strawberry, raspberry and blueberry flavours, while Sun Cherry offers a vibrant balance of fruit and acidity.
Other creations push the boundaries further. A peach and Chardonnay cider celebrates two of Niagara’s signature crops, while a maple whisky oak-aged cider introduces warming notes of vanilla, toasted oak and baked apple.
But there’s more to Bench than inventive flavours.
Founder Matt Giffen explains the company’s commitment to quality and environmental responsibility. With solar-powered production, carbon-neutral certification and B Corp certification, sustainability is an integral part of the operation.
It’s an example of how Ontario’s craft beverage producers are finding innovative ways to make great products while considering their environmental impact.
Fielding Estate Winery
Fresh Flavours and Spectacular Views
Few things complement a refreshing glass of cider quite like a beautiful view.
At Fielding Estate Winery, overlooking Niagara’s picturesque landscape near the Escarpment, visitors can enjoy both.
The winery’s expansion into craft cider was driven by president Curtis Fielding’s desire to create refreshing, balanced ciders that highlight the natural character of locally grown apples.
Working with neighbouring growers, the Fielding team selects different apple varieties to achieve the right combination of acidity, structure and flavour.
The result is a collection of ciders that reflects the same attention to detail found in the winery’s wines.
A premium dry cider offers fresh apple aromas, subtle floral notes and an elegant finish. Meanwhile, a cherry cider made with fruit sourced from nearby Cherry Lane brings together the crispness of apples with the bright, tart character of cherries.
With its welcoming atmosphere and scenic surroundings, Fielding is the kind of place that invites visitors to settle in, enjoy a tasting and appreciate the landscape that makes Ontario’s fruit-growing regions so special.
West Avenue Cider
Celebrating the Art of Cider Making
The final destination takes the adventure to Freelton, just outside Hamilton, where West Avenue Cider has helped shape Ontario’s modern craft cider movement since 2012.
Co-owners Amy Robson and Chris Haworth have built their approach around heritage apples, traditional methods and a willingness to explore the possibilities of cider making.
Unlike many producers that combine culinary and heritage varieties, West Avenue focuses exclusively on heritage apples, creating ciders with remarkable depth and character.
Among the highlights is Legacy, a sparkling cider made using traditional bottle-fermentation techniques similar to those used in Champagne. With extended aging in stainless steel and oak, it develops complex flavours, fine bubbles and an elegant structure.
Oracle, a wine-and-cider hybrid made with Ontario fruit, offers another perspective on what cider can be.
Perhaps most intriguing is Fire & Ice, which combines two methods of concentrating apple juice: freezing and reducing it with heat. The result is a richly aromatic cider with notes of caramel, toffee and a touch of smokiness, balanced by lively acidity.
With an orchard to explore and an inviting tasting lounge, West Avenue provides a fitting conclusion to a day celebrating the creativity and craftsmanship of Ontario’s cider makers.
Your Ontario Craft Cider Adventure Starts Here
Five stops. Five different experiences. And countless reasons to keep exploring.
What makes the Ontario Craft Cider Trail so appealing is that no two destinations are quite alike. Some are rooted in generations of family farming. Others bring winemaking traditions, experimental techniques or unexpected flavour combinations to the table.
Together, they tell a story of Ontario agriculture, local entrepreneurship and a craft beverage industry that’s continually finding new ways to celebrate the apple.
And these five stops are only the beginning.
From Niagara and Hamilton to Prince Edward County, Georgian Bay and beyond, the Ontario Craft Cider Trail offers opportunities to discover new favourites, meet the makers and explore some of the province’s most beautiful destinations.
Ready to plan your own cider adventure?
Explore the Ontario Craft Cider Trail and discover where your next stop could take you.
