By Renée Sferrazza
Ontario Craft Cider Week returns September 19–26, giving cider lovers a very good reason to look a little closer at what is being poured from Ontario orchards.
From Niagara and Prince Edward County to Georgian Bay and beyond, cider is being made in some of Ontario’s most beautiful growing regions, with producers exploring different apples, fruits, blends and techniques along the way.
And there is so much more to discover than simply whether a cider is dry or sweet. What if we explored cider by the experience it gives us in the glass instead?
Aromatic. Heritage. Structured. Rich.
These are four terms I’ve started using as a sommelier to open up the conversation around cider. They aren’t rules or official categories, but a way to explore aroma, flavour, fruit, texture, structure and the character of the orchard itself.
Aromatic Ciders
Aromatic ciders are the ones you notice before the first sip. Fresh apple, ripe berries, flowers and bright fruit lead the way, making these vibrant, fragrant ciders a natural fit for anyone who loves aromatic white wines or rosé.
Featured Ontario Examples
Rice Lake Cranberry Dry Cider
Ontario apples meet tart cranberry in a cider that is bright, refreshing and packed with red-fruit character. The cranberry brings a lively tang, while the apple keeps everything fresh and balanced.
Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/rice-lake-cranberry-dry-cider-4pk-24871
Reinhart’s Blackberry Cider
Juicy blackberry layers over fresh Ontario apple in this fruit-forward cider. Fragrant and vibrant, it delivers plenty of ripe berry character while remaining refreshing and distinctly cider-driven.
Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/reinhart-s-blackberry-cider-25034
What to Eat With Aromatic Ciders
Lean into all that freshness. Aromatic ciders love salty cheese, fresh herbs and dishes with a little fruit of their own. So next time you open a can give it a try with:
Goat cheese and cranberry salad
Cranberry & Goat Cheese Salad Inspired By Pizza Delight
The trick isn’t to overpower the cider. Let those bright, fragrant flavours do the work.
Heritage Ciders
Heritage ciders bring the orchard into the glass. Just as grape variety shapes wine, different apples can bring their own acidity, aroma, texture and flavour to cider. These are bottles that encourage you to pay attention to the fruit itself and the Ontario orchards behind it.
Featured Ontario Examples
Spy Golden Eye Cider
Inspired by Ontario’s iconic Northern Spy apple, Golden Eye puts apple character front and centre. Crisp and orchard-driven, it offers a delicious introduction to how much the variety of apple can influence what’s in your glass.
Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/spy-cider-house-golden-eye-cider-11674
Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/thornbury-village-honeycrisp-apple-cider-15176
What to Eat With Heritage Ciders
This is the category that makes you want to cook something from the farmers’ market. There is something especially satisfying about drinking Ontario cider alongside ingredients harvested from the same landscape and season. So next time you open a can give it a try with:
Pork loin with apples
Pork and Apple Inspired By Cornish Pasty Co
These earthy, savoury and orchard-inspired flavours let the character of the apple remain at the centre of the pairing.
Structured Ciders
Structured ciders show just how comfortably cider can sit at the dinner table. Acidity, tannin, carbonation, spice and texture give these bottles shape and presence, allowing them to stand up to food in much the same way a structured wine can.
Featured Ontario Examples
Heartwood Farm Eve Goes Badass Sparkling Cider
Ontario apples meet cayenne pepper and local honey in a bold cider with fruit, heat, texture and spice. It’s a creative expression that pushes the boundaries of cider while keeping Ontario orchard fruit at its core.
Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/heartwood-farm-eve-goes-badass-sparkling-cider-36765
Shiny Apple Rosé Cide
Bright berry character and lively acidity give this rosé-inspired cider freshness and structure. It has enough presence for the dinner table while remaining vibrant and easy to enjoy.
Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/shiny-apple-ros-c-515098
What to Eat With Structured Ciders
Bring on foods with richness, smoke or spice. The cider’s acidity can refresh the palate between bites, while its structure means it won’t disappear once the food arrives. So next time you open a can give it a try with:
Mushroom risotto
Mushroom Risotto Inspired By Black Coffee Cafe Negro Bistro
These are the ciders to experiment with at the dinner table, especially when the dish has enough flavour and texture to demand something equally interesting in the glass.
Rich Ciders
Rich ciders are about weight and texture, not simply sweetness. Ripeness, apple selection and production choices can create broader, more layered ciders that feel generous in the glass while retaining the freshness that keeps cider so drinkable.
Featured Ontario Examples
Pommies Farmhouse Cider
Fresh Ontario apple sits at the heart of this farmhouse-style cider, with added depth and texture giving it a generous, more substantial feel while maintaining plenty of freshness.
Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/pommies-farmhouse-cider-418582
Tawse Cider
Made in Niagara, Tawse Cider brings together orchard fruit, texture and balance in a fuller expression. Generous yet fresh, it’s an easy bottle to imagine alongside a fall dinner.
Find it at the LCBO: https://www.lcbo.com/en/tawse-cider-569350
What to Eat With Rich Ciders
This is where the comfort food comes out. Richer ciders have enough weight and texture to sit comfortably beside the deeper flavours we start craving as the weather cools. So next time you open a can give it a try with:
Apple tarte tatin with salted caramel ice cream
Apple Tarte Tatin Inspired By Palace Prime
Cider’s natural freshness keeps richer dishes from feeling too heavy, while its apple character makes it particularly delicious with fall desserts.
Your Next Great Ontario Cider Might Be Closer Than You Think
These four styles are only a starting point. From September 19–26, Ontario Craft Cider Week is the perfect excuse to try something new, explore a local producer and discover just how diverse Ontario cider can be.
Because some of the most interesting drinks being made in Ontario right now don’t begin in a vineyard. They begin in an orchard.
