Snowdrift Cider, located in the heart of Washington apple country, started commercially producing artisan ciders around 2009. But Peter Ringsrud, who with his wife Mary Ann bought 40 acres in East Wenatchee in the early 1970s, has been working the land for a great deal longer. Peter grew up on an orchard in Cashmere, WA, owned by his father, Frederic, who left North Dakota during the Depression to look for work. He found it in the orchard fields of Washington state, and Peter followed suit.

“I’m an orchardist,” Peter says matter-of-factly. “I initially tried to make cider out of dessert fruit [like Red & Golden Delicious apples] that I’d grown for 40 years.” But something wasn’t right. Peter had become skilled at producing a variety of fruit wines over the years, and he couldn’t quite understand why his cider was coming up short. In 2004, he had a chance to take a Peter Mitchell class at Washington State University, and it finally clicked. “I realized I was using the wrong apples, so we grafted over a few acres of Red Delicious with heirloom varieties like Dabinett and Yarlington Mill.”

Quite suddenly, Peter had a whole new range of flavors to work with, and it shows in the delightful ciders Snowdrift produces today. A fan favorite is the Cliffsbreak Blend, full bodied with a light sparkle that carries classic English cider and bittersweet apple aromas followed by flavors of melons and dried fruit. Another is the Dry Cider, made in the English tradition and with a hint of toffee and a light sparkle that carries delicate orchard fruit aromatics in the lingering finish. You’ll find both of these blends at City Fruit’s 4th Annual Hard Cider Taste on November 6th. Get your tickets today to sample Snowdrift’s premier ciders from the heart of Washington apple country.