Drink Ontario Apples

Discover Ontario’s world-class ciders crafted from apples grown right here at home.

Pick the Best,
Drink Ontario Apples

Our world-class ciders start with one of mother nature’s perfect foods: fresh apples. This natural goodness, grown right here in Ontario, sets local craft ciders apart. The Drink ON Apples™ logo is your guarantee that the cider you are enjoying is made with Ontario apples as the first, and sometimes only, ingredient.

Ontario Craft Cider Makers Are a Family

We have extensive roots in Ontario as growers and artisans crafting locally grown apples into delicious ciders. We are stewards of the land taking care to preserve our heritage for future generations. From small family-run orchards to craft breweries and wineries expanding their offerings to include new and exciting cider products, we are all are united by a commitment to quality, tradition and innovation. With deep appreciation for Ontario’s agricultural heritage, these producers contribute to the vitality of our rural communities and the local economy. When you purchase Ontario craft cider, you’re supporting a proud homegrown industry!

Ontario’s Cider Facts

Cider is a fermented alcoholic beverage (like wine) made from apples or pears, but can also include the juice of other fruits, such as cherries, berries or peaches.
In Ontario, cider usually has a 5-7% alcohol content.
Ontario is Canada’s largest apple growing region with approximately 16,000 acres of trees.
Ciders can be classified from dry to sweet. Their appearance ranges from cloudy with sediment to completely clear, and their colour ranges from light yellow through orange to brown.
Because it is made of fruit, not grain, cider is gluten-free.
In order to carry the Drink ON Apples™ logo, ciders must contain 100% Ontario-grown apples or 85% Ontario-grown apples with the addition of other fruits.

Not all Ciders are Alike!

Pear cider is called perry and is traditionally fermented with wild yeasts found on the fruit’s skin.
Botanicals may be added to infuse flavour including spices, herbs, flowers and tea.
Barrel Aging is a process where cider is aged or fermented in (typically oak) barrels to develop complexity, depth and character.
Sparkling ciders can be carbonated either naturally or artificially, with a residual sugar between 10 – 50 grams per litre and an alcohol per volume of 5 to 8 %.
Hopped ciders are made from 100% Ontario apples infused with hops. (Hops are the flowers or seed cones of the Humulus Iupulus plant typically used in craft beer brewing to add bitterness, aroma and flavour.)
Heritage Cider includes cider made using bittersweet/bittersharp apple varieties, often referred to as Heirloom Varieties. Heritage apples are uniquely
cultivated to make cider and are dissimilar to the varieties found in your grocery store. These ‘old world’ apples often have higher tannins and more acidity which add more complexity to cider. They may also include wild/crab apples locally sourced for added acidity/tannin balance.

Great Lakes Climate:
Perfect for Apples

Ontario apple growers produce many well-known varieties, like Honeycrisp and MacIntosh, as well as many lesser-known varieties grown just for cider, like Dabinett and Kingston Black. Ontario has 16, 000 acres within the province’s major apple-producing areas spread along the shores of Lake Ontario, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, and Georgian Bay. These large, deep bodies of water moderate spring and fall temperatures, protecting the crop, while Ontario’s cool climate ripens apples with intense flavour, vibrancy, and crisp acidity – perfect for creating delicious apple cider.

Growers and Producers:
Partners in Flavour

Ontario apple growers and cidermakers work in partnership to showcase the best of Ontario grown fruit. Growers produce a wide range of apples that are used by cidermakers to produce many different styles of cider.

Join the Movement,
Get Involved,
Enjoy Cider Events

Stay connected with the Drink Ontario Apples community! Follow us on social media, join us at events throughout the year. Share your experiences and spread the word about the incredible ciders made right here in Ontario.

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Drink Ontario Apples

Pick the Best, Drink Ontario Apples