New York is the top producer of hard cider in the United States, both in the number of cider makers and the volume of production.
Longtime observers of the state’s cider-making scene would also argue that the Empire State makes some of the best ciders in the country, thanks to pioneering producers and growers who resuscitated ancient apple varieties that had been abandoned because they were too bitter to eat but possess the right balance of flavor and tannins for well-crafted cider.
For devoted ciderphiles and the merely curious alike, there is no better place to explore the diverse range of exceptional NY ciders than at the NY Cider Festival 2025. The party is set for Saturday, November 15, at City Winery, starting at 11 am for VIPs (tickets are $50), and noon for everyone else ($40).
The NY Cider Festival 2025 will offer an exciting day of tastings and personal connections with 25 top New York State producers. It’s designed to showcase the state’s proud agricultural legacy and the creative way that history is deployed today by New York’s cidermakers.
The show closes at 3pm, with two opportunities to attend special Cider & Cheese Pairing sessions that will deepen attendees’ understanding of NY ciders’ diversity, range, and food-friendliness. Angry Orchard will host the first at 12:30pm ($35) and Visit Ithaca will host the second, at 2pm ($35).
That extra hour will give VIP ticket-holders easy access to the full range of ciders, and the ability to easily connect with producers without the crowds. Scott Ramsey, executive director of the New York Cider Association, notes that the venue for the festival reflects the spirit of the day, and offers enough space for producers to spread out and attendees to navigate without feeling overwhelmed.
“Hosting the festival at City Winery marks an exciting new chapter for NY Cider,” says Ramsey. “It’s a world-class venue that celebrates craftsmanship and connection, which is the same exact spirit that drives our NY cider makers. We’re thrilled to showcase the incredible range of NY ciders in a setting that matches their sophistication and artistry.”
The goal of building out both cider fans’ appreciation of the historic beverage’s range, and creating closer bonds between producers and enthusiasts is always foundational to the NY Cider Festival’s mission. With that in mind, Ramsey is particularly excited to debut a new award and offer the Cider & Cheese seminars.
“We’re excited to do the first-ever ‘People’s Choice Award’ for the festival,” Ramsey says. “All attendees will have the chance to vote for their favorite cidery during the event and we will announce the winner as a capstone to the day.”
Ramsey expects the Cider & Cheese pairing sessions to be another highlight because “hard cider pairs extremely well with food because of its acidity, tannins, carbonation” and the sense of place it imparts in the glass.
The Cheese & Cider pairing sessions will focus on the importance of matching intensity of cheese and ciders (so nothing is overpowered), complementary flavors (to create harmony), creating some contrast (to highlight each other), and thinking about the completeness of a cheese and cider pairing (if a cheese lacks one of the basic tastes—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami—the cider can fill the void.
Joe Gaynor, head cider maker at Angry Orchard, says he is ready to meet and greet the many attendees at both the Angry Orchard booth and the Cheese & Cider pairing sessions.
“The New York Cider Association has done an incredible job building a strong community that helps producers thrive, and the NY Cider Festival NYC is a great reflection of that,” Gaynor says. “It’s a chance to showcase the amazing range of cider coming out of New York and to connect with the people behind it. I’m excited to be pouring once again alongside so many talented cider makers and celebrating what makes NY cider so special.”
The NY Cider Festival is produced by the New York Cider Association, which was founded in 2015 to foster community among growers, producers, and the increasingly passionate group of enthusiasts who support them. In the past 10 years, hard cider in the Empire State has grown more than 2400%, and now contributes $1.7 billion in economic impact to the NY state economy.
The NY Cider Festival on November 15 runs from 11am–3pm at City Winery: 25 11th Avenue, Pier 57, New York City. (General admission is noon–3 pm).
Must be 21+ to attend. For more information, and to buy tickets, go to www.newyorkcider.org.
The NY Cider Festival NYC is produced by the New York Cider Association in partnership with Taste NY, NYS Grown & Certified, the NY Apple Association, Angry Orchard, and Visit Ithaca.
