All of our apples are picked ripe off the trees to ensure our cider has the best flavor possible.
Our apples are brought into our cider barn where they are washed and sorted.
What makes our cider unique is the blend of apples we press. We grow over 100 varieties of apples at our orchard and choose each variety we use for its specific attributes – sweetness, tartness, tannins, and aroma. Our apples are first ground and then pressed, producing 100% fresh juice. We feed the remains from pressing (apple pomace) to sheep and heritage pigs raised on our farm.
Yeast is added to the pressed cider triggering the fermentation process. The yeast eats the naturally occurring sugar in cider, converting it to alcohol. This takes 2 – 4 weeks because we ferment our cider at a low temperature to ensure best flavor quality.
Once the cider has been converted to alcohol, we transfer it to a settling tank. This allows the yeast and any unwanted particles to be removed.
The finished product is then bottled and put into kegs before it is distributed to various outlets in eastern Iowa.
Surrounded by old oak forest, Wilson’s Orchard occupies both sides of a valley with Rapid Creek winding through the farm. Our picturesque orchard is the perfect place to spend some quality time outdoors. Hear the birds sing, watch the muskrats play, smell the wildflowers. Oh yeah, and pick the best tasting fruit you have ever tried.
We grow over 100 varieties of apples at Wilson’s Orchard, all chosen based on one simple criterion: great taste. You will find all kinds of apples: big ones, small ones, green ones, yellow ones, and purple ones, each with its own flavor and texture. The varieties we grow ripen from the beginning of August through October.
In addition to fresh fruit, we also make a variety of homemade bakery items, apple cider vinegar, dried apples, fresh pressed apple cider, and now hard cider. Stop by the orchard during our season to enjoy a fresh baked apple turnover or homemade apple cider donuts. Or grab a pie to take home and bake. There’s something for everyone at the orchard! Visit our orchard website for more information.
The production of hard apple cider is steeped in rich history and tradition in America and throughout the world. In September 2015, Wilson’s Orchard began crafting our very own hard cider with the same passion used to grow some of the best fruit in the midwest. Our hard ciders use 100% fresh pressed apple juice to create a unique and crisp fermented brew.
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