CUSTOM CRUSH APPRENTICESHIP

What is Involved

Fruit

You don’t need to own an orchard to make cider at EsoTerra Ciderworks. With our connections to a multitude of apple growers, orchardist and regional fruit growing organizations we are here to connect you with the apples you need to craft a premium artisanal product. All you need is 1/2 ton of apples to create a barrel of wine; think of a pile of apples in the back of a pickup truck. The cost of those apples will vary depending on the varietal, the current market price, and whether or not you wish to be in the orchard picking you own fruit.

Crush

We work hand-in-hand with the growers and orchard managers to ensure the apples are harvested at the optimum brix and maturity.  Incoming apples are then hand-sorted so that only the ripest, most unique fruits make it to our crusher.  Fermenters are selected to accommodate your production, both large and small.

Packaging

We offer several choices when it comes to packaging that allow you to create the finished look that you want for your cider. When it comes time to create your label, we work closely with your graphic designer to make sure that it’s ready when your cider is. If you don’t have a designer, we can recommend one for you, or you can work with our in-house design team. TTB (Tax and Trade Bureau) approval is built into our all-inclusive pricing.

Bottling

Bottling is the final step in the winemaking cycle and can be one of the most crucial. Our experienced team takes great care to oversee the transfer of your wine from barrel or tank to bottle, using our in-house bottling line. Having our own bottling line allows us the flexibility to bottle throughout the year, when your wine is ready. This can be a really fun component of your custom crush process and is often celebrated with a day of bottling with friends and culminates in a festive meal on the cidery’s patio.