More from the New York Cider Association and Raise A Glass Foundation Awards…Kite & String’s 17 case run of Goldrush 2017 gets double gold…And on our shelves now!We weren’t sure… as referenced in our last vintage report (HERE), a pin in time is useful and reminds us of all the bus stops along the way. The 2017 Goldrush took a bit to calm down, and during that time we blended a bit of the SV tank into other blends. But then, after a champagne method secondary fermentation and a nice long rest… Wowza. This cider is exqui ..read more

Greetings friends near and far,I write to let you know that today begins my transition away from Good Life Farm - Kite & String Cider - Finger Lakes Cider House. There are many details to wrap up, but today marks the moment.Regenerative agriculture is a powerful tool for clean air, clean water and right livelihood. With that in mind I’ve sunk my roots into the farm for the past 11 years. My blood, sweat, tears, and all my ideals are part of the soil of this place. Leaving has not come easily but for myself and for the trifecta of these businesses, it is time I seek other opportunities to e ..read more

NEW YORK CIDER ASSOCIATION PARTNERS WITH RAISE A GLASS FOUNDATION TO PRODUCE INAUGURAL NEW YORK CIDER COMPETITION 16 Double Gold and 3 Gold Medals Awarded from a Field of 150 EntriesThe Best in Show winner of the Governor’s Cider Cup was Kite & String’s 2017 Pioneer Pippin, a Traditional Method, fruit-forward cider highlighting Pioneer Crab and Newtown Pippin apples. This marks the second consecutive vintage of this cider to be identified as the best cider being made in New York State, on the heels of the 2018 Governor ..read more

May 1, 2019By Melissa Maddenowner/field crew: Kite & String/Finger Lakes Cider House/Good Life Farm 2018 was a challenging year to fully ripen fruit. This has a significant impact on the quality of the vintage and deep repercussions for cellar practices starting with harvest thru to each cider’s release date. Usually we look back at vintages from the fully finished and aged standpoint. We are just beginning to release the first of the 2018 ciders, while the rest are laid down for secondary fermentation and aging. I find ..read more

Brief Insights in the the life of the Farm-Cidery-Cider House, at this momentBy Melissa Madden, owner/doer of what is needed Kite & String Cellar Update2018 Vintage: filtering, final blending, bottling for secondary fermentationAbove, you see Rick heroically posing during our Funkhouse filtration. We’re filtering to build cuvees for our final bottling of champagne method ciders- sending nearly 4,500 gallons into secondary fermentation between March ..read more

Eve's Cidery now offers on-farm, by appointment tastings in Van Etten Three and a half years ago, the Finger Lakes Cider House opened its door with a unique idea: provide a retail space for cider friends and colleagues who didn't have one and simultaneously become a destination for tasting cider from multiple producers in one spot. We've been proud and honored to be part of Melissa and Garrett's ambitious project. Since 2015, the cider industry as a whole has evolved, the Cider House has evolved, Eve's has evolved, and at th ..read more