By Leesy Latronica
For Sonoma Valley area food and beverage buffs, winemaking is in the air they breathe. So when Motorcycle Wineries cider and wine distributor Troy Carter joined forces with Old World Winery mastermind Darek Trowbridge to bottle a small-batch cider, the result was bound to be a rare blend of orchard flavors dominated by classic wine characteristics.
While the Troy Cider MMXIII is complex in every way, it can ultimately be boiled down to a single descriptor: wild. Wild-harvested from abandoned apple orchards on the Bay Area outskirts (some more than 100-years-old, according to the cider makers), left to cold ferment in oak barrels with pure wild yeast, a touch of wild quince and pear to boost acidic heirloom apples. Enjoy after pouring to experience the fully wild and unfiltered cloudiness, complete with rich sediment.
Many labels boast the ability to convert the tried-and-true wino into a cider lover, but if any cider is fit for the task, this is it. Undeniably dry and rich with tannins from barrel aging and some skin contact, Troy cider makers utilize their wine backgrounds to bring forward a (wild) apple alternative to a glass of white wine.
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