Posts by Woodley Smith

Hannah Ferguson from D.O.P.E. Cider House and Winery in Ohio.

Hannah Ferguson was born and raised in Youngstown, OH. Hannah has been a home wine and cider maker for 10 years. She started D.O.P.E. (Dwelling On Positive Energy) Brands LLC in 2017. To expand her knowledge in the industry in 2018 she became an assistant brewer for a local brewery and stayed in the position for 2.5 years. Hannah is the first female black brewer in the state of Ohio, she is also the first black female owned cider and winery (she is the head wine and cider maker) in the state of Ohio DOPE Cider House and Winery opened August 20, 2022. DOPE Brands, LLC is not only a cider and wine manufacturer, but we are a lifestyle brand that takes pride in creating connections and experiences uniquely through cider and wine. Most importantly D.O.P.E. is about Dwelling On Positive Energy and empowering underrepresented minorities in the industry as well as enthusiasts.

Monique Tribble from Yonder Cider in Washington

A lover of all things fermented, Monique Tribble was born in the heart of Oregon Wine Country. After college, she headed to Alaska to help run a small bed and breakfast. It was there, not Oregon, that she discovered and honed her love of wine. After long days at sea, fishermen would come to the B&B for dinner, drinking and sharing with Monique their best bottles. It’s in these moments, in the most unexpected of places, she discovered her favorites – Oregon Pinot Noirs – were from the very place she grew up and knew she had found her calling. Monique returned to Oregon to work at Lange Estate Winery in the tasting room and cellar to take her new found passion to the next level. Also spending time at Firesteed and a winery in Arizona, Monique quickly began exploring what other fruit she could ferment. The answer was apples and she jumped on as the head cidermaker at Wandering Aengus Ciderworks, followed by time at Seattle Cider Company as lead cidermaker and Republic of Cider as director of production. Now Head Cidermaker at Yonder Cider, Monique spends her days dreaming up and creating new fermentations, continuously exploring new varietals and the characteristics they impart. A passionate cook and avid record collector, she hopes to one day open an operation of her own, honoring her late grandparents whom she pressed apples with throughout her childhood.

Y. Dave Klawer from Alma Cider in Washington

Dave Klawer is a cidermaker, orchardist, Certified Pommelier, cider advocate, educator, and enthusiast. Dave’s desire to spend more time outdoors, his interest in growing tree fruit, and his joy of fermentation led him to pursue a Master’s Degree in Agriculture. His dream is to grow and supply NW cidermakers with world class cider fruit, and high quality fresh pressed juice. When Dave is not focused on cider, he spends time with his wife and kids, and he continues to work his 20-year career as a registered nurse. Dave and his wife Heather co-founded Bitters & Sharps. A family owned wholesale nursery and orchard management company located in the beautiful Skagit Valley of NW Washington. Bitters & Sharps specializes in and consults on cider fruit production, custom grafting, orchard design, and orchard planning. Dave’s ambitions are driven by his desire to craft the best possible cider and perry products. He believes knowledge sharing and collaboration within the cider community is essential to elevating NW ciders and the cider category in general. Lastly, he really, really likes cider.

Richard Yi from Brooklyn Cider House in New York

Brooklyn Cider House started out of a love for Basque ciders, and that passion remains. However, their focus has evolved and cidermaker Richard Yi, son of founder and cidermaker Peter Yi, is excited to part of the team now creating their own twists on classic cider styles and pushing the boundaries of what cider can be. Richard and the team are excited to experiment with different aging vessels, like amphora, and explore co-ferments. Investing in innovative, passion-driven projects has always been at the core of the company and Richard can’t wait to try the fruits of their labor. In addition, the Yi family has an orchard that is filled with heirloom varieties of apples that they use in their ciders.

And featuring cider from Casa de Oro Cider in California

As a Latinx owned & operated cidery Casa de Oro Cider is uniquely positioned to celebrate the diverse cultural & ancestral heritage that the Americas have. They feel it is their responsibility to preserve & contribute to that legacy and with every drop of cider their patrons drink, they too are a part of this experience. Their ciders focus on elevating Mexican ingredients to work in concert with traditional cidermaking practices. They produce high ABV wine-like ciders that strike a balance with the big and bold characteristics that their ingredients provide. They let their cider ferment naturally, meaning while we monitor the process we have minimal to no intervention throughout the entire process allowing the native yeast, fruit, and adjuncts to fully express themselves. This results in an unfiltered, still, dry, rich, unctuous cider. Theirs cider offer the natural variations from season to season and terroir to terroir making each batch release special.