Meet Our Certified Pommeliers™
Becoming a Certified Pommelier is a remarkable achievement that celebrates dedication, perseverance, and a deep passion for the art and science of cider. It requires hours of rigorous study, sensory analysis practice, and a commitment to mastering the intricacies of cider. From learning about different apple varieties to understanding the complex flavors and aromas of ciders, Certified Pommeliers have honed their skills to expert levels. Their hard work and preparation not only showcase their knowledge and expertise but also exemplify their love for all things cider-related. Cheers to all Certified Pommeliers for their dedication and commitment to the craft!
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As one of the founding cidermakers, Aaron is responsible for your original favorite Ash & Elm Cider Co. flavors. He…
Read MoreAaron MJ Gore is the founder of Fresh Pitch Beverage Consulting, helping craft beverage makers navigate the myriad challenges of…
Read MoreAdam Snyder is a cider enthusiast from Cary, North Carolina. He works and uses his cider knowledge as a server…
Read MoreAdrian Luna’s journey into the world of cider started off as a spontaneous adventure with his friends. Four years ago,…
Read MoreAlexsis Cassady is a cider influencer who can be found on Instagram @ciderminded. Becoming a Certified Pommelier™ has been one…
Read MoreAmie is a co-founder and Director of Sales and Brand Development at Botanist and Barrel Winery & Cidery in central…
Read MoreAndrew Byers trained as a culinary botanist and has many years of experience in kitchens and orchards. As head cidermaker…
Read MoreThe owners and founders of James Creek Orchards and James Creek Cider House, Ann Marie Thornton and her husband David…
Read MoreAnthony is a cider enthusiast and the Head Brewer at AleSmith Brewing Company in San Diego, CA. Briefly starting as…
Read MoreAnthony Lopez is the sidrero (cidermaker) at Casa de Oro Cider. He is a third generation American who can trace…
Read MoreAshley Wilson stumbled upon the cider industry in 2021, but soon fell in love. She started off as a production…
Read MoreBrandon Buza is a cidermaker, amateur orchardist, educator, and rare pomme fruit nerd. His journey into fermentation started unexpectedly when…
Read MoreBrian is Co-Owner and Head Cidermaker at Green Bench Brewing/Green Bench Mead & Cider in Saint Petersburg, Florida. A Michigan…
Read MoreBridget Fields discovered her passion for horticulture while a student at the University of Pittsburgh, where she volunteered at the…
Read MoreBryan Barry, originally from Long Island, currently calls the Hudson Valley his home. His enthusiasm with collecting and learning about…
Read MoreAfter five years of experience in the cider industry, Brynn Nencetti has stepped down into a role of simple cider…
Read MoreCam Workman has worked both on-premise and off-premise wine in bars and wine retail, as a production and packaging lead…
Read MoreCasey Simpson is the Operations Manager at Artifact Cider Project. She oversees logistics and warehousing, and supports their production crew.…
Read MoreCharles McGonegal started AEppelTreow Winery (pronounced “apple true”) in 2001 as an elaborate ploy to buy his wife more jewelry. …
Read MoreChase Rochon is a hospitality professional and cider enthusiast currently living in his home state of Maine. He fell in…
Read MoreChris Jackson was born and raised in Florida and then spent nearly 10 years in Southern California, so, upon arrival…
Read MoreBorn in the Bronx, Christian Rodriguez moved to New York’s Hudson Valley at a young age. While he has loved…
Read MoreDr. Clayton Slaughter serves as the head cidermaker and orchardist for Slaughter Orchard & Cidery in Bloomington, Indiana. Clay enjoys…
Read MoreDan Schreffler is the President and Winemaker at Space Time Mead & Cider Works which opened in Dunmore, Pennsylvania in…
Read MoreDaniel James has worked in the beverage and hospitality industry for over 10 years and has been a lover of…
Read MoreDanny Dispo has spent the last decade honing his knowledge of food, beverage and hospitality through the lens of bartending…
Read MoreCider expert and author of Cider Cocktails – Another Bite of the Apple, Darlene Hayes has traveled throughout the world interviewing…
Read MoreDave is a cider enthusiast, career tech consultant, whole-food home cook and proudly identifies as a “cider nerd”. He is…
Read MoreDavid Lugo is a cider enthusiast and is the Bar Operations Manager for the Clyde Theatre in Fort Wayne, Indiana.…
Read MoreDavid and his wife Ann Marie started an orchard of Southern heirloom apple varieties on their farm in central North…
Read MoreDeirdre Birmingham and her husband John started their orchard in 2003 in Wisconsin for the purpose of making cider and…
Read MoreDon Whitaker has been nurturing his passion for cider since relocating to Virginia from Georgia in 2016. Serendipitously, a position…
Read MoreAfter uprooting her life and moving to the Hudson Valley in January of 2021, Elissa’s only plan was to finish…
Read MoreEric started his career in fermentation by working as a lab technician and cellar hand in the Paso Robles wine…
Read MoreErik Madrid is a cider enthusiast and hobbyist cidermaker from Seattle, WA. He and his wife Storie (also recently certified)…
Read MoreGeoff Happel is the head cidermaker at Bold Rock Hard Cider. He chose to become a Certified Pommelier to continue…
Read MoreHenry Johnson is the head cidermaker of the Mills River branch of Bold Rock Hard Cider. He is an accomplished…
Read MoreIan Niblock is the Director of Cidermaking at Bold Rock Hard Cider. He has ben in the cider industry for…
Read MoreJakob Jordan is a passionate cidermaker with a deep-rooted love for crafting exceptional beverages. Jakob’s journey into the world of…
Read MoreJames Kerr works in the tasting room for Green Bench Brewing Company & Green Bench Cider & Mead in St.…
Read MoreJamie’s passion for cider began in 2014 when curiosity led her through the door of Liberty Ciderworks, a small urban…
Read MoreJana Daisy-Ensign has spent nearly two decades in craft beverage industry, including experience in distribution, consulting, sales, events, marketing and…
Read MoreJanelle Balsillie is the Co-owner and Cidermaker at Carolinia Cider Company in Harrow, Ontario, Canada and Head Cidermaker at Heeman’s…
Read MoreJason Cassidy is the cidermaker at The Cider Farm in Madison, Wisconsin where he is fortunate to work with the…
Read MoreJeannie Dubois first fell in love with cider on a trip to the British Isles in the 1990s. Since then,…
Read MoreJenn Smith runs Grow-NY, a food and ag startup program, for Cornell University, where she draws on her background in…
Read MoreJennie Dorsey is founding member of Pomme Boots Society for women in the Cider Industry and has held numerous positions…
Read MoreJessica is a former cider slinger and overly-educated enthusiast with a graphic design habit. She resides in the Pacific Northwest…
Read MoreBorn and raised in the Hudson Valley, Joe has always had a deep-rooted passion for fermentation. A member of the…
Read MoreJohn Powell is co-founder of Cider Apples New Zealand, which has established one of the world’s largest cider apple breeding…
Read MoreJohnny Rice loved the first taste of cider they had. When studying the botany and history of apples, a passion…
Read MoreJoseph Nosse, the founder of Frontier Ciderworks LLC in Jefferson, OH. He is an inquisitive cidermaker, an admirer of apples,…
Read MoreWhat started for Joshua Corl as a home brewing and cidermaking hobby led to an internship and then employment as…
Read MoreKarl is part the Bold Rock team as Quality Assurance Manager. He is an Advanced Cicerone® and Owner & Founder…
Read MoreKate Pinsley began her cider journey with a pint of Original Sin served in a sketchy bar in the East…
Read MoreKatie Black is currently working in production at DSSOLVR in Asheville, North Carolina where she is continuing to explore all…
Read MoreKatie is a passionate cider maker, tester and appreciator. Katie’s mind was blown after trying Eve’s and ANXO ciders, and…
Read MoreKhris Johnson is the Founding Brewer and Owner of Green Bench Brewing Co., which opened in 2013 in St. Petersburg,…
Read MoreKyle Degener is an orchardist, cidermaker and the creator of Holy Beez, which is the only cider specific orchard in…
Read MoreLeah Pagett is the Head Cidermaker at Bold Rock Hard Cider in Nellysford, VA where she utilizes her knowledge and…
Read MorePrior to co-founding Barebottle Brewing Company in 2016, Lester Koga worked at General Electric for 9 years as a Product…
Read MoreMarina is an international finance professional who converted to wine religion. She has been working in the wine industry, mainly…
Read MoreMatt began his cider journey as a part-time tour guide and bartender at the Angry Orchard Cider House in Walden,…
Read MoreMatthew Ostrander is on a mission to be a leading educator and advocate in the craft cider movement by doing…
Read MoreMax Finnance is the Sr. Manager of Education & Training for Bold Rock Hard Cider, and is also an aspiring…
Read MoreMeredith Collins is the blogger behind Along Came A Cider, where she has been tasting and reviewing hard cider for…
Read MoreMichelle joined the American Cider Association as executive director in July of 2016. Her rich history includes non-profit management, membership…
Read MoreMolly Leadbetter is the co-founder and owner of Meriwether Cider, a thriving cider company established in 2016. With a passion…
Read MoreAttentive to healthy eating, an athlete, and a supporter of the importance of biodiversity, as well as reducing food waste,…
Read MoreNova Scotia has a rich history in apple production (one of the oldest in North America). Growing up in the…
Read MoreParticularly known for her skill at tasting and blending, Nicole LeGrand Leibon has been cited as one of the best…
Read MoreNicole Wheeler is a founding partner and owner at Treehorn Cider in Marietta, Ga., just outside Atlanta, and runs the…
Read MorePaige’s journey into hard cider began with a chance introduction to the beverage at an Irish pub in Queens, NY…
Read MorePete Serventi is the farmer and cidermaker at Serventi Ranch, located in Corralitos, California, in the heart of Pajaro Valley…
Read MoreRob Durham is a cidermaker with durham cider + wine co. They utilize nature’s generosity through the magical meanderings of natural…
Read MoreRoland is an orchardist, home cidermaker, and cider enthusiast living in the Capital District of New York. He is in…
Read MoreSara Cravens is the Taproom Manager and Donation Coordinator for 2 Towns Ciderhouse based in Corvallis, Oregon. She became a…
Read MoreSarah is a passionate sommelier and hospitality professional based in Minneapolis. She finds joy in the collaborative nature of restaurant…
Read MoreSean Niemisto is a cider fanatic. While cutting his teeth in the beverage industry as a production brewer, he quickly…
Read MoreStorie Madrid is a longtime cider enthusiast from Seattle, WA. She and her spouse, Erik, are are the owners of…
Read MoreSuzannah Klaniecki is a cidermaker with Schilling Cider based in Seattle, Washington. She decided to take the Certified Pommelier™ exam…
Read MoreTim Godfrey is the owner of Godfrey Beverage Solutions based in Michigan. He became a Certified Pommelier™ to demonstrate his…
Read MoreTim Powers is a cider enthusiast and educator who works at the Commonwealth Wine School in Cambridge, Masschusetts. Tim has…
Read MoreTom Hansen grew up in and still resides in New York State’s Hudson Valley, surrounded by farmland and natural beauty.…
Read MoreValerie Scott is the Owner of Duluth Cider, located in Duluth, Minnesota. Valerie fell in love with cidermaking and drinking…
Read MoreWalker Smith and his wife are slowing growing Goldeneye Cider, currently a cidery-in-planning. They are located in Whatcom County, Washington,…
Read MoreWill Loughlin started his career in cider as a pourer at a regional New York cider company and moved his…
Read MoreY. Dave Klawer is a cidermaker, orchardist, cider advocate, educator and enthusiast. He is completing a Masters Degree in Agriculture…
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