December 13: Taste Like a Pro Cider Sensory Workshop at Meriwether Cider

Join us for a sensory deep dive into the world of cider and learn to taste cider like a pro at Meriwether Cider on December 13, 2025! Whether you’re preparing for the Certified Pommelier™ exam or just curious how pros taste cider,  this immersive, hands-on session will give you the tools to sip and share with confidence. You’ll learn how to detect flavors, spot faults, and describe cider like a seasoned cider professional. Walk away prepared for your exam, or to wow your friends with a sharper palate and a deeper love for the world’s most diverse fermented beverage.

Price: $45 Non-members, $35 ACA members (Member Discount can be found in the Resource Hub)

Location:  Meriwether Cider,  224 N 9th St., Boise, ID 83702

Schedule:

  • Welcome & Introduction (10 min)
  • Part 1: Foundations of Sensory Tasting (25 min)
  • Part 2: Structured Tasting Practice (60 min)
  • Part 3: Identifying/Understanding Common Cider Faults (20 min)
  • Part 4: Elevate Your Tasting Vocabulary (15 min)
  • Wrap-Up + Q&A (20 min)

November 29: Taste Like a Pro Cider Sensory Workshop at Yonder Cider

Certified Pommelier™ Sensory Training Workshop at Yonder Cider in Seattle on November 29!

Join us at Yonder Cider for a sensory deep dive into the world of cider and learn to taste like a pro! Whether you’re preparing for the Certified Pommelier™ exam or just curious how the pros taste cider, this immersive, hands-on session will give you the tools to sip and share with confidence.  You’ll explore the aromas, flavors, and nuances that make cider so unique. Learn how to detect flavors, spot faults, and describe cider like a seasoned cider professional,  all while experiencing Yonder’s distinctive approach to cider making. Walk away prepared for your exam, or ready to wow your friends with a sharper palate and a deeper love for the world’s most diverse fermented beverage.

Price: $45 Non-members, $35 ACA members (Member Discount can be found in the Resource Hub)

Location:  Yonder Cider / Balebreaker Taproom,  826 NW 49th St, Seattle, WA 98107

Schedule:

  • Welcome & Introduction (10 min)
  • Part 1: Foundations of Sensory Tasting (25 min)
  • Part 2: Structured Tasting Practice (60 min)
  • Part 3: Identifying/Understanding Common Cider Faults (20 min)
  • Part 4: Elevate Your Tasting Vocabulary (15 min)
  • Wrap-Up + Q&A (20 min)

November 15: Taste Like a Pro Cider Sensory Workshop in Port Angeles, Washington

Join us for a sensory deep dive into the world of cider and learn to taste cider like a pro! Whether you’re preparing for the Certified Pommelier™ exam or just curious how pros taste cider, this immersive, hands-on session will give you the tools to sip and share with confidence. You’ll learn how to detect flavors, spot faults, and describe cider like a seasoned cider professional. Walk away prepared for your exam, or to wow your friends with a sharper palate and a deeper love for the world’s most diverse fermented beverage.

Price: $45 Non-members, $35 ACA members (Member Discount can be found in the Resource Hub)

Location: PNWonderland Wine, 222 N Lincoln St., Port Angeles, WA

Schedule:

  • Welcome & Introduction (10 min)
  • Part 1: Foundations of Sensory Tasting (25 min)
  • Part 2: Structured Tasting Practice (60 min)
  • Part 3: Identifying/Understanding Common Cider Faults (20 min)
  • Part 4: Elevate Your Tasting Vocabulary (15 min)
  • Wrap-Up + Q&A (20 min)

October 26: Taste Like a Pro Cider Sensory Workshop at Schilling Cider

Taste Like a Pro Cider Sensory Workshop at Schilling Cider in Portland on October 26!

Celebrate National Cider Month with us by diving deep into the world of cider! This special session is the perfect way to honor cider’s diversity and craftsmanship while sharpening your tasting skills. Whether you’re preparing for the Certified Pommelier™ exam or simply curious about how pros taste cider, this immersive, hands-on workshop will give you the tools to sip and share with confidence. You’ll learn how to detect flavors, spot faults, and describe cider like a seasoned cider professional. Walk away prepared for your exam or ready to wow your friends with a sharper palate and a deeper appreciation for the world’s most diverse fermented beverage.

Price: $45 Non-members, $35 ACA members (Member Discount can be found in the Resource Hub)

Location: Schilling Cider, 2800 SE Division St, Portland OR

Schedule:

  • Welcome & Introduction (10 min)
  • Part 1: Foundations of Sensory Tasting (25 min)
  • Part 2: Structured Tasting Practice (60 min)
  • Part 3: Identifying/Understanding Common Cider Faults (20 min)
  • Part 4: Elevate Your Tasting Vocabulary (15 min)
  • Wrap-Up + Q&A (20 min)

October 5: Level 1 Certified Cider Guide Workshop at Buskey Cider

Join Us for a Level 1 Certified Cider Guide Workshop at Buskey Cider on October 5!

The world’s finest cider education program, the Certfied Cider Professional (CCP) Program, will be back again for another Level 1: Certified Cider Guide (CCG) classroom session. Leisurely run over the course of an afternoon, this L1 CCG training has been developed specifically for those who work directly with consumers and trade customers, namely those working in retail and hospitality, importers, distributors, wholesalers and employees of cider producers. It is also the program for cider fans, afficionados and drinkers to showcase their extra weight of knowledge and passion. It is designed to enable participants to have a professional standard of knowledge and appreciation for different types of cider and how they are achieved, an approach to assessing cider and the different sensorial qualities they have, and guidance on the best practice principles for serving, storing and selling.

Candidates will receive an email containing a downloadable study guide and a link to the online exam in advance of the workshop. The day itself will consist of a presentation of the materials from the study guide, with extra elaboration and, of course, the opportunity for questions. There will also be a guided sensory session of at least 3 ciders clearly demonstrating the key structural characteristics within cider, and utilising a structured approach to their assessment.

The topics covered in Level 1 CCG are:

  • Apples, Pears and Orchards
  • Cider Production
  • Families and Flavour
  • Evaluating Cider
  • Keeping and Serving
  • Cider and Food
  • Social Responsibility

Schedule:

12:45 PM Arrival and Check-In

1:00 PM Presentation Begins

2:30 PM Break

2:45 PM Presentation Continues

4:00 PM Break

4:15 PM Sensory Evaluation Session

5:15 Optional Online Test Taking Time