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Nova Scotia’s craft beverage scene is welcoming a new entrepreneurial couple from the Annapolis Valley.  Gina Haverstock, winemaker at Gaspereau Vineyards and her husband, Dalhousie University apple researcher Sean Myles, are launching the Annapolis Cider Company.  It will open its doors in April on Main Street in Wolfville.  

Born out of a passion for supporting local, the joint venture unites Haverstock’s fermentation expertise with Myles’ interest in apple diversity.

“We get fresh-pressed apple juice from just down the road and ferment it into cider right on site,” said Myles.  “Freshly-pressed juice from local apples is key to our cider’s style and taste.”

The cidery will start by serving two main ciders called “Crisp and Dry” at 7.7% alc. and “Juicy and Sweet” at 5.6% alc.  Customers can also get a third cider called “Something Different”, whose style will vary batch to batch to keep things exciting. 

“Whatever the style, our ciders are always refreshing, aromatic and made from 100 per cent Annapolis Valley apples,” said Haverstock.

Sean Myles and Gina Haverstock  Photo credit: Mark Davidson

“We’ve tried to take our favourite aspects from the microbrewery scene and the local wineries,” she said.  “We fill refillable bottles from taps like the breweries and offer tastings and tours like the wineries.  And we’re right in downtown Wolfville.”

Cider, also known as hard cider, is fermented apple juice that is most often carbonated and generally contains between 4 per cent and 8 per cent alcohol.  It’s becoming an increasingly popular choice as an alternative to beer and wine: cider sales at the NSLC are up by more than 100 per cent compared to last year.

“The popularity of ciders in our retail stores has risen steadily over the past couple of years, along with overall demand for high-quality local products,” says Bret Mitchell, President and CEO of the NSLC. “We’re pleased to support local producers and we believe that a growing local industry is good for communities like Wolfville and for Nova Scotia.”

“Local cider producers, like Bulwark and Stutz, have really paved the way for us,” said Myles.  “In fact, the encouragement and support from the entire beverage industry has been incredibly helpful in getting our business off the ground.” 

"This exciting project is a perfect example of the entrepreneurial spirit that Nova Scotia’s future success depends on. I applaud Sean and Gina on this great undertaking," said Carl Sparkes, owner of Gaspereau Vineyards.

“This is a fantastic example of science in action,” said Dr. David Gray, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University.  “We are so proud of Sean and his family and wish all the best in their exciting new venture.  It is this kind of innovative thinking and entrepreneurial spirit that will revitalize our communities.”

But Haverstock and Myles are not building the business on their own.  They’re sticking with their careers as winemaker and professor.  They’ve entrusted operations to Katie Barbour, a beverage industry veteran and cidermaking to Melanie Eelman, who has a PhD in chemistry from Dalhousie University.

“We feel fortunate to be planting this seed with like-minded and passionate people,” said Haverstock.  “We all want to capture the taste of the Annapolis valley in a bottle and share it with everyone.”

About Annapolis Cider Company

The Annapolis Cider Company was founded in 2015 and will begin producing ciders from 100% Annapolis valley apples at its cidery on Main Street in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in April 2016.  The cidery will be open year round and will offer tours and tastings. The company’s co-founders are Gina Haverstock and Sean Myles.  Haverstock is originally from Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia and has been the winemaker at Gaspereau Vineyards since 2006. Myles is originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick and is a Dalhousie University apple researcher. They are married, have two young children and live in Wolfville.  Learn more at drinkannapolis.ca