Hiyu Germinal Cider

Hiyu Germinal Cider

Hiyu Wine Farm
$30.00

Grape: Redfield, Brown’s, Summerset Redstreak, and Brown Snout
Vintage: NV
Type: Cider

This is the first release of a cider made from true cider varieties: bittersharp apples including Redfield, Brown’s, Summerset Redstreak, and Brown Snout. It is pressed in a basket press directly to barrel where it ferments and ages untopped for a year. We then use the next year's cider to create a wild secondary fermentation in the bottle. This cider is bronzed peach in color, the texture of the bubbles is utterly delicate. Subtle and refined texturally with a complex floral overtone and aromas of elderberry and blackberry that weave in and out of citrus evocations./p>

Hiyu is a true mixed farm with pigs, cows, chickens, ducks and geese living among the vines during different parts of the year and helping to control the vegetation. Nate calls their vineyard management, which has been deeply influenced by Masanobu Fukuoka, “the wild side of permaculture”.

The property is divided into half-acre blocks, each planted to a field blend from a different place or moment in the genetic history of the grapevine, with up to 150 different varieties and clones in total.

The name “Hiyu” comes from Chinook Jargon, where it denotes “abundance”, “plenty” or “big party”. Nate Ready used to work as a sommelier in various fine establishments, including the lauded Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in Napa Valley. China Tresemer, the estate’s co-founder and agriculturalist, is also a talented illustrator who creates all the labels.

Manual harvest into small baskets, whole cluster macerations, foot-treading and basket press, slow fermentation with indigenous yeasts only. Aged in old neutral oak barrels of various sizes. No fining or filtration, no sulfur at bottling.